Along with select releases from PRIEST, MAIDEN, and ACCEPT, DIO’s “Holy Diver” remains one of the greatest 80s metal albums of all time. From the infamous drowning priest artwork and Ronnie James Dio’s snarly croons to Vivian Campbell’s wrought-iron riffs and fuming GARY MOORE-ish solos, the leviathan release of “Holy Diver” sent most other metal discs scurrying into the shadows for hiding spots in 1983. Now, 23 years later, “Holy Diver” has been dusted off for a full-on live revamp. Subbing in for the cocky, young Campbell is former GIUFFRIA / ROUGH CUTT guitar ace Greg Goldy. Bassist Jimmy Bain and original drummer Vinnie Appice are represented by veterans Rudy Sarzo and Simon Wright. “Holy Diver Live” also includes a bonus CD of some choice selections from past DIO, RAINBOW, and BLACK SABBATH albums. One glance at the overall track listing and it becomes obvious that this thing is crammed with live versions of some of the greatest classic heavy metal songs ever recorded. The question is, can RJD and his hired guns pull off a decent approximation of this classic so many years after the fact?

Actually, they do a pretty good job of it. All songs are presented straight through, exactly the way they are found on the album with no improvising whatsoever. RJD's belts out track after track with mucho gusto, and Goldy does a better job with Viv's solos and riffs than you'd ever expect from a GIUFFRIA guy. "Caught in the Middle" and "Don't Talk to Strangers" really cook, as does "Invisible", its transition from clean intro to bruisy riffage providing an ace example of the band's tightness. Disc two is even more impressive. The band sounds more comfortable with their renditions of RAINBOW classics “Tarot Woman" and "The Gates of Babylon" as well as DIO’s later tracks like “One Night in the City” and “We Rock”. Even the SABBATH cuts "Heaven and Hell" and "The Sign of the Southern Cross", while not as strong as the originals, are surprisingly stirring due to Sarzo's commanding basslines and Dio's brawny voice.

Of course, there are a few points of irritation. The biggest disappointment is their rendition of “Shame on the Night”, one of DIO’s heaviest cuts ever. The ultra-cool, elephant-trudge riff at the end of the song is played exactly twice before Goldy launches into a boring guitar wank-a-thon. Give that song to a band like GRAND MAGUS or PHAROAH and I’m sure that bowel-rattling riff would be given its proper presentation. On disc two, the band fiddles with “Catch the Rainbow” for a minute before stumbling into the grating and tired “Long Live Rock ‘n Roll”, a move that creates the same frustration as an empty toilet paper roll after a big dump. Plus, "Gypsy" is followed by a drum solo and some bizarre orchestral march, suggesting that aging rockers crave a little Sousa or Strauss with their metal nostalgia. Wrong! But overall, "Holy Diver Live" is a shockingly solid release. Plus, it's cheaper than the $40 t-shirts they're bound to be selling at the arena shows. You could do a lot worse.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE: www.ronniejamesdio.com

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