LONG LIVE THE KING- Ronnie James Dio

THE ICY HANDS of fate delved deep into the world of heavy metal last month and snatched away one of its most restive spirit which conquered the world with a symbol that has grown to mean much more than what it was actually purported to be. And when the ‘Britney crowd’ started displaying the devil’s horns too, it was probably high time for Ronnie James Dio to realize that he may still have onus on the trademark, but his copyright had been infringed big time. Talk about intellectual property! As one of the heavy metal’s best known voice, he had his fair share of success with Black Sabbath, which he fronted for a significant period. And though there have been comparisons galore between the qualities he possessed and another bloke who now seems to be happier showing his dorkier side on reality television, this space isn’t really meant for it. While we remember Dio and his impact, it’s notable that everything he was didn’t get relegated to just Black Sabbath. He had a solo career before, and he came out with some kickass stuff when he moved away post Sabbath to form Dio. The debut album of which, titled Holy Diver definitely deserves to go down in the annals of heavy metal as one cracker of an influential work. In ways more than one, the title track sounds a bit eerie when you pay attention to its lyrics, now that Dio isn’t there with us any longer. And it isn’t just his voice which makes the album stand out.

With Holy Diver, Dio proved that he wasn’t just a phenomenally gifted vocalist, but that he was an equally adept songwriting, and knew how to bring together the right team. The timeless bass strums of Jimmy Bain, the perfect timing of Vinny Appice and the calamitous shredding by Vivian Campbell, together made Dio stand out in a manner which paralleled his days with Sabbath. Campbell’s solos are sprawled right across the entire album, and being just out of his teens, he couldn’t have asked for better bandmates. “Invisible”, the scorching blaze on “Holy Diver” or the soaring heights on “Rainbow In The Dark” and “Caught In The Middle” – all of which showcase his dexterity with the strings make themselves staple contents of heavy metal. And though Dio may have taken the final plunge now, we are sure the Holy Diver would be taking the devil right by his horns now. It would be very disappointing if he isn’t because Dio is one man who never did say die and he will continue to live in our hearts forever.