Dogmatic

Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ronnie James Dio, Vinnie Appice

The Dio era of Black Sabbath has always had a soft-spot in my old blackened heart! The news of the formation of this incarnation of the greatest Metal bands of all-time - had this particular fanboy donning a black cape and throwing the devil-horn salute at anything that moves! Although they are touring under the monicker ‘Heaven & Hell’ due to legalities and a certain cunt known as Sharon Osbourne not allowing them to use the Sabbath name… it is still Black Sabbath and this compilation album pays tribute to Ronnie James Dio’s incredible contributions to this classic line-up. Tracks from the Dio era (Heaven & Hell, Mob Rules, Live Evil and Dehumanizer) isn’t all that you get here… there are three new tracks which prove beyond any reasonable doubt - just how insurmountably great Messrs Iommi, Butler, Appice & Dio are. The new tracks ‘The Devil Cried’, ‘Shadow of the Wind’, and ‘Ear In The Wall’ are fucking incredible! I was floored on first listen and I pray to all that is unholy that these guys give us a full album. Let’s face it, Dio’s solo career - apart from his first two albums ‘Holy Diver’ & ‘The Last In Line’ - has been a little on the lackluster side. With that in mind I was dreading what these new tracks might possibly sound like… but after picking my jaw up from the floor… I was completely blown away at what is on offer here. The new tracks are worth the price of admission alone! Brilliant Iommi riffs that chug and chug along embedding themselves deep into your synapses whilst Geezer Butler and Vinnie Appice lay down monstrous foundations. And on top of it all… the greatest voice in Metal sings like an angel possessed, waxing lyrical the doom and gloom that is and always will be… Black Fuckn Sabbath! Goddamn!!!