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Strange Highways

Dio

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Album Review

The final Warner Bros. release for Dio after an 11-year run of hard-edged post-Sabbath recordings, Strange Highways is almost a return to early '80s form for a group that hadn't done anything particularly inspiring since 1984's Last in Line. Joining the band's namesake vocalist Ronnie James Dio on this 1994 release is an all-star lineup, including long-time drumming cohort Vinny Appice, bassist Jeff Pilson (most notably of Dokken, and an nice addition to the group, especially live), and unknown guitarist Tracy G. Dio is in fine voice as usual, especially on "Hollywood Black" and the emotive opener "Jesus, Mary & the Holy Ghost." G. provides a nice, generally staccato guitar flow that harkens back to the glory days when Vivian Campbell filled the six-string slot in the group's finest lineup. Original drummer Appice seems to have lost some energy, tone, and sharpness by the time of this release, which is too bad considering that he had formerly personified all those qualities. As a unit, however, Dio prove they can lay down some deadly riffs, as songs like "Pain" and "Firehead" keep a nice momentum going throughout this return to solo work for Ronnie James Dio after a brief second tour of duty with Black Sabbath. Strange Highways is a solid effort with some of Dio's better late-career material, powerful singing, and strong performances from G. and Pilson.

Customer Reviews

The point where Modern metal met Classic

Dio had just begun to re-gain some lost momentum in 1990 with the brilliant "Lock up the Wolves" release, when Geezer Butler came calling at a Minneapolis, MN show, extending an olive branch from Tony Iommi. Ronnie disbanded his namesake group to re-join the Sabs for the brilliant third studio release Dehumanizer. Unfortunately the tour was beset with scheduling problems and the same old personality clashes. Therefore, Dio's second stint in Black Sabbath ended badly by November of 1992 in Costa Mesa, CA. (Ronnie had refused, and rightfully so, to have Sabbath open for Ozzy on his "farewell" tour. Priest's Rob Halford filled in admirably for the two night stand) Undeterred, Ronnie reformed Dio in early 1993 bringing back original drummer Carmine Appice, as well as former Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson. But, it was the addition of yet another unknown guitarist, Tracy G. that really set Strange Highways apart from the rest of Dio's catalog to this point. At the time Tracy G. was considered a very modern sounding guitar player who had a fierce, yet appealing tone. However, he was steeped in Metal tradition. It was this very modern, metalic guitar sound coupled with Ronnie's classic Melodic Metal songwriting that propel tracks such as "Strange Highways", "Hollywood Black" and "Give Her the Gun" to classic Dio status. Of note, the unlikely combination of Jeff Pilson in this mix certainly worked. Very few would have guessed that Pilson could make the jump from Pop Rock Dokken to Metal Dio, and yet he did it with style. One might argue that his contributions are the secret ingredient that make these songs really sing. This was the transition album into Dio's late 90's work ( Angry Machines, Magica) that really bridges the two halves of Dio's career together. Strange Highways is a fine metal album that put Dio back on the map and kept them at the forefront of the Metal movement right on through to today.

Underrated

This album somehow fell through the cracks over the years but it is one of the best Dio ever produced. Pain, Strange Highways and Jesus Mary & the Holy Ghost are outstanding songs.

Dios best work

Dio really shines in this album. The whole album is amazing, from Jesus, Mary, and the Holy Ghost, to Strange Highways, to Pain. Evevn Give Her the Gun is an amazing song, and im more of a fan of Dios harder metal. The lyrics aren't just thrown in, Ronnie James really put some thought into them, especially in Strange Highways. It is a very good album, worth buying and listening to over and over again.

Biography

Formed: 1983

Genre: Rock

Years Active: '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s

For a brief spell during the mid-'80s, the heavy metal quintet Dio were one of the top U.S. concert attractions, boasting one of the most over the top stage acts of its time loaded with props and special effects (lasers, explosions, a giant dragon, etc.). The group's leader was singer Ronnie James Dio, who had previously become acquainted with the metal masses as the frontman of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow from 1975-1978 and Black Sabbath from 1979-1982. Come the early '80s, Ronnie James was ready...
Full Bio

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