"The Dio years" CD by Black Sabbath

by Marcel Anders (13.04.2007) For ten years already, the reformed Black Sabbath have been talking about a new album, are regularly on tour, but new songs have not been released. Instead, Ozzy announced two new records for 2007, while Iommi and Butler got back together with interim singer, Ronnie James Dio. The line-up of the early 80s/90s bringing records, like "Heaven & hell", "Mob rules" and "Dehumanizer" which now calls itself Heaven And Hell and, yet, releases a compilation as Black Sabbath: "The Dio years". Sounds confusing? It is, indeed. Especially since among the 16 songs there are 3 new recordings that are not even lower average and burst for self-citations and lyrical embarrassments. Although: also the old lyrics about dragons, witches, knights and devils are rather amusing meanwhile. Just like the kitschy ballad, "Falling off the edge of the world" and Dio's affected way of singing. Nevertheless, the material is essential. Just classic Hardrock with Doom and Progressive elements that stamped generations of musicians and fans and should simply be part of every household.