The album marked the return of Craig Goldy to the band, with Doug Aldrich having moved on to the gig with Whitesnake. It also had Jeff Pilson returning on bass guitar. What is most noticeable about this album compared to the previous release is that the tempo has returned to a slow-to-mid speed through the majority of the songs, more reminiscent of those albums in the 1990's, and something that had been for the most part missing from Killing the Dragon. Such is the way that the band's music generally fared in the post-1980's writing. It's not necessarily hampering the songs, but it has always been my belief that Dio works best when the songs are up-tempo and lively, allowing Ronnie's vocals to carry the melody of the song, and the drums and guitar can avoid a sludgy muddy sound that sometimes seems to be the result of moving along at a snail's pace. Perhaps it is just my hangover from those early Vivian Campbell-driven albums from the 1980's, but I don't think it is a coincidence that Killing the Dragon with its Doug Aldrich-inspired guitar and writing input was the best Dio album (aside from Magica) since Dream Evil.
Still, enough of the past. This is the album before us, and once you have taken in the slower tempo, the album is a pleasing collection of songs that showcase a solid rhythm section in bassist Jeff Pilson, keyboardist Scott Warren and drummer Simon Wright, some good guitaring from Craig Goldy, and the vocals of Dio himself. If you are looking for fast paced songs, or breakout guitar solos, or even something extraordinary from the great man himself, then you have come to the wrong album, because there is very little of that here.
"One More For the Road" is the opening track, and is the fastest song on the album in regards to tempo, without ever being electrifying in itself. "Master of the Moon" is driven by the wonderful melody and harmony of Ronnie's vocals. He lifts this above the moody tempo that is being played underneath and makes it into that typical Dio song that can be uplifting to you when you listen to it. "End of the World" stays in that same tempo, while again it is Ronnie's vocals that do all the hard work in the song, though this time just straight and without the melodic duelling the "Master of the Moon". "Shiver" shares the dual aspect of a chugging Goldy riff with Dio's commanding vocals to toughen this song up. All in all it has been a reasonable start to the album.
"The Man Who Would Be King" and "The Eyes" have what I call the Vinny Appice Tempo, because it's very solid slow tempo 2/4 time, with the rhythm barely changing throughout the length of the song, and Ronnie singing over the top. That's perhaps unfair on Vinny, because he was no doubt asked to play in such a way during his time in the band, and now Simon has been asked to play along as well. Ronnie puts on his mournful wailing for both of these songs, and the pace barely reaches first gear at any stage. It's not a stretch for any of the musicians here, nor even with Ronnie's singing. They aren't bad songs, but you find yourself slumped back in an armchair listening to them, rather than on the edge of your seat and air guitaring.
"Living the Lie" and "I Am" aren't slow by comparison but they don't race along either, but are solid songs that don't engender any emotional response according to the music. Which is then funny because "Death By Love" does finally have that faster tempo in the mix, but it just isn't a particularly enjoyable song. It has the basic riff running through, before a really strange change in pitch and riff into what serves as the chorus. Yep, just don't like this song much at all. "In Dreams" is the album closer which still just doesn't have that real punch or kick that Dio songs are supposed to have. Again it is very straight forward in song structure, not really giving any of the members of the band the chance to express themselves in any way, but to warble their way through just over four minutes with barely a change in rhythm of lyrical pitch.
By the time you've made it this far you can probably finally tap in to the emotion you are looking for with this album - it is BORING! It barely has an iota of excitement, especially after the first four songs. You can listen to this album over and over again, and gain an appreciation of it, and an enjoyment of it. I have, and it did take quite a few repeated listenings to it to do so. but what casts the stone against it is that if you choose just about any other Dio having done this, and put it on, it feels as though it just blows this album away, and to me that is the biggest problem with Master of the Moon. It's not that it is a particularly bad album - in fact it really is above average - but it is missing that magical ingredient that the majority of Dio albums have that make them legendary, and therefore makes this pale in comparison.
It may appear from the above that I have torn apart the album a little, and many would think I have done so unfairly. I can honestly say that I still enjoy listening to this album, but that whenever I do I miss the faster pace of the previous album, and of those seminal albums from the 1980's. This is the style that Dio preferred in the latter part of his career, and so you flow with it, but as I mentioned, it just misses that one ingredient that would have lifted it up an extra rung or two on the ladder.
Rating: Turn around and then you face the sun. 3.5/5
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