Well, you would have to say that this is a great idea, in principle. Over his long and illustrious career, Dio has been involved in so many great songs, that a tribute to that is a terrific plan. However, the one major drawback is this – how many people can sing like the great man, and do justice to these songs? As it turns out, most of the versions here are worthy of the name ‘tribute’.
As with many tribute albums, this is a bit uneven, with the very good mixed with the rather ordinary. The version of “Country Girl” by Dan Swanö & Peter Tägtgren is surprisingly well executed and done with a difference that doesn’t detract from the original. On the other hand, the version of “We Rock” by Grave Digger is OK musically, but the vocals are just not what you want on an album like this (refer to my initial comments in this review).
Then there is the unusual – two versions of “Kill The King” by two different bands – a great version by Primal Fear, and a good version by Stratovarius. Also a magnificent version of “Gates of Babylon” by Yngwie Malmsteen with Jeff Scott Soto on vocals – but on the linear notes Yngwie spends his whole spiel talking up Ritchie Blackmore (his hero) and not mentioning Ronnie once.
As a double disc, this album does contain some great tracks, and nowhere near the full complement of great songs from the Dio era. The two things I got from this are as follows:
One, it was great to hear some terrific bands putting out these great versions of great songs.
Two, no one could ever do these songs better than the originals, if only for the fact that the originals have RJD on vocals.
Rating: A better than average effort to celebrate a great man. 4.5/5
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