Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Dio - Master of the Moon - 2004 - Sanctuary Records Reviewed by: Nailer

Track Listing1. One More for the Road 2. Master of the Moon 3. End of the World 4. Shivers 5. Man Who Would Be King 6. Eyes 7. Living the Lie 8. I Am 9. Death By Love 10. In Dreams

Ronnie James Dio has handled his long music career with more dignity than anybody I can think of with only some recent choice words from ex-axe slinger Vivian Campbell and some critical clunkers (Magica, Killing the Dragon) to chink his nearly impervious Armor of the Gods. On "Master of the Moon", the mid-range voice is still there as strong in the studio as it was on his recent tour and the sound is still similar to his 80's pieces, but with less D&D lyrics and more political subject matter ("Man Who Would Be King"). It's a bit of a letdown to see that this 4-star General doesn't march forward as an unstoppable killing force because of his supporting crew. With 20 years of fans proclaiming Holy Diver and The Last In Line as classics, I would expect a certain degree of emulation, but this one never shows the power of the awesome beast on the cover. "One For The Road" is a decent opener that could sit well with Black Sabbath's "Dehumanizer" and the title track almost wakens to an epic, but the rest just pace along in single-time never raising their rockets to fire. Can't say that it grew on me either.


Score: 5


--Nailer 09.28.04