The Dio Years | 
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| Artist: Black Sabbath
Label: Rhino / Wea
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $4.87
You Save: $14.11 (74%)
New (53) Used (38) Collectible (1) from $2.97
Rating:  82 reviews
Sales Rank: 10086
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 116668
UPC: 081227999247
EAN: 0081227999247
ASIN: B000NA77YO
Release Date: April 3, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new sealed. In stock in our warehouse, and ships right now. Case probably has a very small scuff or crack.
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| Tracks:
| • | Neon Knights | | • | Lady Evil | | • | Heaven & Hell | | • | Die Young | | • | Lonely Is the Word | | • | The Mob Rules | | • | Turn Up the Night | | • | Voodoo | | • | Falling off the Edge of the World | | • | After All (The Dead) | | • | TV Crimes | | • | I | | • | Children of the Sea | | • | The Devil Cried - Black Sabbath, Dio | | • | Shadow Of the Wind | | • | Ear in the Wall - Black Sabbath, Dio |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
The idea of Black Sabbath without Ozzy Osbourne was a form of metal sacrilege in 1980, at least until people heard Ronnie James Dio belt out "Oh no, here it comes again..." to open the reformed band's Heaven and Hell. Dio's low-growl had a yowl, squaring frightfully with Tony Iommi's more reined-in crunch. And Sabbath was reborn, playing faster than they had with Ozzy and drawing crowds. Five tracks from Heaven make it to this set, where four from successor, Mob Rules, show up. The winners from each: "Neon Nights" and "Turn Up the Night," both quick, hefty wailers, steamrolling on sheer riffing tonnage. Dehumanizer rekindled the Sabbath/Dio marriage in 1992, showing speed metal's intervening influence--and the band holds up well, racing atop Vinnie Appice's iron-armed drums and Iommi's relentless, intentionally range-limited riffs. Then there are the three new tracks, all benefiting from 2006's richer low-end production and metal's return to a slower grind--where Iommi is more thrilling doling out sludge, as on "Shadow of the Wind," where chords sound slo-mo and blessedly narrow in range. Yes, "Ear on the Wall" closes the set in a hurried, fast- (not speed-) metal vibe, but at best the band is deliberately mid-tempo, making a raucous noise you're happy for after all these years. --Andrew Bartlett
Album Description
Honoring the time Ronnie Dio spent with the band, Black Sabbath's hits "Neon Knights," "Lady Evil," and "Die Young" are featured on this compilation spanning 1980-2006. David Ling contributes liner notes and live versions of "Children of the Sea" and "Country Girl" are showcased.
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| Customer Reviews:
 "One fine day in Hell" October 19, 2008
trashcanman (Hanford, CA United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Ah, the almighty Black Sabbath: originators of the heavy metal art form. There is simply no metal band on the planet that is better or more historically significant to the evolution of rock 'n roll as we know it. Originally formed in 1968 and taking on the name of the classic Mario Bava film that inspired them to take a darker approach to their musical stylings, Sabbath brought gloom and doom, shock and awe, and the heaviest sound ever heard by human ears to the masses during their decade with Ozzy Osbourne as their frontman. When Ozzy was fired in 1979, they lost perhaps the greatest frontman ever. Where to go from there? Ronnie James Dio had made a name for himself in bands like Elf and with classic rock giants Rainbow thanks to his unique vocal delivery and penchant for lyrics about the fantastic and supernatural. His voice is now considered the definitive standard of the metal genre, copied by everyone from Iron Maiden to Dragonforce. As if that doesn't cement his legacy, he is also the original giver of the most iconic of metal gestures, The Horns. Add that together with the unbelievable talents of guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and the massive drums of Bill Ward and you've got a true clash of the titans on your hands.
"The Dio Years" collects the best of Black Sabbath's output from the few years they played together and adds three newly-recorded tracks that prove that no member of this band has lost anything between 1982 and now, though Ward has had to bow out due to health issues. "The Devil Cried" is an amusing tale of the damned in Hell holding a contest to see who's story could make Satan weep for them. What could be so awful that the source of all evil would pity you? Let's just say that it's the best break-up song ever and leave it at that. "Heaven and Hell" is their best-revered classic from this era and with good reason. "The Mob Rules" was prominently featured in the 80's animation classic Heavy Metal and still rocks like a mutha. As if all of this wasn't intimidating enough for aspiring metal bands, songs like "Falling off the Edge of the World" and "Children of the Sea" are epic enough to make any legendary band jealous. My personal favorites have to be "Turn Up the Night" with it's trilling and thrilling guitar solos and the impending-doom dirge of "After All". Here's the opening lines:
"What do you say to the dead
Will you forgive me for living
Can't believe the
things that they said
Wonderful day for a killing"
The music for this is amazingly dark, even more so than the words.
"I" is among my personal anthems; an a$zicking thrasher celebrating the power of individuality and force of will.
"I am anger under pressure
Lost it cages, a prisoner
The first to escape
I am wicked
I am legion
Strength in numbers, a lie
The number is one."
If that doesn't pump you up, nothing will. There is not a bad song on this album or any other Sabbath CD that I've heard.
Tony Iommi is one of my all-time favorite guitarists. Nobody is even in the same room as him when it comes to proficiency with writing dark, powerful, and memorable riffs that can be played and enjoyed by anyone. His guitar tone is instantly recognizable and is the absolute sound of electric doom with solos that will melt your face if you are not careful. Iommi may not have the flawless virtuoso technique of an Yngwie Malmsteen or a Steve Vai, but considering he's missing the tips of two of the fingers on his fretting hand, I think we can cut him some slack there. Besides, how many Malmsteen riffs can you really bang your head to? Nobody touches Iommi in that department. Geezer Butler is right behind The Who's John Entwhistle (RIP) in terms of sheer finger-picking ability on the bass guitar. Amazing musician. Bill Ward was more of a percussionist than a standard time-keeping classic rock drummer. His power and rhythmic embellishments help set the tone for many a classic. With Dio's classic vocals, stage presence, and dark fantasy and occult-inspired lyrics, these guys were a perfect storm of metal brilliance together.
"The Dio Years" is a great album for any fan of rock music, new to the art form or old-school to the bone. Black Sabbath is the greatest metal band of all time and whether fronted by a legend like Ozzy or a legend like Dio the result was always amazing music that delved deep into the underworld where few bands of the time dared go. The three new songs are as good as the thirteen old ones and I can't wait for the rumored new studio album. Either fearing the wrath of one Sharon Osbourne (DIE!) or wishing to be freed of expectations, the band has taken on the name "Heaven and Hell" and toured together the past few years. If you're looking to add some serious gloom, doom, and boom to your Halloween playlist then look no further. This is top-shelf hard rock/heavy metal music no matter what your standard.
The Dio Years Indeed! September 19, 2008
Louis Morano (New York, USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Let me start by saying this isn't likely to convert any Ozzy die hards over to the Dio camp.
To me the Ozzy and Dio years were entirely differant eras for Sabbath, and yes the Dio years don't sound like Sabbath.
This is the Sabbath band playing Dios songs.
If you like that, and I love BOTH versions of Sabbath for what they bring.
Well, you'll like this.
The song selection is mostly very good.
If you know the original albums, most of what you are looking for will be found here.
If you are looking for a one shot disc to sum up the Dio years, well you've got it here!
Nice packaging too...
Excellent overview to Ronnie James Dio's tenure with Black Sabbath July 24, 2008
Terrence J. Reardon (Port Saint Lucie, FL)
Black Sabbath's April, 2007 release which was a retrospective The Dio Years is an excellent overview to the Ronnie James Dio era in Black Sabbath.
Alot of fairweather Sabbath fans think Black Sabbath began and ended with Ozzy Osbourne from 1970-78 but they are WRONG! The band fired Ozzy in 1979 because his behavior was erratic and out of control because of drug and alcohol use. Then the surviving members which were guitarist Tony Iommi, bass player Terry Butler (nicknamed Geezer) and drummer Bill Ward recruited one-time Rainbow singer Ronnie James Dio and all forged ahead.
The first album with Dio which was 1980's classic comeback Heaven and Hell is represented by pretty much the entire album. The choices from here are superb and they are "Neon Knights", "Lady Evil", the classic title cut, the great "Die Young" and the classic closer "Lonely Is The Word".
1981's classic Mob Rules, which saw Ward exit and Vinny Appice fill in the vacated drum stool, is represented by its title track, the killer opener "Turn Up The Night", the superb "Voodoo" and one of my favorites "Falling Off The Edge Of The World". I know that "The Sign Of The Southern Cross" was omitted but CDs can only store up to 80 minutes.
The 1982 live album Live Evil is represented by the stellar "Children Of The Sea".
1992's superb reunion album Dehumanizer is represented by the superb "After All (The Dead)", the excellent "TV Crimes" and "I". I wish "Computer God" was here but then again it would have been a 2-CD set.
The reason to acquire this set (in addition for the remastering) is for the THREE NEW SONGS which are "The Devil Cried", "Shadow Of The Wind" and "Ear In The Wall". Dio still has it vocally wise (whilst Ozzy is now a caricature of himself sounding like a dying seal). Iommi and Butler and Appice still play well.
This collection is the cream of the crop of the Dio era in Sabbath unless you want the new Rules of Hell box set.
RECOMMENDED!
Nice over-view February 13, 2008
Louis E. Negrette
This a great over-view for anyone who wants to get acquainted with the second version of "Black Sabbath" In my opinion this is a stronger line-up with Ronnie James Dio on vocals. The three new songs are pretty good and fit in well with the others. I am holding out that this line up will get together and produce a new record of new material in the very new future.
 Great stuff! January 27, 2008
metalmaz (Kent , England)
Many Sabbath fans seem to be divided into two camps:- Ozzy era and Dio era. The Dio era fans seem to be far more narrow minded and won't accept Ozzy's contribution to this classic group. For me Black Sabbath's albums from their first release up to and including the magnificant Sabotage are pure class.
However,the two final Ozzy albums with Sabbath are very sub standard with drugs and Iommi's ego taking their toll. Iommi also tried to push them into a more mainstream sound making Sabbath sound like Queen. Ozzy was given the push and along came the little man with the big ego,Mr Ronnie James Dio
However the results, Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules were stunning. The sound was totally different and Sabbath came bombing into the 1980's It's hard to chose the best songs from them, but The Dio Years album has done a pretty good job. Neon Nights, Lady Evil, Die Young, Turn Up The Night etc. Fantastic!
We are given 3 songs from Dehumanizer and although they're not of the same standard as Heaven And Hell and Mob Rules, they're still very credible.
I'm glad that only one song has been chosen from Live Evil. The sound is tinny and muted and the audience may not as well have been there as they're so far down in the mix
The 3 news songs:- The Devil Cried, Shadow Of The Wind and Ear In The Wall aren't exactly earth shattering and won't go down as classics, but they're very listenable all the same.
So I highly recommend this album. Ozzy fans, don't close your ears to the Dio era and Dio fans, don't close your ears to the Ozzy era. Both are fantastic.
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