Dio - Lock Up the Wolves

Dio - Lock Up the Wolves, forgotten gem or better off forgotten?

I've been listening to this quite a bit recently. Went back and re-read what I wrote about it, which wasn't much and was pretty negative. My opinion on this disc has changed quite a bit over the years (thus I seriously need to update that review). What do others think of "Lock Up the Wolves"? Is it a forgotten gem in the Dio catalog, or is better off forgotten?

i wouldn't call it a gem, but it was never as bad as a lot of people made it out to be.

It has a few good tracks, it's just not a memorable album. There needs to be an "in-between" choice in your poll.

S.D. wrote:

It has a few good tracks, it's just not a memorable album. There needs to be an "in-between" choice in your poll.

That's what I thought and said in my comments on NLTM. However, it actually does have some memorable songs. "Wild One", "Night Music", "Hey Angel" and the title track all come to mind. "Wild One" is one of Dio's faster songs. "Twisted" has sort of a Rainbow-vibe.

I added a third option. It's ok but...

S.D. wrote:

It has a few good tracks, it's just not a memorable album. There needs to be an "in-between" choice in your poll.

Or a "never heard it" option.

I like the album, it has doomy almost Gothic feel to certain tracks, I like the dry as bone production and feel its a better album then its reputation has earned.

My favorite track is "Between Two Hearts" which is a really good song. I also like the title track and "Walk On Water".

I honestly don't remember the rest. This album and Sacred Heart are my least-favorite Dio albums.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

S.D. wrote:

It has a few good tracks, it's just not a memorable album. There needs to be an "in-between" choice in your poll.

Or a "never heard it" option.

Thanks!

It's not his best effort, but an average Dio album is better than 90% of what's out there to me anyway.

manny wrote:

I like the album, it has doomy almost Gothic feel to certain tracks, I like the dry as bone production and feel its a better album then its reputation has earned.

Agreed.

Not his best, not his worst.

It's a good album, i like the first few songs, Hey Angel, Wild One, Born on the Sun, Lock up the Wolves is also good. It falls a bit short but i prefer it over the albums that followed this and even Sacred Heart

I think it falls under the (It's ok, but...) option. Other than "Wild One", nothing really stands out to me.

I went with the It's okay, but.... because I would not call it a gem and it's certainly not better off forgotten. It has some really cool tunes (the title track is KILLER) but also some less than stellar ones (Evil On Queen Street is rather meh).

I like it. It starts off strong with the first few tunes, bogs down in the middle, and finishes big with the last tune. Production was a big step up. I also think Rowan was the most gifted of all Dio's guitarists.

No Rainbow-in-the-Dark-level hits on this one, but it is far from terrible. Also its not as overplayed as say Holy Diver. A nice album that I often revisit.

This album is a big "meh." It sounds like a tired effort and is lacking but it's still not as bad as some of Dio's latter day dirgefests.

I haven't heard the album in maybe 20 years, and when I read the comments here I now know why. Must have been very forgettable.

stepcousin wrote:

I haven't heard the album in maybe 20 years, and when I read the comments here I now know why. Must have been very forgettable.

Witchfinder wrote:

This album is a big "meh." It sounds like a tired effort and is lacking but it's still not as bad as some of Dio's latter day dirgefests.

Really? If you like Dio, how can you not like this?

This was my first full Dio album so it has a special place in my heart. I never understood the hate this album had as it's one of Dio's best IMO. Of course I hadn't started my Dio collection til some time after I had this one so that could be why I hold this one in such high regard while others don't. For me the only Dio album I really can't get into is Angry Machines.

ultmetal wrote:

stepcousin wrote:

I haven't heard the album in maybe 20 years, and when I read the comments here I now know why. Must have been very forgettable.

Witchfinder wrote:

This album is a big "meh." It sounds like a tired effort and is lacking but it's still not as bad as some of Dio's latter day dirgefests.

Really? If you like Dio, how can you not like this?

I would rate this album a 5 out of 10, as in mediocre. I like Wild One but this album is chock full of crap.

its ok but when i want Dio I dont find myself going to this album

It's not Dio's greatest album but I do enjoy it.

This album is awful. But the lineup is great! I only like "Wild One".

Again, Dio needed a songwriting collaborator and he didn't get it.

Good album but nothing special. Great band line-up though. Doesn't sound all that Goth or dark to me.