Best Dio LP After "Dream Evil"

This is where Dio lost some fans, changing all band members and thrash metal taking over at the time, so just wanted to see how these latter lp's stood the test of time...

I did give "Lock up the Wolves" another day in court, not as bad as I thought, but still rather weak when compared to the rest, though I never really tested out "Angry Machines." I went w/
KtD, really strong album there!   

Killing the Dragon

Magica snd KtD are about equal to me but voted Magica.

Killing The Dragon gets my vote.

Tough choice between Magica and KtD, but I admire Aldrich's work marginally more, so KtD it is.

I might pick 'Master of the Moon', it has this specific feel to it that none of the other records do.

Master

Killing The Dragon is probably the strongest of the releases.

I'll be the odd man out and choose Strange Highways followed by Angry Machines. Two albums I like primarily because they don't sound like Dio's normal schtick (which I was very burnt out on at the time).

Killing the dragon

I could see folks picking any but "Lock up the Wolves", don't know enough about AM, but that one doesn't seem to be a fan favorite...but I love "Strange Highways!"   

Strange Highways was good but AM just lost me.

Killing The Dragon. At least Dio showed some fire and speed on this album. His 90s and 00s material was almost uniformly far too slow for my tastes.

Killing The Dragon is an amazing album. And for my money there are no bad choices in this vote. But for nostalgia purposes (and so it gets at least one vote) I'm going to go with Lock Up The Wolves. Strange Highways would be a close second.

"Strange Highways" is his best solo album.

Temple of Blood wrote:

"Strange Highways" is his best solo album.

Now that's bold!   

Witchfinder wrote:

Killing The Dragon.  At least Dio showed some fire and speed on this album.  His 90s and 00s material was almost uniformly far too slow for my tastes.  

Which is probably why I prefer Dehumanizer, Strange Highways, etc. My preference for Dio is SLOW AND HEAVY.

I have to say 'Strange Highways', its heavier as hell, he felt he had something to prove after his second ill fated reunion with Black Sabbath, Tracey G did not try sound like his other guitarist and 'Eviloution' is a bad ass song, among a list of bad ass songs

manny wrote:

I have to say 'Strange Highways', its heavier as hell, he felt he had something to prove after his second ill fated reunion with Black Sabbath, Tracey G did not try sound like his other guitarist and 'Eviloution' is a bad ass song, among a list of bad ass songs

Absolutely!

S.D. wrote:

I'll be the odd man out and choose Strange Highways followed by Angry Machines.  Two albums I like primarily because they don't sound like Dio's normal schtick (which I was very burnt out on at the time).  

I agree. I also actually like those two albums better than his "classic" albums. If I want to hear Dio, I generally reach for those two or Dehumanizer & The Devil You Know.

I really dig "Master of the Moon", got real familiar w/that one on a road trip to Knoxville TN. to see Place of Skulls...

If I were to put them in order;

Killing the Dragon
Master of the Moon
Strange Highways
Magica

Not sure on the order of the last two...

1. Killing the Dragon
2. Magica
-
3. Lock Up the Wolves
4. Master of the Moon
-
5. Strange Highways
6.Angry Machines

Out of those four it's pretty close for me, all very good.