Review Summary: Dio's last performance at the Wacken Open Air Festival shows that the singer still had a lot of power left in him, and that the band still has a lot to give.
On May 16th, 2010, the world lost one of the most powerful voices in heavy metal. The fans were shocked - he seemed to be doing so well, he never let on how sick he was; his positive attitude was inspiring.
Neon Nights was recorded at the Wacken Open Air Festival in 2009, a few months before Dio was forced into semi-retirement. Even so, his voice still sounds powerful. He can still hit that high scream at the beginning of "Mob Rules," and most of the high-octane notes found through-out his discography remain in tact. But there is a tiredness to his voice here, and at the beginning of "Heaven and Hell", I wondered whether or not he would be able to finish it off. Of course, I was blown away. Out of nowhere, after an uncommonly long instrumental opening, Dio sang in his thunderous voice "SING ME A SONG, YOU'RE A SINGER!"
Of course, the band is not overshadowed by Dio's powerful vocals. Tony Iommi blasts through each song with his incredible guitar work, Geezer Butler's bass work is some of his best yet, and Vinny Appice beats the hell out of his drum set.
The setlist includes many hits from both the
Sabbath years and from
Heaven and Hell's current releases. As mentioned above, Dio really shows the range of his voice with the opener, going from a crazy scream to his normal, booming low tenor. The band is on fire through-out, although at times you can hear fatigue in Dio's voice.
This album is essential for fans of
Black Sabbath,
Dio, and
Heaven and Hell. Truly a monumental release, the culmination of thirty years in metal. You can say what you like about Dio, that his lyrics are cheesy dungeons and dragons fare, or that despite his wide range, he tends to sing in the same, comfortable octave for most of his songs. You can keep your opinions, but Dio's long-lasting impact on metal cannot be disputed.
