Post by Erik Rupp on Jun 30, 2016 0:25:12 GMT -5
Let's get ready to rumble!
In this corner we have an undisputed classic. One of the greatest straightforward, old school Heavy Metal albums of all time...
HOLY DIVER!!!
And in this corner we have a follow up of unquestionable high quality. An album featuring some of DIO's all time best songs...
THE LAST IN LINE!!!
Both albums are absolute classics of the Hard Rock & Heavy Metal genres, and both feature both amazing highlights as well as incredibly solid album cuts. But which one is the better album? It's time for...
Round 1
Stand Up and Shout VS We Rock
Two uptempo tracks that lead off their respective albums in impressive style. Both songs feature great riffs, strong vocal melodies, and cool chorus hooks. Actually, they are fairly similar in structure and style, but the edge has to be given to Stand Up and Shout by a slim margin. Even so, both songs rate 10/10.
Winner - Holy Diver
Round 2
Holy Diver VS The Last In Line
Once again, we find two similar songs. Clearly, Ronnie found a formula that worked, and he stuck with it for album #2. The fast, energetic opener and the grinding, pulsating slowish midtempo song in the #2 slot. And both of these are great songs. Both are the title tracks for their respective albums, and both have held up amazingly well decades after these albums were originally released, but the edge here has to go to an absolutely perfect song. Simply flawless. Wait, that could refer to either one of them! Both rate 10/10. But this round goes to what may be DIO's best song...
Winner - The Last In Line
Round 3
Gypsy VS Breathless
Both albums slip below the 10/10 rating for one of it's songs in this slot, and yet both songs are excellent all the same. Solid album cut is what they both are, and yet that description sells them both short. For most bands of that era these would be album highlights. For the first two DIO albums they're merely very good. Breathless earns a solid 9, but Gypsy just misses a 10 with a legitimate 9.5
Winner - Holy Diver
Round 4
Caught in the Middle VS I Speed At Night
Caught in the Middle is a good song. Well constructed and melodic while still Rocking hard. But I Speed At Night is an uptempo killer. It's a frantic song speeding to the finish line, and doing so with maximum class and melody. Caught in the Middle rates a very solid 8, but I Speed At Night is a clear 9.
Winner - The Last In Line
Round 5
Don't Talk To Strangers VS One Night in the City
Oh, come on! Two more evenly matched songs. High quality, strong melodies, powerful riffs - this one's a draw. Both rate 9/10.
DRAW
Round 6
Straight Through the Heart VS Evil Eyes
While Straight Through the Heart wins this one, it is closer than you may think given just how great Straight Through the Heart is. Evil Eyes could almost be counted for both albums since it was originally recorded during the Holy Diver sessions (and included as a single B-Side), and then re-recorded for The Last In Line. It is also a great song, but the re-recorded version is better than the original (more polished vocal melodies and music without losing any edge or energy). But Straight Through the Heart is just a monster of a song. Phenomenal riffs, amazing vocal melodies, and the performances are flawless. An all time classic. Evil Eyes - 9, Straight Through the Heart - 10.
Winner - Holy Diver
Round 7
Invisible VS Mystery
Mystery is a good song. A solid Pop Metal song with a dark edge. But Invisible is 99% as good as Straight Through the Heart. It is another moster track. Another unquestionable classic. No contest here. Mystery is a 7, but Invisible is another 10.
Winner - Holy Diver
Round 8
Rainbow in the Dark VS Eat Your Heart Out
This matchup is a lot like Gypsy VS Breathless, only the margin is a little wider. Eat Your Heart Out is a really, really good song. Not quite great, but close. Rainbow in the Dark is Rainbow in the Dark. The song that propelled the DIO band into the spotlight. A song that made their career. Another classic, this one totally accessible for FM Rock Radio. Eat Your Heart Out - 8, Rainbow in the Dark - 10.
Winner - Holy Diver
Round 9
Shame on the Night VS Egypt (The Chains Are On)
Both albums close with slower, moodier, more gothic sounding songs. Both are solid, but, again, it's the Holy Diver track that has the edge. It's got better dynamics and stronger music and vocal melodies. Egypt - 8, Shame on the Night - 9.
Winner - Holy Diver
That's 6 rounds for Holy Diver, 1 round as a draw, and two rounds for The Last In Line. If we take the boxing metaphor further and use the 10 point must system Holy Diver wins 88 - 74 (with Round 7 being the only 10-8 round). If we total the points of each song's raw scores (which is probably the most fair and accurate way to just the contest) Holy Diver wins 85.5 - 81. So, as great as The Last In Line is, overall, it still can't match the once in a lifetime greatness of Holy Diver.
Winner and Heavyweight Champion - HOLY DIVER!
In this corner we have an undisputed classic. One of the greatest straightforward, old school Heavy Metal albums of all time...
HOLY DIVER!!!
And in this corner we have a follow up of unquestionable high quality. An album featuring some of DIO's all time best songs...
THE LAST IN LINE!!!
Both albums are absolute classics of the Hard Rock & Heavy Metal genres, and both feature both amazing highlights as well as incredibly solid album cuts. But which one is the better album? It's time for...
Round 1
Stand Up and Shout VS We Rock
Two uptempo tracks that lead off their respective albums in impressive style. Both songs feature great riffs, strong vocal melodies, and cool chorus hooks. Actually, they are fairly similar in structure and style, but the edge has to be given to Stand Up and Shout by a slim margin. Even so, both songs rate 10/10.
Winner - Holy Diver
Round 2
Holy Diver VS The Last In Line
Once again, we find two similar songs. Clearly, Ronnie found a formula that worked, and he stuck with it for album #2. The fast, energetic opener and the grinding, pulsating slowish midtempo song in the #2 slot. And both of these are great songs. Both are the title tracks for their respective albums, and both have held up amazingly well decades after these albums were originally released, but the edge here has to go to an absolutely perfect song. Simply flawless. Wait, that could refer to either one of them! Both rate 10/10. But this round goes to what may be DIO's best song...
Winner - The Last In Line
Round 3
Gypsy VS Breathless
Both albums slip below the 10/10 rating for one of it's songs in this slot, and yet both songs are excellent all the same. Solid album cut is what they both are, and yet that description sells them both short. For most bands of that era these would be album highlights. For the first two DIO albums they're merely very good. Breathless earns a solid 9, but Gypsy just misses a 10 with a legitimate 9.5
Winner - Holy Diver
Round 4
Caught in the Middle VS I Speed At Night
Caught in the Middle is a good song. Well constructed and melodic while still Rocking hard. But I Speed At Night is an uptempo killer. It's a frantic song speeding to the finish line, and doing so with maximum class and melody. Caught in the Middle rates a very solid 8, but I Speed At Night is a clear 9.
Winner - The Last In Line
Round 5
Don't Talk To Strangers VS One Night in the City
Oh, come on! Two more evenly matched songs. High quality, strong melodies, powerful riffs - this one's a draw. Both rate 9/10.
DRAW
Round 6
Straight Through the Heart VS Evil Eyes
While Straight Through the Heart wins this one, it is closer than you may think given just how great Straight Through the Heart is. Evil Eyes could almost be counted for both albums since it was originally recorded during the Holy Diver sessions (and included as a single B-Side), and then re-recorded for The Last In Line. It is also a great song, but the re-recorded version is better than the original (more polished vocal melodies and music without losing any edge or energy). But Straight Through the Heart is just a monster of a song. Phenomenal riffs, amazing vocal melodies, and the performances are flawless. An all time classic. Evil Eyes - 9, Straight Through the Heart - 10.
Winner - Holy Diver
Round 7
Invisible VS Mystery
Mystery is a good song. A solid Pop Metal song with a dark edge. But Invisible is 99% as good as Straight Through the Heart. It is another moster track. Another unquestionable classic. No contest here. Mystery is a 7, but Invisible is another 10.
Winner - Holy Diver
Round 8
Rainbow in the Dark VS Eat Your Heart Out
This matchup is a lot like Gypsy VS Breathless, only the margin is a little wider. Eat Your Heart Out is a really, really good song. Not quite great, but close. Rainbow in the Dark is Rainbow in the Dark. The song that propelled the DIO band into the spotlight. A song that made their career. Another classic, this one totally accessible for FM Rock Radio. Eat Your Heart Out - 8, Rainbow in the Dark - 10.
Winner - Holy Diver
Round 9
Shame on the Night VS Egypt (The Chains Are On)
Both albums close with slower, moodier, more gothic sounding songs. Both are solid, but, again, it's the Holy Diver track that has the edge. It's got better dynamics and stronger music and vocal melodies. Egypt - 8, Shame on the Night - 9.
Winner - Holy Diver
That's 6 rounds for Holy Diver, 1 round as a draw, and two rounds for The Last In Line. If we take the boxing metaphor further and use the 10 point must system Holy Diver wins 88 - 74 (with Round 7 being the only 10-8 round). If we total the points of each song's raw scores (which is probably the most fair and accurate way to just the contest) Holy Diver wins 85.5 - 81. So, as great as The Last In Line is, overall, it still can't match the once in a lifetime greatness of Holy Diver.
Winner and Heavyweight Champion - HOLY DIVER!