Heavy Maytal -Dio's "the Last in Line"

 

The 1984 sophomore album feels more aggressive than it's predcessor, with more uptempo proto thrashers balanced out with Dio's commitment to melody, but a song like "I Speed at Night" almost feels like Judas Priest, but with flashier Motley Crue-like drumming. The anthemic opener 'We Rock" finds strong vocal melodies flowing over the faster riffing, driving it. The title track is one of the most recognizable songs outside of Dio's fanbase. Despite being more dynamic and melodic than "Holy Diver", his previous hit is just too infectious to be beat, despite this being the highest charting album for him.

They reach a more deliberate middle ground with "One Night in the City." This is one of the rare lyrical moments that brough things into the more modern urban landscape, despite some of the medieval metaphors that he could not shake. The guitar gives him more room to flex his powerful pipes on this one. It's the first song that I really noticed the synths on. Vivian Campbell has established himself as a guitar hero on this trip to the studio. "Evil Eyes" is another uptempo rocker that follows what we now know of as the typical Dio formula, but it was fresh when this album came out. 

"Mystery" is a more radio-friendly anthem that sounds like it was the precursor to 'Hungry for Heaven". It's catchy enough, so it works for me.  "Eat Your Heart" is more deliberate and powerful. Lyrically mroe typical of the times in certain ways, but it was more fun in those days, so there is that. "Egypt" is a darker song, with lyrics that encapsulate what Dio does. I will give this album a 10, it's a great metal classic. 

pst198