DIO – Live in London; Hammersmith Apollo 1993

Posthumous, fans of the great Ronnie James Dio have been treated in recent years to previously unreleased recordings, both studio and live, and the latest to come out of the woodwork is DIO’s last concert (1993 in London) supporting the Strange Highways release.  This show is being released via DVD and CD, and contains 18 performed tracks.  At the time, the band included Vinnie Appice (drums), Jeff Pilson (bass), and Tracy G (guitars), and they knock out the requisite Dio, Black Sabbath, and Rainbow hits with purpose and vigor … along with 6 tracks from the Strange Highways release and a handful of rarities.

From a recording quality standpoint, the sound is top notch, and Dio’s voice comes through clear and strong.  This concert, however, is better “heard” through the accompanying visuals found on the DVD vs. just listening to the CD by itself, which unfortunately is unable to appropriately capture much of the band’s 3-dimensionalism, making for a rather ho-hum listening experience.  However, fans of DIO should find plenty to get excited about with the song selection and performance by this re-reunited version of Dio’s band, making this a recommended buy for any Traditional Metal fans and DVD collector enthusiasts.