I've been listening to this bad boy today for the first time in a while (the European 2-CD version) and I'm still knocked over by how excellent this collection is. Let's face it, there are a LOT of tribute albums out there, and a lot of 'em suck, but HOLY DIO definitely does not suck. In fact I'd be willing to go out on a limb and say that this is quite possibly the best metal tribute album ever released. Century Media's Judas Priest tribute that was released a few years before comes close, and that one is still quite excellent in its own right, but HOLY DIO is the way all tribute albums should be done!

My favorite tracks on this album all happen to be on Disc 1: Jag Panzer is the perfect band to cover "Children of the Sea" (my fave Dio-era Sabbath track), Blind Guardian does a fantastic job on "Don't Talk To Strangers" (and I'm not even that big of a B.G. fan), and I like Fates Warning's "Sign of the Southern Cross" better than any original songs I've heard from the F.W. camp since I don't know when. Doro's breathy version of "Egypt (The Chains Are On)" actually manages to eclipse Ronnie's original IMO!

Like the Priest tribute, HOLY DIO also served as an introduction to several new (or at least new to me) bands when I first heard it in 2000 or so -- Enola Gay's take on "Heaven & Hell" prompted me to hunt down their STRANGE ENCOUNTER release, Solitude Aeturnus' crushingly heavy "Shame On The Night" simply smoked, and Steel Prophet did justice to "Neon Knights." I also like Axel Rudi Pell's take on "Still I'm Sad," which is technically a cover of a cover, since the Rainbow version is actually a cover of an old Yardbirds song. Whatever works, I guess.

Any other fan(atic)s of this awesome piece of metal tributizing?

I've tried to get a copy of this a few times on ebay, only to be outbid. Still I'm Sad.

Great stuff indeed. I think it works so well becasue these bands are all professional bands, that acutally love Dio!

What wicked awesome cover art, too!

It kicks ass!

Solitude Aeturnus - Shame on the Night :metal:

Dio gives this LP the thumbs up, or rather........

I have been trying to get this for some yime now too. Damn!!!

Awesome cd!!! I have the single disc version and love it!!! One of the best tribute albums released,imo.

Metalguy you can get the sigle disc version at cmdistro.com for $5. That's where I got my copy.

I only have the single disc version but it is one of my favorite tribute albums of all time (along with the two Judas Priest tributes from Century Media and A Tribute To The Four Horsemen from Nuclear Blast).

Who is this Dio fellow I hear you speaking of?

I have the 2-cd version, I didn't even know there was a single disc version.

Anyone who doesn't have the 2 disc version is missing out! This is the BEST tribute album hands down!

* Disc One

1. "Don't Talk to Strangers" - Blind Guardian
2. "Kill the King" - Primal Fear
3. "Egypt (The Chains Are On)" - Doro
4. "Children of the Sea" - Jag Panzer
5. "Sign of the Southern Cross" - Fates Warning
6. "Rainbow Eyes" - Catch the Rainbow
7. "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll" - Gamma Ray
8. "Country Girl" - Dan Swanö/Peter Tägtgren
9. "Gates of Babylon" - Yngwie Malmsteen

* Disc Two

1. "We Rock" - Grave Digger
2. "Man on the Silver Mountain" - Hammerfall
3. "Holy Diver" - Holy Mother
4. "Kill the King" - Stratovarius
5. "Still I'm Sad" - Axel Rudi Pell
6. "Heaven and Hell" - Enola merry
7. "Neon Knights" - Steel Prophet
8. "Shame on the Night" - Solitude Aeturnus
9. "The Last in Line" - Destiny's End
10. "Temple of the King" - Angel Dust

I tend to not be into tribute albums. But this one is easily one of my favorites. When I bought it I almost instantly thought I paid too much. Then I heard it and realized I got a bargain. I'm always playing it.