Dio – Lock Up the Wolves – 1990
This record explodes with power at the outset. “Wild One” is a barnburner and makes me just hope that the rest of the album can keep up with it. It’s more likely a testament to new guitarist Rowen Robertson than RJ, honestly. But, like I said on the No Rest for the Wicked review, it’s hard for a lead singer to be the musical catalyst. Their instrument is their voice and they are always dependent on the abilities of their hired guns.
But, I know, this is 1990. It’s the dawn of the era of CD as king and there’s a reason this album clocks in at one hour. The disc, the price demand it. And have no fear, by the second song we are mired in mid-tempo largesse. Apparently, Dio or someone he knows was “Born on the Sun” and he’s just gotta sing about it. Its not like this is a bad album. It’s just…dull. I’ve heard it. And while I enjoy this kind of music, I really feel like Dio’s said everything he needs to say.
The ballad, “Between Two Hearts” is the kind of phone it in borefest that has given metal a bad name, I just thought that needed saying. And the epic “Lock Up the Wolves”, with it’s ticking clock intro and outro, is just 7 minutes of snooze. More often than not, Dio sounds like he’s aping Freddie Mercury doing his metal thing. “Evil on Queen Street” (hmmm….) just makes you wonder how much better it would have sounded with Freddie on the mic. Whereas “Walk on Water” is actually a treat, that’s only because it showcases the band more than any other.
Grade: C-
ASide: Wild One, Walk on Water
BlindSide:
DownSide: Born on the Sun, Night Music
