Dio – Sacred Heart – 1985
Amping up his attempt at commercial viability, RJ Dio’s last album with Vivan Campbell is a mixed bag. Every metal cliche is present from declaring himself a King of Rock and Roll to super fast licks to cliche’s abounding during the era of Spinal Tap (which neuters whatever bullseye they might have hit otherwise). If you like this sort of thing, a lot of this album will satisfy. If you’re over it (and, by 1985, who wasn’t?) you’ll wanna pass it by.
Grade: D+
ASide: King of Rock and Roll, Rock and Roll Children
BlindSide:
DownSide: Shoot Shoot, Hungry Heaven, Sacred Heart
