RISING

Rising is easily the best studio album ever released in my opinion. The style on the album is perfect, early Heavy metal mixed with classical music, dragons and wizards, and with a bit oriental harmonies. There is so much stuff on this album that pioneered a whole genre. Those who credit Motörheads drummer for being the "inventor" of heavy metal drumming should check out the drumming on "A Light in the Black". It is so powerful, and for 1976, those bassdrums are impressive!! Blackmores (and Careys) solo on the same tune is the best example on how you should take a solo over a ONE chord progession. Perfect dynamics, melody, swing and technique. "Stargazer" is just the best track ever written! So incredibly simple, but still not in a way. I love the oriental bits in that one too. "Tarot Woman" is another favourite of mine, and also an example of Blackmores unique simplicity in the riff! You can´t talk about Rising without mentioning Dio either. His voice is a one of a kind, and on this album it is more mighty than on any other record. I love all the songs on the album, but the ones mentioned is probably my favourites. The stomping, Purple-like tune "Starstruck" is worth a mention too. If you don´t own this album, buy it and play it till it gets worn out! You will be a happier man after that!