RISING

We all know you're only here for that one certain song. Joking aside, this is a very solid album, with some lapses here and there, and one true highlight that is high enough as to be gazed at from the stars. I am speaking of course, of Stargazer.

Opening with a captivating synth solo, Tarot Woman kicks off this Rainbow colored space adventure, through a mythic land of dungeons, dragons, wizards, and +3 broadswords. Blackmore is most certainly a talented guitarist, and Dio is an absolute vocal whiz. These guys fit together so well, I want to know why nobody thought of this, sooner! These songs are mystical proto-metal, with a Zeppelin and sabbath and (of course) Deep Purple influence. The lyrics are average metal fare, but you aren't here for the lyrics are you? No, you are here to be filled with a mystic aura (or was that enema?). The soloing is classically inspired, and very technical. Power metal bands probably ate copies of this album for breakfast, though. If you are turned off by power metal, then you might not like this power rock.

Tarot Woman is catchy, and rocking. With the synth solo at the beginning that I mentioned, earlier. The synth and guitars are high flying, and at times, breathtaking. Run with the Wolf, is a funk rock strut, paired with Dio's great vocals. Starstruck is scale climbing and features more rocking guitar work. Tickling his fretboard so skillfully leading in with a nice, if somewhat forgetful riff. The thin, but metallic Do You Close Your Eyes seems like a filler song to me. Like the previous song, but shorter and less diverse. The only real weak point I see in the album. Side two is reserved for our precious holy song, and the last one Lights in the Black. Which is a fast and murky hard tune. Speedy riffing straight out of Deep Purple, with Dio's snarling vocals. I do feel this song goes on for a bit longer than it should, and really failed to impress me, overall. Up until the soloing section comes in. This is some crazy work for it's time. Synth and Guitar trading off in the upbeat stomping middle of the song. If they cut it down by a couple of minutes, as to not lose some of its intensity, it could have been quite the firestorm.

And finally (not FINALLY, but finally), we have what perhaps birthed every symphonic/power subgenre of metal in existence: Stargazer. What a monstrosity of metal. Beginning with a hungry drum attack, and a behemoth riff that even Jimmy Page is probably jealous of, eight and a half minutes of classic metal nirvana. With multiple sections, changing tempos, brilliant musicianship, and the solo... which could very well fry bacon without an oven. The lyrics aren't brilliant, but can easily be forgiven when the songs other qualities are so high. I could venture to say that this song is the absolute peak in the entire careers of either Dio, or Blackmore. The album is worth getting for this epic track, alone.

Not as progressive as one could hope for, and weakened by filler here and there (Don't you close your eyes) or excess (Lights in the black), but Stargazer is not only a metal masterpiece, but a masterpiece of music in general.

4 stars. Three for Stargazer, one for everything else.

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