LONG LIVE ROCK & ROLL

Third Rainbow studio album and the last with great Dio on vocal. Musicians were changed once again. But when professional enough, they made first step from great "Rising" to later AOR albums.

For me this album is still good enough ( and great Dio voice is one of a reason), but contains some fillers. All music became more heavy, heavy metal is winning, melodic acoustic sound, dreamy intonations and Dio's world of dragon tales are on the back plan now.

Some songs are openly oriented to US pop-metal/AOR market. I can hear there even open Journey citation!

But still some songs are great enough ( and are some basis for future Dio solo career) after this album was released).Blackmore guitar is professional, but very calculated.

All in all, mixed bag, but still more good that bad album. And almost last strong Rainbow album at all.

Strong 3,5.