Dio - Lock Up The Wolves

When Ronnie Dio split from Black Sabbath in ‘83 he finally had the chance to create a band in his own true image. No longer had he a need to compromise to others ideas [Blackmore and Iommi], rather he could produce albums that he wanted and with people he wanted. The results have fluctuated to say the least. Dio’s debut ‘Holy Diver’ is as fine a piece of traditional metal you will ever get to hear, but the problems started to show as a direct result of that, how do you follow up a bona-fide classic? Ronnie tried and sadly failed more with each passing album, ‘Last In Line’ certainly had its moments but ‘Sacred Heart’ and ‘Dream Evil’ saw a once inspirational formula become tired and stale.
So it was with some interest when Ronnie completely overhauled the band for this album. Out were mainstays Vinny Appice and Jimmy Bain, guitarist Craig Goldy also split amicably. Their replacements were a mix of known and unknown names. Simon Wright [ex-AC/DC] came in on drums while Jens Johansson [ex-Yngwie Malmsteen] took over the keyboard slot. New Yorker Teddy Cook covered bass, but the most interest was on the 18-year-old English guitarist Rowan Robertson. Could an 18 year old lad come up with the goods in such a guitar heavy band as Dio?? Could he follow in the footsteps of Blackmore, Iommi, Campbell and Goldy? Well luckily Rowan Robertson brought a new energy to the band that seemed to get Ronnie fired up again. As a result Dio succeeded in making an album that is certainly worthy of comparisons with ‘Holy Diver’.

1. WILD ONE (4.02)
A furious break neck rocker which powers along with a fury that matches ‘Stand Up & Shout’ tick for tack. Dio is belting out the lyrics with the conviction of old ‘Two in the bushes, one in the hand, They’d make you over but they can’t understand you, you’re always gonna be the wild one’ and you realise that this band is hot. The solo sees a nice breakdown that gives Rowan his first chance to shine coming across like a hybrid of Vivian Campbell and Steve Vai. An impressive opener which catches your attention right from the off.
2. BORN ON THE SUN (5.39)
The tempo slows for the second track, which is quite an atmospheric number. The lyrics are straight out of the classic Dio songbook ‘There’s a crack in the rainbow, there’s a hole in the sky. You believed in something now its just a lie’. The chorus sees the riff getting heavier before more great guitar work from Rowan Robertson. Ronnie sounds great on the chorus, which is a little repetitive, but not in a detrimental way.
3. HEY ANGEL (4.59)
A heavy riff heralds the start of one of the highlights of the album. Jens Johansson is audible on this track making you realise that he is actually playing on the album! There are several great riffs throughout this track with some nice hooks and general interaction between Ronnie and Rowan, ‘Where would you be right now, waiting to taste your next tomorrow’. The solo sees some great phrasing from Rowan proving his worth to the max. One of the highlights.
4. BETWEEN TWO HEARTS (6.27)
A great track that shows how strong the writing partnership Dio and Robertson had. Quite a slow pace but brimming with melody, power in places and all round great performances. ‘Another way to spend a rainy Sunday, waiting for a call that never comes. The mystery is how she makes her choices. But don’t we always chose, the ones who hide the sun’. There are some great phrasings from Ronnie throughout with that superb expressive voice.
5. NIGHT MUSIC (5.05)
One of my personal favourite tracks. This is perhaps the finest example of Dio and Robertson writing partnership. Starting out with a medieval feel the track shifts gear for a riff that is like an turbo charged version of Sabbath's 'Heaven & Hell'. 'When you move to the rhythm of shadows, you can hide from the heat of the sun. If you dance to the beat of the darkness, you burn before the fires begun'. The lyrics have a slight medieval feel to them and certainly suit the flavour of the track. The solo is one of Rowan's best and is as good as anything Campbell or Goldy performed in previous incarnations of the band. Superb!
6. LOCK UP THE WOLVES (8.30)
The epic of the album. A swirling keyboard intro raises in volume before a dark and mean guitar hook. The riff is very sparse but has a lot of power, while the lyrics are some of my personal Dio favourites - 'In the houses of the holy, to the middle of the mystic sea, at the cradle of the world' - real picture lyrics which conjure up images of evil and general eerieness. 'They're screaming for sanctuary, they're screaming for you. Lock up the wolves'. The solo is not your typical fly by the seat of your pants style, it in actual fact conjures up images of being in a dark forest and being hunted by a pack of wolves. Rowan makes great use of squeals, whammy bar phrasings and the overall effect is a solo that is perfectly suited to the mystical fell of the track. 'There's no back door to heaven, just a front door to hell, in your corner of the world'.
7. EVIL ON QUEEN STREET (6.01)
A track with a slight bluesy feel that is still in the great mystical Dio style. The lyrics tell the tale of a man who is on the run after an incident that happened on 'Queen Street'. Ronnie puts you firmly in the mind of this man with the great story style lyrics - 'Stories were made to be told and here's the one that I know'. The basic outline of this tale is that the character was drawn to a house on queen street where he has an encounter with a dark force that tries to get his soul. The story ends by the man setting the house alight to get away from the power within, however he still has haunted memories after the house has burned down.
8. WALK ON WATER (3.42)
Another frantic paced rocker. The riff is quite Blackmore-esque [ala 'Kill The King'] and again is a solid back drop for Ronnies lyrics -'If you believe it, its no lie. And there is an end to summer cause the winter made it die'. The chorus is a little weak but the riff hides an real weakness, the guitar solo is again superb, with all the flash you want, at least Rowan knows not to use it all the time. A great riff but generally a slighty weaker track.
9. TWISTED (4.44)
Another of the weaker tracks on the album. The riff is pleasent enough but lacks that certain magical something that gives it classic status. It isn't weak just not particularly special or different. The lyrics centre around a man having a crime pinned on him and he then starts to believe he in fact did it - 'It was a matter of time, They told me I was quilty so I thought I did the crime. I never learned how to cry, so when I told the truth they were sure it was a lie'. The chorus is a little repetitive and certainly holds the track back a little.
10. WHY ARE THEY WATCHING ME (5.00)
A bonus track only available on the CD version, but is well worth tracking down. This is another high speed metal track with a scalding fury. 'Why are they watching me, why do they do the things they do. Why are they watching me, watching you'. The bridge gives a nice calm prelude -'If only the eyes could see, then you'd know you're destiny. The mind is an enemy, but you just need a friend'- before a new riff enters and the pace quickens yet again for the solo. Good track.
11. MY EYES (6.34)
Another of my favourites on the album and a great closing track. The song goes through various textures and each complement one another. The lyrics also see some nice flashbacks to Ronnie's days in Rainbow and Sabbath -'I've seen it from Heaven and Hell, I've seen it from the eyes of a Stargazer'. 'My Eyes' is another shining example of Ronnie and Rowan creations, the solo is also perfectly suited to the track. The track builds as it progresses and is generally very impressive.