Artist: Dio Album: Angry Machines

Year: 1996
Duration: 45:08

A Critical Review of Dio's Angry Machines: A Fusion of Rock and Metal

Heavy metal and rock n' roll have been around for decades, and have given birth to countless critically-acclaimed and commercially-successful music artists such as Iron Maiden, Metallica, Guns N' Roses, and AC/DC, to name a few. However, Dio is one of the few artists who has managed to combine rock and metal with a unique style of his own. Today, we're going to take a look at Dio's album Angry Machines, its genre, history, best songs, and innovative parts.

Dio, born as Ronald James Padavona in 1942, started his career in the late '50s as a rockabilly artist before transitioning to rock and metal music later on. He rose to fame as the lead vocalist for Black Sabbath and went on to form his band, Dio, in 1982. Angry Machines was released in 1996, and is a fusion of traditional heavy metal and hard rock.

The album consists of 10 tracks which showcase Dio's signature sound, including the use of heavy riffs and lyrics that tackle social and political issues. The album's opening track, Institutional Man, sets the tone for the remaining tracks and features a pounding bassline, fast-paced guitar riffs, and melodious vocals.

One of the most innovative parts of the album is Hunter of the Heart. The song's intro begins with a soft acoustic guitar melody before speeding up into a catchy metal riff. The song points out the idea of social manipulation through marketing and advertisement while supporting the tough line riff.

The album also has more melodic tracks such as Stay Out of my Mind which perfectly balances Dio's heavy metal sound with a more ballad-like delivery. It certainly shows the versatility of the individual music artist with metaphors and outstanding guitar solos. Dio experimentally collaborates with his band members and innovative lyrics that captured the attention of the audience worldwide.

However, the album isn't without its weak spots. Double Monday is a mid-tempo hard rock song that feels out of place with the rest of the tracks on the album. Said track was made as an afterthought with the intention of having a pop sound to it. It did not stick to its concept which makes it excruciatingly unfit for the album.

Dio's Angry Machines is no doubt a fantastic album and a testament to Dio's abilities as a vocalist, songwriter, and musician. Its unique blend of rock and metal, propelled by Dio's signature sound, is a genre of its own and that sounds signature. The album’s social and political lyrics are relevant even today. However, it is not perfect as it struggles with sticking to its theme with tracks such as Double Monday. Despite its weaknesses, Angry Machines is an album that invites and deserves to be listened to by rock and metal enthusiasts who will appreciate its talent and art.