Dio
Intermisssion

During these days, I have taken to dusting off the old Dio records that had been lying covered in dust for years. I could have reviewed one of his major albums, but, in my view, it is more interesting to talk about the smaller releases.

So, having inserted the live EP "Intermission" from 1986 into my stereo, I dedicated myself to examining its strengths and its less successful points. I hope you will enjoy the following review and that you may read it while listening to a track from the work (e.g., "Sacred Heart").

The album opens with the ideal opener of the era: "King of Rock'n'Roll" is a fast and engaging track, very "Dio" in its sound, with a driving rhythm and a catchy refrain. This is well-played and immediately makes two things clear, one positive and one negative: the band is at its best, and the production is dirty and a bit confused. "Rainbow in The Dark" is nothing more than a welcome excerpt from an excellent debut and entertains with a playful use of keyboards. Of quite a different caliber is the title track from the last album released at the time, which shows a good live relevance, being epic and perhaps a minute longer than necessary. "Sacred Heart" talks about dragons, wizards, and fantasy themes, and proves appropriate and memorable, especially in this version. The album also contains a long medley of "Rock and Roll Children," "Long Live Rock and Roll," and "Man on the Silver Mountain." Good performance here too, although nearly ten minutes in a row can be heavy. The classic "We Rock" closes the album wonderfully, with all the energy that made the "elf" famous in a more engaging and faster outfit than on "The Last in Line". There remains "Time to Burn," the new studio piece of the EP, which represents a good point in favor of the album, being melodic and vigorous at the same time, with a catchy chorus and a good drive. A good EP that demonstrates all the band’s live relevance, but due to production flaws and a really skimpy length, it will make the more demanding and those used to modern and well-defined live productions frown.

This "Intermission" is the band's first live testimony and is therefore an important piece of their discography, able to provide a partial picture of what it meant to attend a "Dio" live show in those years. Rating 3.5