Dio: Live in London–Hammersmith Apollo 1993

Metal man Ronny James Dio was wrapping up a European tour with a revised lineup for this 1993 concert at London's Hammersmith Apollo. Only a year before, he had reunited with Black Sabbath to record Dehumanizer, so it's only natural that he includes Sabbath songs in the set, such as “The Mob Rules” and “Heaven and Hell.” The rest of the material hails from his solo career (not counting Rainbow's “Man on the Silver Mountain”), including selections from 1993's Strange Highways with the same players that appear on the album: bassist Jeff Pilson, guitarist Tracy G, keyboard player Scott Warren, and sometime Black Sabbath drummer Vinny Appice. Unlike some Dio shows, the group here eschews props (such as the giant dragon in 1986's Finding the Sacred Heart), concentrating on the playing, which features solos for guitar, bass, and drums, while eight Marshall amp stacks ensure a rich and powerful sound. It's otherwise a fairly standard set with no real highlights or low lights, although signature tracks such as “Holy Diver” and “The Last in Line” come across best due to stronger songwriting. The group energetically performs 17 numbers in all, including a three-song encore, presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray. Extras include a featurette with backstage band member interviews. Recommended. (K. Fennessy)