~ANGRY MACHINES~Discussion

Holymagica · Guest

Released October 15, 1996
Cd Track List
Institutional Man
Don't Tell The Kids
Black
Hunter Of The Heart
Stay Out Of My Mind
Big Sister
Double Monday
Golden Rules
Dying In America
This Is Your Life

Band
Ronnie James Dio – Vocals
Tracy G – Guitars
Jeff Pilson – Bass
Vinny Appice – Drums
Scott Warren – Keyboards

DioInfinitum · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 262 Location: Denver, CO

I am somewhat surprised by people's negative reactions to this album. I alway feel that an artist needs to grow and try new things.

I dug the 'modern' theme of this album.

And also,
Intitutional Man
Hunter of the Heart
Big Sister
Stay out Of My Mind
and
This is Your Life

are all amazing songs. Perhaps Dio fans might wanna give a listen again. I popped this album in yesterday and I was loving these songs.

This is Your Life is just simply beautiful. I love it.

Holymagica · Guest

DioInfinitum..I am with you, this is good cd.
I like the ones you have listed, I also like Golden Rules.
This is another that is not dated either.
Ronnie's vocals are so powerful on this cd.

fiddlequeen07 · Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 12:42 pm Post subject:

It took me a few listens to get in to this album, but now I really like it. Ronnie's vocals on Institutional Man are angry enough to make me cringe...even now that I know it's coming: "Sometimes I know I need new parts for my brain!"

I love the way the guitar parts illustrate the album theme--it's like the music itself created the album cover art. I love it.

My favorites are Don't Tell the Kids, Big Sister, Golden Rules, and This Is Your Life. Powerful messages in all, I think.
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DioInfinitum · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 262 Location: Denver, CO

Yes, this is a markedly angry sounding album.

Not only do I like the music, but Ronnie's vocals as you said were very angry.

I am also intrigued by the lyrics.

There were many Dio albums I found off putting upon first listening, but as many albums have done in my life, they became wrapped around my ear.

Another truth someone said was that this album was not released in a 'good' period for heavy metal.

I don't feel this is a cheesy album, but it is certainly an angry sounding album.

richierich · Joined: 30 May 2010 Posts: 20

I was working in a record shop in London when this album came out, and things had got so bad for metal in the UK at that time. Every so often an album from one of the "old guard" would sneak it's way out into the shelves, but it was a rare occurrence. Kerrang had sold out completely by this point, so news about mto metal bands was very hard to come by. The UK was relatively slow in getting up to speed with the internet, and not many people were online in 1996, so it was a case of keeping an eye on the shelves in the stores and seeing what came out.

I was so excited to see "Angry Machines" had come out, as I hadn't heard anything about Dio since 1994, and I snapped the album up straight away.

I've read interviews with both ROnnie and Tracy in which they say that there was a bit of pressure on them to sound more contemporary on this album - I think vocal and riff wise, they sound like they're carrying on from "Strange Highways". The only thing I would have liked to hear would have been more solos from Tracy.

In the sleevenotes for the 1996 reissue of the album, Ronnie said that the band were going for a more rhythmic approach, and you can definitely hear that - Vinnie and tracy lock in together very well, and there are some very intricate time changes and riff phrasings. Vinnie in particular really shines on the album.

I definitely have to be in the right mood for this album, but I really enjoy it. I seem to remember on first listen that "Institutional Man" really jumped out at me as a great opener. Some of the other songs took a couple of listens to sink in, but that's been the case with quite a few albums that I now really enjoy.

Given the time it came out, I think "Angry Machines" was a good album that still stands up well.
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adiszul · Holy Diver Joined: 12 Nov 2009 Posts: 185 Location: Poland

this is very underrated cs...not even close to Strange highways but i can give angry machines 7.5/10...
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Iommi · Joined: 09 Oct 2009 Posts: 36

After several re-listens this year i can finally say i found some songs on this album i like. ''This is your life'' is probably the best track on the album. Allso i think that the cd wouldn't have been so hard to get into if it had a proper sound Mix to begin with. The album feels terribly plodding at times. I just couldn't remember how any of the songs sounded the first 5 or so times i listened to the album (except for Black. that one was allways memorable)

P.S Am i the only one that thinks ''Don't tell the kids''sounds like an old Megadeth song?

DioInfinitum · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 262 Location: Denver, CO

fiddlequeen07 · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:46 pm Post subject:

I've listened to plenty of Megadeth in my time, and while the general style of music is similar, I'm not so sure I hear how "Don't Tell the Kids" sounds like any Megadeth song I've heard. I would also be curious to know if you had a specific track in mind, Iommi?

Of course, it could be that I am so heavily biased in favor of DIO that I refuse to believe they sound at all like Megadeth. Embarassed

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olivious the drummer · Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:22 am Post subject:

Holymagica will be pleased to hear that I have finally 'got into' some of this album (I have always found it the hardest of all the Dio albums to like) but having my entire Dio collection on Random play I have been getting bits and pieces of this album played and I have to say I have got into Double Monday, Institutional Man, Big Sister, Hunter of the Heart but the greatest gift this album has is This is Your Life.......awsome vocal.

I think my issue with the album was that it wasnt classic rock or the familar Dio sound......but now I have given it many goes I think I am finally getting it!! I'll keep going with the random play as I am 'discovering' something new........and I like that! Very Happy

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Holymagica · Guest

oli

Glad to hear you are loving the cd.

olivious the drummer · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 3:37 am Post subject:

Must be in the right place to finally `get it`. But its great as i have been rediscovering so much of Ronnies music in the past few weeks.
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LindaJeanne · Joined: 06 Jun 2010 Posts: 186

The album isn't going to "work" when expecting something that sounds like anything else that Ronnie has done. It needs to be listened to on it's own merits, which is easier said than done.

To any Dio fans about to listen to it for the first time: I recommend thinking of it as a side-project rather than a Dio album the first time through. It's got some great songs, but it doesn't sound anything like the other albums.

(I'd really like to find a way to get a hold of God Hates Heavy Metal. I've heard it on YouTube, but my version of Angry Machines is just the ordinary one without the bonus track. I'm hoping at some point Niji releases a rare tracks/bonus tracks/b-sides type compilation).

DioInfinitum · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 262 Location: Denver, CO

I would like to second that wish for a Niji release of rare b-side/never released tracks.

I'm so hardcore of a Dio fan that I'd love to hear rare demos. I get a kick out of the development of songs, from starting as a scratch idea on tape to the fully crafted song.
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