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Holymagica
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 Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 6:29 am Post subject: ~THE DEVIL YOU KNOW~Discussion |
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Released April 28, 2009
Track listing
1."Atom and Evil" – 5:15
2."Fear"– 4:48
3."Bible Black" – 6:29
4."Double the Pain" – 5:25
5."Rock and Roll Angel" – 6:02
6."The Turn of the Screw" – 5:02
7."Eating the Cannibals" – 3:37
8."Follow the Tears" – 6:12
9."Neverwhere" – 4:35
10."Breaking into Heaven" – 6:53
Band
Ronnie James Dio - vocals
Tony Iommi - guitar
Geezer Butler - bass guitar
Vinny Appice - drums |
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DioInfinitum
Joined: 21 May 2010
Posts: 262
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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I purchased this album recently after Dio's passing. I have to be honest, until recently I didn't even know these guys were touring or had recorded their album under the 'Heaven and Hell' moniker because of the 'Black Sabbath' dispute. When they were out last summer, I'd swear they were advertised as Black Sabbath, anyways....
There are many reasons why I like this album. I identify with it as a 'Black Sabbath' album, and I find it annoying that they could not name it as such.
Other than that, there are some incredibly strong tracks on here.
I find The Devil You Know to be one of the most polished sounding albums of their careers together(Dio and Black Sabbath), especially in terms of the luscious sounding production. In terms of tone and sound I feel that they out did themselves.
A few minutes ago I was in my car really analyzing the Atom and Evil lyrics, and by golly, I interpret it a certain way and would like to know what others think. I hear of course a metaphor being told from somewhat from the bible, tying it in with a modern twist. I took the 'apple' to be the atom bomb. Maybe it's obvious, idk?
When he mentions the slider, I imagine the devil tempting with power. Dio keeps referencing fire and burning in the song, so there are strong images of hell, and I imagine the bomb is hell on earth. Did anyone else have this interpretation? In any case, I really like this song.
Other strong tracks for me are:
Bible Black
Follow the Tears
Breaking into Heaven (one of my favorites)
This album can best be described in style as more resembling Dehumanizer. It is dark and very heavy sounding, unlike their two masterpieces from earlier in their career. It's almost a completely different style from their early albums.
I still can't believe this is the last album w/Dio. I can only imagine the new stuff they'd have made.
You could say this album is on the opposite end of the musical universe when compared to Dio's early work in Elf, yet which ever you prefer is up to you. It honestly depends on my mood. There may be a particular Dio song for every day of my life.
I consider this album worth the buy and a strong addition to your Dio catalog.
RIP RONNIE!!!!! |
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M60
Joined: 03 Apr 2010
Posts: 30
Location: Denmark
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| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:48 am Post subject: |
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It's a great album. Sometimes I do think it's almost too heavy sounding, but when I really sit down and listen to it, it's really good. Fantastic riffs, and Dio's vocals sound extremely powerfull.
My favorites must be Atom and Evil, Bible Black, Rock And Roll Angel, Follow The Tears and Breaking Into Heaven.
Though listening to this album makes me kind of depressed atm. |
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fiddlequeen07
Master of the Moon
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Posts: 154
Location: Lubbock, Texas, USA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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I was excited when this album came out last April...although I must admit I was a bit turned off by the cover art.
At first listen, I was afraid it was almost too dark, too heavy, and too scary for my taste. But, knowing as I did that Ronnie had yet to ever disappoint me, I kept listening, and now I thoroughly enjoy this album. I think his voice is at its best here...deep and edgy...perfectly metal. Tony Iommi never fails to write the heaviest riffs imaginable, and yet his solos are somehow very inspiring and hopeful. This whole band is simply amazing.
I can't put this album as my favorite from the H&H lineup, but it is certainly a great piece of work.
I love Ronnie's vocals on Atom and Evil, and Tony's solo on Rock and Roll Angel. Those would have to be my favorite tracks, along with Bible Black and Fear.
On a related note, I consider myself quite blessed to have been able to see these gentlemen twice on stage!
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The Sentinel
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 733
Location: If I'm on-line, sat at the pc
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| Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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This is without any shadow of a doubt, THE strongest album these 4 produced. It's dark & heavy, which is just the way this quartet perform at their best. Scary??? You've gotta be ripping the piss big time!! Dio's lyrics are amongst the best he's ever written, and the whole musical journey is nothing but excellent. As Spinal Tap once said, this one goes to 11... ...
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Sick of all of this
The suffering and we just carry on
Isn't it time we care and lose the hate
Understand our fears |
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Angelic Storm
Joined: 20 May 2010
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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I think 'The Devil You Know' is a bit more one dimensional compared to 'Dehumanizer'. Which might be the reason I dont like it quite as much as that album. As for it being scary, the only moment on the album that sends chills through me, is the ending section of 'Turn Of The Screw'. The last few seconds of it is really ominous, and the way that Ronnie's voice echos while fading away at the end, just adds that final evil touch!
Songs like the aforementioned 'Turn Of The Screw', along with the immense 'Bible Black', 'Double The Pain' (that opening bass line from Geezer is just classic!) and the sole barnstorming moment 'Eating The Cannibals' are definitely among my all time fave Sabbath songs. Like DioInfinitum, I see this album totally as a Black Sabbath album. So much so, that after I ripped the CD to my laptop, I edited the album so it was categorised as a Black Sabbath album.
While it isnt quite as good as 'Dehumanizer', it is a very good album with some truly classic moments within it. Never have Sabbath sounded so gloomy and evil as they do on this album. Not even on 'Dehumanizer'! And in that respect, it stands on its own, and is a unique entity within the Sabbath catalogue. It took me quite a long time to fully get into this album, but now I love it a lot. <33 |
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DioInfinitum
Joined: 21 May 2010
Posts: 262
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:15 am Post subject: |
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I would still like to know the interpretation of 'Atom and Evil' that other people have.
Is it about the atom bomb? Told in the style of a biblical metaphor?
Anyone who has given it thought, I'd like to hear. This tune has grown on me. |
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LindaJeanne
Joined: 06 Jun 2010
Posts: 186
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| Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 5:14 am Post subject: |
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| DioInfinitum wrote: |
I would still like to know the interpretation of 'Atom and Evil' that other people have.
Is it about the atom bomb? Told in the style of a biblical metaphor?
Anyone who has given it thought, I'd like to hear. This tune has grown on me. |
At first listen I had wondered if it was about the atom bomb, but this: "One more promise / We can tame the sun / And then we'll shine forever " sounded more like nuclear power to me; creating energy in the same manner that the sun does. We've gained this tremendous power that we're able to invoke, but not control.
Or, it may be about how once we have nuclear power, we also have the potential for nuclear war-- no way to have the first without the potential for the second.
Or maybe it isn't really distinguishing between the two: nuclear accident or nuclear bomb, we've gained incredible power, but lurking beneath the surface will always be the possibility of disaster and widespread suffering.
The reference to the old "won't you come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly" poem seems to be about luring people into a false sense of comfort with false promises.
And the reference to Adam & Eve-- gaining knowledge so dangerous that you can never go back to life as it was before you knew. Humanity has the capacity to rapidly destroy itself now-- and that will be true as long as civilization as we know it continues to exist. We can't go back to the Eden of having more limited powers of self-destruction.
I like the song, because whatever Ronnie is trying to say here, the message doesn't seem as simplistic as that of most songs dealing with fission. (Actually, that's a big part of what I like about his songs in general, the rich layers of meaning. ) |
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PinkLedRushDio
Joined: 19 Jun 2010
Posts: 191
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| Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:18 am Post subject: |
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This album is so dark and just pure metal. I love every song on here, but my least favorite would be Eating the Cannibals. Just weird. Anyway, it's only been a year and this album is already classic.
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Don't look in his eyes, 'cause he's
Voodoo! |
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DioInfinitum
Joined: 21 May 2010
Posts: 262
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 8:07 am Post subject: |
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I have really been enjoying this album.
I was driving home listening to 'Breaking into Heaven' the other night and I can't help but find the song interesting.
Seriously, because Ronnie passed, I find it a poetic ending to his last album ever, and it comes on the album as the last song.
Is it a metaphor for heaven on earth or is it really about overthrowing God and taking over Heaven?
"High above the world we have it all" - RJD
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"Too many flames, with too much to burn, and life's only made of paper." - RJD |
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PowerKnight
Joined: 17 Aug 2010
Posts: 58
Location: The Castle Tower
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| Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 9:29 am Post subject: |
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Other than the title track which is a real stormer I totally dislike this album and it`s easily the weaker out of all the Sabbath/Dio albums. There are a few good tracks but it`s very average and mediocre and the duration of the songs just don`t go anywhere.
I really hate that slow churner effect they pursued, Ronnie had such a voice it was far better when he was singing faster and it showed his superb vocal range. PowerKnight 
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For I The PowerKnight Hath Taken
Escaped From The Castle
A Damsel Distressed Unto Thee
The PowerKnight Legacy
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DioInfinitum
Joined: 21 May 2010
Posts: 262
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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def appreciate your honesty...I consider about half the album really strong, and the other half more ok.
Heaven and Hell & Mob Rules were complete masterpieces from beginning to end.
I have to say I like the dark direction they took this, or the slow 'churner' effect as you call it. A few songs scream the 'real' sabbath to me, aka Black Sabbath with Dio.
I heard Ozzy say he'd like to do the 'ultimate' black sabbath album the other day. I thought to myself, 'It's been done, and the man who did it with them is gone.'
The 'ultimate' is over to me.
Unless you can find a super Dio, I don't think there will be another 'ultimate' sabbath album. Besides, it's hard to feel the heart in it. I'd have to guess that as 'musicians' and artists, having nothing to do with money, I think they'd rather play with Dio. My two cents.
For money of course, Black Sabbath with Ozzy reunion, Cha CHING!
Really wish I got out to see these guys last summer. I sooooooo had the chance.
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"Too many flames, with too much to burn, and life's only made of paper." - RJD |
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PowerKnight
Joined: 17 Aug 2010
Posts: 58
Location: The Castle Tower
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| Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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Of course Ronnie had still so much more to offer and as well as Ronnie back in a headlining act where he belonged both Iommi/Butler needed Ronnie as much as he needed them. Now the magic has gone and it looks like their options are shortened with Ozzy being mention as a possible reunion once again? PowerKnight
_________________
Joust With Thee
For I The PowerKnight Hath Taken
Escaped From The Castle
A Damsel Distressed Unto Thee
The PowerKnight Legacy
A Dio Disciple And A Blackmore Knight |
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PinkLedRushDio
Joined: 19 Jun 2010
Posts: 191
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| Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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| PowerKnight wrote: |
| Of course Ronnie had still so much more to offer and as well as Ronnie back in a headlining act where he belonged both Iommi/Butler needed Ronnie as much as he needed them. Now the magic has gone and it looks like their options are shortened with Ozzy being mention as a possible reunion once again? PowerKnight |
Well it's either Ozzy, Gillan, or Martin reunion or a new group. I will take either or all. Anything that Tony does usually ends up to be quite good.
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So if a stranger sees you
Don't look in his eyes, 'cause he's
Voodoo! |
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LindaJeanne
Joined: 06 Jun 2010
Posts: 186
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| Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 3:39 am Post subject: |
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| PowerKnight wrote: |
| I really hate that slow churner effect they pursued, Ronnie had such a voice it was far better when he was singing faster and it showed his superb vocal range. PowerKnight |
Personally, as a doom metal fan I love how doomy this album sounds. I like how they pushed the edges of what they'd done before, while still sounding like Sabbath. This shows off different characteristics of Ronnies voice than the faster stuff (most of which I also love).
| DioInfinitum wrote: |
I heard Ozzy say he'd like to do the 'ultimate' black sabbath album the other day. I thought to myself, 'It's been done, and the man who did it with them is gone.'
The 'ultimate' is over to me.
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I thought the same thing. Ozzy had the chance to shoot for the "ultimate" black sabbath album during their reunion back in the 90's. Once again, he dropped the ball and Dio picked it up and ran with it for a touchdown.
Ozzy's done some great work in the past. But even if the guys decide they want to work with him again, I don't see how an album with today's Ozzy could possibly top this one.
Come lie on a bed of nails and slumber
Rise up but the hands all pull you down
My sunshine is wind and rain and thunder
I sing but I can't make a song |
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