Holy Diver

1983 debut studio album by Dio

Holy Diver is the first studio album by Dio, an American heavy metal band. It was released in 1983. In October 1982, Singer Ronnie James Dio had left Black Sabbath to make his own band. Black Sabbath's drummer, Vinny Appice, joined Dio, as well as bassist Jimmy Bain and guitarist Vivian Campbell. The band made the album in 1983, and released it on May 25.

Holy Diver
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 25, 1983 (1983-05-25)
Recorded1983
StudioSound City Studios (Van Nuys, California)
GenreHeavy metal[1][2][3]
Length41:29[4]
LabelWarner Bros. (North America)
Vertigo (UK)
Mercury (Europe and Japan)
ProducerRonnie James Dio
Singles from Holy Diver
  1. "Holy Diver"
    Released: August 1983
  2. "Rainbow in the Dark"
    Released: October 21, 1983

Holy Diver is Dio's best selling album. Many critics liked the album, and it has been named one of the best heavy metal albums of the 1980s. It went to number 56 on the Billboard 200, an American music chart. It has been certified platinum by the RIAA.

Track listing change

All lyrics written by Ronnie James Dio[5]

Side one
No. Title Length
1. "Stand Up and Shout"   3:15
2. "Holy Diver"   5:54
3. "Gypsy"   3:39
4. "Caught in the Middle"   4:15
5. "Don't Talk to Strangers"   4:53
Side two
No. Title Length
1. "Straight Through the Heart"   4:32
2. "Invisible"   5:26
3. "Rainbow in the Dark"   4:15
4. "Shame on the Night"   5:20
Total length:
41:29[4]

References change

  1. "The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All time". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. June 21, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  2. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Dio - Holy Diver Review". AllMusic. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  3. Rivadavia, Eduardo (April 19, 2016). "Dio Albums Ranked Worst to Best". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Holy Diver - Dio | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  5. "Dio (2) - Holy Diver". Discogs.