Disco de Dio: “Angry Machines”

Ahh, Angry Machines (1996), the album that is widely regarded to be at the bottom of the Dio barrel. This was the last studio album I needed to finish my Dio collection a little over two years ago; I had held off buying it for as long as possible as a result of the reviews, however it is just not possible to say no to Dio, so I plunked down the $15 to order up a brand new copy.

Imagine my surprise on my first listen when I found myself enjoying the album. I had prepared myself to be bummed out by the album, but what I found is that it is actually worth listening to (which at times is more then I can say about 90% of Lock up the Wolves.) I find Strange Highways to be one of Dio's stronger works, and while this is not necessarily the best way to follow it up, it certainly isn't the worst.

In fact, just looking at the lyrics, it's easy to see Dio has actually progressed, embraced the 90's, and tried something new. Granted, the lyrics are still laced with Dioisms ("another burning by the devil") they still are a cut above, I would say, most of the Dio solo lyrics, and frankly, just about all the lyrics that followed this album (Magica - terrible, Killing the Dragon - embarassing, Master of the Moon - we're getting better, sorta). Of course, lyrics are not really a Dio srongsuit - his strength lies in songwriting.

Unfortunately for Angry Machines, its major weakness is it's songwriting. To be sure, there are some good songs here, but most are average, or worse. They suffer from odd arrangements, poor mixes, and a general sense of "What the hell is going on here?"

The album kicks off with "Institutional Man", which is actually a damn good song. It starts with a thudding Tracy G riff (with some eerie clean work in the background.) Dio sounds as creepy as ever here. In fact, this song really evokes some darkness from Dio - and he sometimes actually sounds like he is insane. I like Tracy G's work here a lot. Pounding riffs, thudding riffs, and frantic solos lay the foundation for a track that sounds incredibly out of place with 95% of Dio's catalog.

"Don't Tell The Kids" starts of great. Vinnie actually realizes he has feet, and G kicks in with a rockin' riff. This song is fast and furious. I don't really care for the voice (I hate to say it, but Dio is the weakest linke here...) - that said, it's still not bad. The rest of the song never matches up to the intro. Unfortunately this song is forgettable. We started off great, but we're losing steam already... does "Black" pick things back up? Sorta. I like the riffing here, but I don't like the Dio... he's just not cut out for screaming. That said, this song isn't all bad... but still, it's not moving the album forward enough.

Fortunately "Hunter of the Heart", with a slick little bass intro, kicks the proceedings back up a notch. I love the main riff in this song. This is a good song, but suffers from the production. Listen to the live version of this song on Last in Live - much better. That's due to the mix. It just lacks teeth here.

"Stay Out Of My Mind" is the longest song here, clocking in at 7:11 (no, really). I like this song too. Good intro, good chorus (Dio's doin' nice here). It is a bit too long though. "Big Sister" is weird. The last song evoked some 1984's sentiments, and this sorta does in its title. I like the keyboards on this song. They add a nice touch, without going overboard. I don't like the chorus on this track though.

"Double Monday" is a short, fast-paced tune. I can't say I really like it, but it's pretty good (I think the title is pretty stupid though...)

The last three songs represent the highlight of the album for me. We start off with "Golden Rules". I love this song. It's a mid-tempo rocker. Dio sounds good here, so does G. Then we have "Dying In America" - another good one. Maybe even the best song of the album. Starts of slow and quiet and builds from there. I think this song captures the overall style Dio was shooting for with this album. It really works here. Dio modernizes his sound and maintains the songwriting.

"This Is Your Life" sounds nothing like the rest of the album. It's extremely out of place. On this song we find Dio backed by piano. It's overly dramatic, features some damn good vocals from Dio, and, well hell, is damn good. The lyrics drip with Dioisms, but who cares, the words just SOUND good coming from Dio. There's also some synths that add another layer of acessibility to the song. Props to Dio on this song

Overall, I find Angry Machines to be a misguided effort. Dio's worst? No. Best? No. A little help in the production and songwriting departments would've gone a long way to making this album better. I think if Dio would've worked at it, and taken the best elements of Dehumanizer, Strange Highways, and Angry Machines he could've had an awesome album on his hands. Unfortunately after Angry Machines, he regressed back into slow, overly keyboardic, fantasy, diatribe.

In 1996, there were some things missing in the music scene. No one was doing original, straight forward, non-tampered-with albums. So what does Dio do? Make the most raw album in the Dio catalog. Angry Machines is heavy, dark, original and hrd rock that is in your face. Black and Big Sister stand out as the hard rockers. Along with Don't tell the Kids. The string arrangement on Stay out of my Mind is a nice suprise. And This is your Life is the perfect, relaxing closer for the album. So if you are looking for a straight forward hard rock album with the feel of Sabbath. Angry Machines is a good buy.

Whan you're a Dio fan you have to expect a number of things. Lyrics of medieval fantasy and mystic variety, repatition of curtain phrases from past albums such as Rainbow's, eyes and my all time favourite line Digital Dreams. But the main point to this, is that as Dio fans, you come to expect constantly altinating line-up's and album styles. It is this reason that I consider Angry Machines to be nothing more than a triumph.

If you have a day with nothing to do and you own all or nearly all of Dio's albums I recomend that you listen to them all back to back in order and you will hear how his sound has changed and progressed since Holy Diver.

The album itself is yet more proof that Ronnie refuses to be tied down to one style of music. I am fed up of hearing people say "I'm Dio's biggest fan but every album after Last in Line is crap." If they were truely Dio fans then they would recognise the greatness of albums such as Dream Evil, Strange Highways and my personal favourite Lock up the Wolves.

Angry Machines is a heavier album even than Strange Highways and it does not exactly have what people would consider 'structured' songs. The songs convay the exact feeling of the album, its angry, careless attitude is brought out perfectly in songs like Stay Out of My Mind. The album thunders along becoming steadily angrier until it seems that Dio has exausted all his rage and ends the album with the beautiful track This is Your Life. This consists only of a piano and Ronnie singing some of the most powerful lyrics I have ever heard. this is the best song of the album along with Hunter of the Heart.

If you're one of those 'so-called' Dio fans who hate everything that doesn't start with 'Holy' and end with 'Diver' then it's pointless you even buying it. but for you real fans of the greatest band and the greatest singer of all time, then if you buy this album you will be treated to a album of character and power.

Dio Rocks. It's a fact.

I love this album, as of all of Dio's, sure its heavier, but is great, has great riffs, keys, bass, and of course drums, i didnt think institutional man should have been the opened song for the band though eithr, though i like the song, but u need something speedy for a dio opening, dont tell the kids, love how it opens with the drums, and all othr tracs rock, great lyrics as usual, and at the end song this is your life, wow what a great song, so powerful and poignant, but if u love dio u need to get this album its really good, it might sound alittle diffrnt maybe even heavier, but it is fine dio, just take time and get the feel of it

I had heard this was like Strange Highways and, since that is a great album, I had to get this one. While this is not the same sound as Strange Highways, it is equally heavy. I have always enjoyed Holy Diver and Last in Line, but I felt there were some weaknesses in his ensuing albums (Sacred Heart and Dream Evil) with too many weak filler songs and too much synthesizer even on the better tracks. I love the dark, heavy stuff Dio does like Strange Highways and his Sabbath/Heaven and Hell albums. This album is in that same vein and is hard driving and extremely heavy...Tracy G. rocks on lead guitar! It has a bunch of outstanding, catchy songs on it (Institutional Man, Hunter of the Heart, Dying in America, Double Monday, Don't Tell the Kids, Black, and Stay Out of My Mind). There is certainly no light and/or overly synthesized stuff on here, save for the light final track (This Is Your Life). It took me a few listens to get into it, but once I did, it was well worth it. Dio took a chance with this and, imo, it paid off huge! I would recommend it to both Dio fans and fans of heavy metal looking for something new.