Dio - Sacred Heart [Yellow]

Ronnie James Dio's Sacred Heart arrives on yellow vinyl, a bright shade for the band's third album and one of the most melodic records of their classic era.

Released in 1985, it followed Holy Diver and The Last in Line with the same core lineup: Vivian Campbell on guitar, Jimmy Bain on bass, Vinny Appice on drums and Claude Schnell on keyboards. Dio produced it himself, and it turned out to be the last Dio album with Campbell, who left during the tour that followed, closing the book on the original band.

The sound leans harder into keyboards and arena-sized hooks than its predecessors, without losing the menace. King of Rock and Roll opens the record with a swaggering strut, Rock 'n' Roll Children turns a coming-of-age fable into a fist-raised anthem, and Hungry for Heaven glides on shimmering synths toward a soaring chorus.

The title track keeps the mysticism front and center, with Dio doing what he always did best, making the fantastical sound urgent and completely believable. Campbell's solos are fierce and tightly wound throughout, and the rhythm section hits like a hammer.

For metal fans who wore out the first two albums, this is the natural third chapter, and the yellow pressing makes a cheerful addition to any Dio shelf.