RISING

Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow definitely consolidated themselves as a hard rock powerhouse with second album 'Rising', released in 1976 and featuring an updated lineup with newcoming drummer Cozy Powell, bassist Jimmy Bain and keyboard player Tony Carey, arguably forming (alongside Blackmore and Dio) the most solid and successful lineup of the British band. 'Rising' eventually takes up where the debut album had left off, but this Rainbow effort seems to be more focused on the rock aspects of the band's music, developing even further Blackmore's neo-classical guitar experiments and capturing a significantly more epic, towering and impeccable sound, which could have only rendered this album more elusive in its heaviness. Dropping off early attempts at writing boogie rock numbers, this LP is a more consistent, more focused work that is definitely progressive at its core in terms of approaching the traditional rock sound of the 70s and stretching it out to an early form of heavy metal.

Just six tracks appear on the two sides of the original release, and one immediately understands that this album is all about that sonic onslaught, fast-paced riffing, a groovy and rock-solid rhythm section, the occasional appearances of fascinating keyboard sections or solos, all topped by the monstrous vocal performance of Ronnie James Dio, an immaculate singer who had set a solid standard for all rock vocalists to come. Blackmore's guitar is quite upfront on 'Rising', as he offers several virtuosic solos along the way, together with numerous iconic, chunky riffs, unlike his more melodic, soulful and medieval-esque approach on the debut album. It becomes quite difficult to pick a favorite track off this album, a virtually perfect collection, since the menacing march-like opener 'Tarot Woman' delivers that signature classic Rainbow sound in spades, while 'Run With the Wolf' is a groovier number offering the excellent and beautiful musical phrasing of Dio. Then come the hard-rocking 'Starstruck' and 'Do You Close Your Eyes', and what is there to say about the two epic 8-minute pieces on side two, 'Stargazer' and 'A Light in the Black', capturing Rainbow at their most adventurous, introspective and grandiose - a fantastic album that has undoubtedly withstood the test of time.

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