RISING

After releasing a promising debut album, Ritchie Blackmore chose to replace everyone except singer Ronnie James Dio for the next album, a gamble which would pay off. The Blackmore/Dio combination would reach it's peak with this album.

The opening song 'Tarot Woman' sets the standard. Beginning with a spacy keyboard feel, as soon as those drums kick in you know you're in for a great ride with this album! A brilliant opening song. Following this are three solid tracks. 'Run With the Wolf', 'Starstruck' and 'Do You Close Your Eyes' are all good, solid, shorter songs. But all will be eclipsed by what comes next...

And then comes the opus. 'Stargazer' is a masterpiece, a grandiose eight and a half minute epic recorded with the Munich Philarmonic Orchestra - This song is worth the price of the album alone. A great symphonic feel similar to Led Zeppelin's 'Kasmir', and Dio's superb vocals are the icing on the cake, this one should definately not be missed.

The final track 'A Light in the Black' is a vastly under-rated song, and among the best on this album. Blackmore really shines with an awesome solo, and again Dio gives a great vocal performance. Not quite up to the standard of Stargazer, but it's close.

Rising is without doubt the best Rainbow album, one of the greatest moments for hard rock, and a major influence for the power metal and progressive metal bands which would follow. One of my favourite albums of all time, and I'm happy to award it with five stars.

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