review by thomas

Once honoured with "Best Hard Rock Album" in a serious poll, one can understand that to a certain degree but in reality it's slightly exaggerated. It's the "real" Rainbow though; Ronnie James Dio (vocals), Ritchie Blackmore (guitars), Tony Carey (keyboards), Jimmy Bain (bass) and the been-a-member-of-every-band-in-the-universe drummer Cozy Powell. Ronnie's voice is in great shape; mighty, mystical (due to the lyrics?) and pleasant, Ritchie delivers some of his best riffs ("Tarot Woman", "Stargazer", "Run With the Wolf"), Cozy's drums are thunderous. The keyboards are present way back in the sound on songs like "Do You Close Your Eyes", "Run With the Wolf" and "Starstruck" but more prominent on "Tarot Woman", "Stargazer" and "A Light In the Black".

Now to my explanation why the record's overrated (slightly overrated that is). First: I don't have any information concerning which song they (probably the record company) put out as a single, but "Starstruck" sounds like an attempt to charge the charts. Further: "Do You Close Your Eyes" is a decent 3-minute rocker but questionable and with tame lyrics. So the criticism ends and the praise begins. The two other tracks on side A (besides "Starstruck" and "Do You...") are both real gems, "Tarot Woman" opens with a keyboard swirl before Blackmore riffs in, "Run With the Wolf" are a great short rocker.

Side B consists of just two - lyrically connected - songs: "Stargazer" and "A Light In the Black". "Stargazer" is so good it's hard to describe. It's heavy, real heavy but at the end the Munich (the album was recorded there) Philharmonic Orchestra comes in, splendid, indeed. "A Light In the Black" is just as heavy and features two powerful solos from Ritchie, he bends those strings like a madman.

I suggest you put "Rising" on and just marvel!