Heavy Music History: The Devil You Know – Heaven And Hell
When Ronnie James Dio replaced the legendary Ozzy Osbourne as the frontman of BLACK SABBATH in 1979, many were skeptical. Skeptical of whether or not Dio’s grand, classically influenced vocals would gel with the riff centric darker edge of SABBATH. They were also skeptical of SABBATH as whole, could they continue to be the force they had forged without a very central piece of the creative puzzle. 19080s debut of the new look lineup Heaven and Hell and the swift follow up, 1981’s Mob Rules soon put doubts to rest. BLACK SABBATH found within Dio and re-energised focus, different from Ozzy, certainly but just as formidable. Dio himself seem to come alive. His work with RAINBOW had made him a star in his own right, yet by combining with BLACK SABBATH he cemented a legacy as an elite metal vocalist and hero to many.
Fast forward a decade and several SABBATH lineup changes, the fates (and contractual obligations) conspired to bring together Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinnie Appice (Appice had appeared on drums for SABBATH’s Mob Rules following the departure of Bill Ward). BLACK SABBATH as a band had been in somewhat of a doldrum period. Having had all original members save Iommi depart at various stages between 1981 and 1992 with not everything released being a hit with either fans or critics. Nevertheless, this reunion of sorts resulted in Dehumanizer. Often overlooked, yet it is one of the standout moments in what became a slightly chequered period. It is markedly heavier and darker than some of the preceding releases and contains some undeniably excellent tracks.
In the early 2000s Tony Iommi began work on a collection to be entitled, BLACK SABBATH: The Dio Years. While Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules and Dehumanizer formed the basis for a collection, it is reported that Iommi felt there was nothing extra to include from the vaults of those past recordings. He wanted to give the album a bit more punch that just selected tracks from that trilogy of work. Thus, the seed was sown to bring the Mob Rules and Dehumanizer line-up back together. Three new songs were penned. The Devil Cried, Shadow of The Wind and Ear in the Wall. All three of which would appear as the closing tracks of the main part of the Dio Years compilation. While this is not something new in the world of retrospective compilation releases and certainly not surprising for a band of BLACK SABBATH’s sizeable legacy. There was something in the air when it came to these new tracks. In various interviews, neither Dio nor Iommi were under the impression that these three tracks would lead to anything more. Dio had his project and SABBATH had been reunited with Ozzy since 1997. There was no question that Dio would rejoin and have a second lineup of BLACK SABBATH. Be that as it may, the four musicians were determined to make something work.
A follow up tour was announced, and while it was heralded by fans and critics alike as a tremendous ‘comeback. Again, nobody wanted to commit to anything being long term, the tour was a one-off celebration. It seems though, that when a collaboration as strong as the bond between Iommi and Dio becomes apparent. One can only say no for so long. The decision was made to record a full album with Geezer Butler and Vinnie Appice returning on rhythm duties. The ten track The Devil You Know released in April 2009 was the result. Thunderous and full of everything fans of both SABBATH and Dio would love. Admittedly some of the lyrics only worked because of Dio. For example, the single Bible Black, were it to be sung by anyone other than Dio, would lose all of its potency and potentially descend into pantomime. However, all of the component parts; the musicians, the songwriting, the production combined to generate a sublime heavy metal album. It stands apart from BLACK SABBATH yet shares the same DNA.
It is darker and suitably heavier than previous incarnations of SABBATH. It retained an element (to be expected) of everything that these musicians had been involved with in the past, however, the alchemy of the process gave the world an album of indisputable individual quality. It was therefore only fitting that a different name should be attributed to the release. One of the reasons cited for the HEAVEN AND HELL name being used was to avoid confusion between the Ozzy Osbourne and Dio fronted line-ups of BLACK SABBATH. It would ensure that people attending the Dio fronted shows would not expect to hear Ozzy era setlists.
Ultimately the project was a commercial and critical success. Fans flocked to the HEAVEN AND HELL shows to hear both these new tracks and the Dio era of songs from years previous. The band was comfortable in its skin and The Devil You Know became a success in its own right. With the world now treated to this line-up as well as the reunited Ozzy BLACK SABBATH. There was a lot of excitement. Ultimately though, HEAVEN AND HELL is a story that begins and ends with Ronnie James Dio. His joining in 1979 was a catalyst for unrealised potential for BLACK SABBATH. His subsequent rejoining with old bandmates created some magic that the heavy music world missed. It was also his passing in 2010 that took away the prospect of more. It also left a hole in the music world that was never to be filled. The passing of a legend that left a legacy to be cherished.
With the rerelease of The Devil You Know, complete with an abundance of extras including live performances of the HEAVEN AND HELL lineup. There is now a fitting tribute to a band that outshone the shadow of its beginnings to leave a lasting mark.
The Devil You Know was originally released on April 24th, 2009 via Roadrunner Records.
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