Holy Diver

Dio

1983

3.42

Rating

Votes

38%

34%

14%

Distribution

Genres: Rock, Metal Styles: Heavy Metal, Hard Rock

User Submitted Album

View Submitter's Profile

Album Summary

Holy Diver is the debut studio album by the American heavy metal band Dio, released in 1983. The album was acclaimed by the music press and is the band's most successful album. Released on May 25, 1983, the album has been hailed by critics as Dio's best work and a classic staple in the heavy metal genre. The album was certified gold in the US on September 12, 1984, and platinum on March 21, 1989. In the UK it attained Silver certification (60,000 units sold) by the British Phonographic Industry, achieving this in January 1986, at the same time as The Last in Line. The album art is illustrated by Randy Berrett. It features the band's mascot Murray, a demonic creature, pulling or whipping a snapped metal chain and a Catholic priest flailing and splashing around in a body of water, wrapped up and locked in the other end of the broken chain. Dio was quick to argue that appearances are misleading, that it could just as easily be a priest killing a devil, wanting people not to "judge a book by its cover". Murray is featured on several other Dio albums.

Reviews

Sort by: Popular Date Random

Rating: All 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1★

Length: All Short Long

Mar 19 2026 Author

I think I heard pieces of this many times through my high school and college years… at the time is wasn’t my think and I was warned that the “DIO” logo spelled “DEVIL” somehow. Hmmmm… looks more like IDILAD now that I study it. My strong familiarity for and appreciation of “Holy Diver” came from a cover version by Pat Boone released in 1997. I immediately recognized "Rainbow in the Dark" from hearing it around. Both are great songs. I can see why this album would be suggested. I liked it!

Mar 22 2026 Author

Heavy metal. Varios megahits. Vinilo, va, por la mejor voz del heavy.

Mar 22 2026 Author

I kind of miss this old style metal, which seems to have survived less into the new century than various subgenres it spawned. This certainly belongs in the pantheon of foundational albums.

Mar 23 2026 Author

This ripped – seen this one mentioned countless times in pop culture, but had never listened beyond the title track. Though some parts drag or feel a bit homogeneous, the heavy instrumentals and Dio's insane vocals make the whole LP feel like some epic quest in sonic form. Enjoyed rocking out to this one all in all, great to see some classic, narrative-driven heavy metal on here.

Apr 05 2026 Author

OG crazy metal that makes you think about Jack Black

Mar 24 2026 Author

I'm or was not a heavy metal fan, but this list made me adore Iron Maiden as a band I always overlooked. So maybe that statement is history. Holy Diver is an album by Dio who is a legendary heavy metal singer. He was also the singer of Black Sabbath for a while. The vocals on this album are great. The songwriting is ok, but not great. Also the songs vary between subpar Iron Maiden heavy metal and mediocre ACDC hard rock. It's not bad, but not good either and certainly not my cup of tea.

Mar 24 2026 Author

All time classic

Apr 16 2026 Author

Great stuff. Dio's voice just works for me (probably why I love the early Rainbow records). It's what I want out of metal vocals. My personal rating: 4/5 My rating relative to the list: 4/5 Should this have been included on the original list? Yes.

Apr 17 2026 Author

I grew up in the early 90s very much as a child of grunge. I was 13 when Eddie Vedder sang - while you were sitting home alone at age 13. So my early and most powerful music development was the years that killed this type of metal/hard rock. Only now am I opening my mind to it and appreciating what it was. Dio has been a name I’ve seen around and known of forever. This was my first time sitting down to a record. I really enjoyed it. For anyone who is skeptical of this type of music I would suggesting sitting down and properly listening to it with an open mind. You may find you enjoy way more than you think.

Apr 18 2026 Author

Metaaaaaal!

Apr 20 2026 Author

Our Lord and Savior Ronald James Dio. Stand Up and Shout fucking rips. Holy Diver has never been my favorite but its solid. Very cool but feels dated in 2026.

Apr 21 2026 Author

4.5

Mar 20 2026 Author

A stone cold classic

Mar 27 2026 Author

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Caught in the middle

Mar 27 2026 Author

Good classic 80’s metal, could make room for this on the list.

Mar 29 2026 Author

This isn't even really my go-to type of metal or anything, but I mean, it's kind of impossible to not enjoy it at least slightly. Metal classic, kinda crazy this wasn't on the original list. Strong 3/5.

Mar 29 2026 Author

Enjoyable

Apr 09 2026 Author

Pretty fun, honestly

Apr 11 2026 Author

A solid suggestion for an album missed out of the original list. Certainly Holy Diver and Rainbow in the Dark are iconic songs. That said, Dio has never been my favorite, not quite ridiculous enough for me to feel like it is good fun but also not quite serious enough to do something for me in that direction either.

Apr 13 2026 Author

Back when heavy metal was pretty tame and the lead singer could belt out notes. Holy Diver the album is a solid early 80s album that had the themes of some early metal with the rock of the arena bands that ruled the 80s. Holy Diver the song is a classic and deserves its praise. The remainder of the album is an energy filled ride that is fun and exciting from start to finish. 7.5/10

Apr 25 2026 Author

The opening track sets the bar very high. Fast and furious. I don't like the rest as much. They're obviously good at what they do, I just don't like midtempo heavy rock. The best feature is the singer. He has a very powerful voice and he actually has it under control, unlike some of his colleagues.