“Dream Evil” came out in 1987 and was Dio’s fourth album. It’s considered by many the band’s last classic album and perhaps their most underrated. The reason many were worried before its release was that guitarist Vivian Campbell had left to join Whitesnake, but his replacement, Craig Goldy, did such a good job that some thought Campbell was still playing.
The record’s sound is darker and heavier than the previous one, “Sacred Heart”, while still keeping the catchy melodies and the use of keyboards on some tracks, like “All the Fools Sailed Away”. The lyrics, as always with Dio, deal with themes of the supernatural and fantasy, with the rhythmic section of Jimmy Bain and Vinny Appice holding everything steady.
“Sunset Superman” stands out with Goldy’s epic riff and the incredibly catchy chorus, and is considered by many the best moment on the record. The title track “Dream Evil”, “Night People”, the ballad “All the Fools Sailed Away” and “I Could Have Been a Dreamer” are also among the fans’ most beloved tracks.
“Dream Evil” got an excellent 5 out of 5 rating from Sputnikmusic. Even though “Holy Diver” and “The Last in Line” are considered Dio’s most important records, “Dream Evil” remains a classic album that deserves the attention of every fan of the genre, with its only downside being its sound production, which shows its age.
