At the video store when I couldn’t stand watching any more movies, which was rare, I would try to get some music playing. The morning guy would always have the radio playing, and since the traffic going into the store was really low in the mornings, he wouldn’t even turn the television sets on. He would just sit and read his massive novel. He would always be reading, and I didn’t blame him. I once took his shift during my summer vacation and I was bored to death. The only customers that come into the video store before the afternoon and school lets out, are perverts. Porno rentals were high during the week days, while all other dvd rentals were non existent. While I was thinking about all this, I was reminded of a commercial I saw this weekend in promotion to the new Dio and Black Sabbath box set, so here it is…my recommendation, not so much a review of a box set worth picking up.

In 1979 Black Sabbath reformed after losing Ozzy Osbourne, and in his place came a troll of a singer named Ronnie James Dio. At first I pegged him for a porn star, and why not? He kind of sounds like a porno star or something, but instead he’s a troll like guy with an amazing range of musical talent. He came in and ushered a new wave of music with Black Sabbath the likes that Ozzy couldn’t evern accomplish. While Ozzy is good in his own right, I prefer the sounds of Dio with the musical structure of the Black Sabbath band. Dio has such incredible range, and it really made me appreciate metal music as more than just an onslought of heavy riffs and “cookie monster” vocals. The Rules of Hell box set collects the complete Dio fronted Black Sabbath recordings, along side the double live album “Live Evil”! If that wasn’t bad enough for you, each album has been digitally remastered and the liner notes have been bulked up with interviews, commentary and photos from the band. Sure, their reunion was well lived, and while I didn’t get to see them live, I get to hear them live and still enjoy their great music through this box set. It’s definitely worth while, and if you’re a fan of the Dio years of Black Sabbath, you’re going to love this box set. Of course if you’re not into getting 5 discs at once, you can always pick up “The Dio Years” which is a single shot of the best of Dio fronted Sabbath. You can always check out the Radio City Music Hall performance of Heaven and Hell live on dvd as well…that one is awesome.

In fact, here is a trailer for that for you to enjoy:

Not into music, or Black Sabbath? Fine…check out my 1,000 Books you won’t read, it’s tasty!