The Devil You Know

When metal masters Ronnie James Dio; Tony Iommi; Geezer Butler; and Vinny Appice reunited for the first time in 15 years to record new bonus tracks for Rhino's 2007 compilation 'Black Sabbath: The Dio Years', an otherworldly force reignited their musical connection. "Everyone had so much fun playing together that we didn t want it to end", the band recalls. It didn't - they reformed as Heaven & Hell (named for the classic 1980 LP that was the lineup's debut as Sabbath), and staged a triumphant, sold-out world tour throughout 2007-2008. Fueled by their chemistry on the road, the quartet returned to the studio in 2008 to record 'The Devil You Know', their first complete set of original material since 'Dehumanizer' from 1992.

"Bible Black", the epic first single, begins with Tony on acoustic guitar behind Ronnie's plaintive wail before the rhythm shifts to a menacing stomp for the rest of this dark tale about a book of sinister scriptures. One of the first songs written for the album, Dio says it established a tone for the rest of the album. "When you start off with a blockbuster like that, it makes the rest of the album so much easier because it gives you a benchmark to measure the other songs against."

Iommi proves he hasn't lost the ability to inspire six-string envy, unleashing riffs like a pack of rabid hellhounds on "Atom and Evil"; "Fear"; "Neverwhere"; and "Eating the Cannibals"; a tune about doing more than biting the hand that feeds. Geezer & Vinny slow the pace while ramping up the intensity on "Follow the Tears"; "Double the Pain"; and "Breaking Into Heaven"; the latter diverging from its glacial procession for Dio's majestic chorus about fallen angels planning an attack on paradise.

With Black Sabbath's last studio album having been many years ago, the release of 'The Devil You Know' is an event for every classic rock and metal fan to get excited about!