"Electra" (also spelled as "Elektra") is the twelfth and final single by heavy metal band Dio. It was released with the band's "Tournado Box Set" in early 2010,[1] before Ronnie James Dio's death on May 16, 2010.[2] It was the last song recorded by the band before that date as well.[3]
| "Electra" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Dio | ||||
| Released | 2010 | |||
| Recorded | 2009 Office Studios, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, Calif., U.S. | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 6:26 | |||
| Label | Armoury Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Ronnie James Dio | |||
| Producer(s) | Ronnie James Dio | |||
| Dio singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The song would later see wider release as part of the posthumous compilation The Very Beast of Dio Vol. 2 in 2012, and on the deluxe edition of Magica in 2013.[4]
Background
editIn an interview with Hit the Lights series creator Robert Gray, Dio was asked about the Magica II & III album, which Dio responded: "[...]I've been doing a lot of work on the [new] 'Magica' album. I believe we'll release one of the songs from 'Magica' that I decided to put together, so that whatever package we happen to hand to the people when we're out there, it's a lot more attractive with one thing they've never heard before. I guess you could call it a teaser. It's a really good song [called "Electra"], and part of the whole 'Magica' trilogy. It's sometimes hard for it to stand alone, but I did write an explanation of what it was about, and what the song is about, and that it's just a brief glimpse into what will be 'Magica' again. There's some plans to do that – there are some special plans."[5]
The song was originally going to debut during the band's European tour,[6] but the tour was eventually canceled, due to Ronnie James Dio's diagnosis of stomach cancer.[7] "Electra" is the only song so far that has been released from the unfinished albums Magica II & III.[8]
Reception
editChris Coplan of Consequence of Sound praised the song, stating that "Dio takes things to a whole new level. There’s a freshness and an excitement to the track. And while you can vaguely tell Dio is up in there in years, it gives the vocals a kind of story to them, a feeling of some noble metal statesman once more addressing his kingdom."[9]
Personnel
edit- Ronnie James Dio – vocals
- Doug Aldrich – guitars
- Rudy Sarzo – bass
- Simon Wright – drums
- Scott Warren – keyboards
Additional personnel
edit- Wyn Davis – engineer
- Brett Chassen – assistant engineer
- Adam Arnold – assistant engineer
References
edit- ^ "DIO: 'Tournado' Box Set Available". Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- ^ "Legendary Heavy Metal Vocalist RONNIE JAMES DIO Dies". Archived from the original on August 12, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- ^ "Final Ronnie James Dio Track Online". Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- ^ "DIO's 'Magica' to Get Deluxe CD Treatment". 15 April 2013.
- ^ "Ronnie James Dio – Heaven & Hell / Dio To Release Further Studio Albums?". Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- ^ "DIO To Play New Song On European Tour". Archived from the original on October 28, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- ^ "RONNIE JAMES DIO Diagnosed With Stomach Cancer". Archived from the original on November 28, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- ^ "Listen To DIO's Newest Song: "Electra"". Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- ^ "Check Out: Ronnie James Dio's posthumous release "Elektra"". Retrieved May 23, 2010.