Killing the Dragon

Killing the Dragon is Dio's ninth studio album. It was released May 21, 2002 through Spitfire Records and was produced by frontman Ronnie James Dio. A re-release in 2007 puts Killing the Dragon together with Magica.

In an interview on Uranium, Dio stated that the "dragon" of the album title refers to technology. He expressed concern with it threatening society in the future. Dio elaborated that the title track refers to "those who perpetrate injustices and what the world is doing to stop them. In fantasy tales, dragons were notorious for stealing children and feeding them to their babies. During the first part of the song, I sing 'Someone has taken a child.' The second part is about a cruel feudal lord. The third part is about 'electronic serfdom.'" He also expressed belief that the computer has become a god in modern society. "It is a small god with an electrical heart. . . It is time to rebel against it."^[5]

Killing the Dragon introduces guitarist Doug Aldrich to the band. He had previously performed with Burning Rain and subsequently went on to join the band Whitesnake. Previous guitarist, Craig Goldy, co-wrote some of the songs before leaving the band. He returned for 2004's Master of the Moon.

The song "Push" was a hit and had a music video that featured Tenacious D performing a humorous cover of Ronnie James Dio's biggest song from his time with Black Sabbath, "Heaven and Hell". Dio approaches them to tell them that he will pay them to play Tenacious D music. Apparently, according to an interview with Dio in 2005, during filming of this music video, Ronnie James Dio became friends with Tenacious D frontman Jack Black, who told Dio about his plans to make a Tenacious D film and asked him to perform in the film if anything became of it. In 2005, Dio received a letter from Jack Black informing him that production of the film was starting and requested that he play himself. This film is Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny. The video was directed by Bill Schacht (who has directed other videos for Alice Cooper, Amon Amarth, Sister Sin, Yngwie Malmsteen, Saxon, etc.) for Aestheticom. The video was listed as #54 most metal moment of all time on a Top Metal Moments of all time Vh1 ran, hosted by Ed Trunk.

Track listing

• All lyrics and melodies by Ronnie James Dio

1. "Killing the Dragon" (Dio, Jimmy Bain) – 4:25
2. "Along Comes a Spider" (Dio, Doug Aldrich, Bain) – 3:32
3. "Scream" (Dio, Aldrich, Bain) – 5:02
4. "Better in the Dark" (Dio, Bain) – 3:43
5. "Rock & Roll" (Dio, Bain, Craig Goldy) – 6:11
6. "Push" (Dio, Bain, Goldy) – 4:08
7. "Guilty" (Dio, Bain) – 4:25
8. "Throw Away The Children" (Dio, Goldy) – 5:35
9. "Before the Fall" (Dio, Bain) – 3:48
10. "Cold Feet" (Dio, Bain) – 4:11

Bonus tracks

The "Limited Tour Edition" came in a slipcase with poster and added two bonus tracks :

11. "Fever Dreams (Live)" (Dio)
12. "Rainbow in the Dark (Live)" (Dio, Vivian Campbell, Bain, Vinny Appice)

• These bonus tracks are Ronnie James Dio performing live with Deep Purple and first appeared on Deep Purple's 2001 album Live at the Rotterdam Ahoy.

Charts

Album chart positions

Credits

• Ronnie James Dio – vocals
• Doug Aldrich – guitar
• Jimmy Bain – bass, keyboards
• Simon Wright – drums

• Scott Warren – keyboards on "Before the Fall"
• King Harbour Children's Choir — chorus on "Throw Away Children"

• Recorded at Total Access, Redondo Beach, California, USA
• Produced by Ronnie James Dio
• Engineered by Wyn Davis
• Assistant engineered by Brian Daugherty and Michael McMullen
• Mastered by Eddy Schreyer at Oasis Mastering
• Cover illustration by Marc Sasso

References