Jorn Dio

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by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer

Norwegian vocal god Jorn Lande, who somehow manages to get at least one new album out each year, is back with a new release, titled simply Dio. It’s a covers collection of songs originally performed by the late Ronnie James Dio. It’s no secret that Jorn knows his way around a good cover song. This isn’t even his first covers album (see the excellent Unlocking the Past). It is his first covers album dedicated to a single artist however, and he couldn’t have picked a more appropriate subject. Jorn Lande may sound like David Coverdale’s clone, but his songwriting style is completely Dio-inspired. Every time a new Jorn album comes out you end up thinking it’s what a Whitesnake album would sound like if Dio wrote it.

Dio kicks off with an original song, the tribute “Song For Ronnie James.” It’s completely respectful, but isn’t as strong as the average Jorn song. Still, you have to credit him for paying respect like that, and the video clip for the song is good. After that, it’s on to the cover songs. Dio has an interesting track listing. Jorn seems to have gone out of his way to choose lesser-known tracks from lesser-known Dio albums. Sure, he hits some of the big ones (“Stand Up and Shout,” “Kill the King”), but there are a lot of unexpected choices here, like “Push” (from Killing the Dragon), “Lord of the Last Day” (from Magica) and Dream Evil’s “Sunset Superman.”

Some of the songs work perfectly with Jorn’s voice. He absolutely slays on “Shame On the Night,” “Push,” “Don’t Talk To Strangers” and Rainbow’s “Kill the King.” There are also songs that don’t work so well. “Lord of the Last Day” and “Night People” just aren’t that memorable. Of course, they weren’t the strongest Dio songs to begin with. Still, Dio is way more hit than miss. Jorn’s voice fits Dio’s songs to a T, and his sheer love for the man and his music is contagious. The album closes with a live performance of “Straight Through the Heart,” which appears to be taken from his Live in the USA release.

The timing of this release, announced just days after Ronnie James Dio’s passing, raised some eyebrows, but Dio had been in the works for some time, and in the end it is a fitting tribute to a man that Jorn obviously owes a great debt to (as do we all, in one way or another). If you’re already a Jorn fan, obviously you need to own this album. It’s also a great way for Dio fans to discover one of Ronnie James Dio’s most devoted disciples.

P.S. – You have to wonder if he has a David Coverdale tribute collection coming at some point.

Genre: Melodic Hard Rock

Band:
Jorn Lande (v)
Willy Bendiksen (d)
Nic Angileri (b)
Tore Moren (g)
Tor Erik Myhre (g)
Jgor Gianola (g)

Track Listing:
1. Song For Ronnie James
2. Invisible
3. Shame On the Night
4. Push
5. Stand Up And Shout
6. Don’t Talk To Strangers
7. Lord of the Last Day
8. Night People
9. Sacred Heart
10. Sunset Superman
11. Lonely Is the Word – Letters From Earth
12. Kill the King
13. Straight Through the Heart (live)

Label: Frontiers

Website: www.jornlande.com

Hardrock Haven rating: 7.5/10