Killing the Dragon
Dio · 2002
45 min · 10 tracks · heavy metal
A thunderous blend of classic heavy metal riffs and soaring vocals that captures Dio's signature power and theatricality.
Top tracks — play these first
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Killing the Dragon — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of struggle and triumph while delivering powerful riffs and anthemic choruses, perfectly showcasing Dio's vocal prowess.
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Along Comes a Spider — This track blends storytelling with heavy instrumentation, highlighting Dio's ability to weave intricate narratives into his music while maintaining an engaging sound.
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Scream — With its aggressive tempo and intense lyrics, 'Scream' serves as an electrifying centerpiece that exemplifies Dio's relentless energy and passion for metal.
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Throw Away Children — This poignant song addresses social issues with a haunting melody and reflective lyrics, showcasing Dio's capacity for depth beyond traditional metal themes.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and performance but has a few dips in pacing and cohesion.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that features a rapid tempo and heavy guitar riffs, setting a high-energy tone for the first half.
- Vocals are layered with harmonies in several tracks, particularly in the choruses, enhancing the theatrical quality of the music.
- The last three tracks slow down the tempo significantly, creating a contrast that allows for more introspective lyrical themes.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo anthems
- soaring vocals for empowerment
- focused headbanging energy
- late-night driving soundtrack
Maybe skip if you
- prefer quick, upbeat tracks
- seeking soft, mellow sounds
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on May 21, 2002, 'Killing the Dragon' marked Dio's tenth studio album, representing a significant moment in his late-career resurgence. After a brief hiatus from solo work, this album showcased his commitment to the traditional heavy metal sound that defined his legacy, following the commercial success of previous releases like 'Magica'.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Rainbow· Black Sabbath· Judas Priest
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Killing the Dragon 4:25
- 2 Along Comes a Spider 3:32
- 3 Scream 5:02
- 4 Better in the Dark 3:43
- 5 Rock & Roll 6:11
- 6 Push 4:08
- 7 Guilty 4:26
- 8 Throw Away Children 5:35
- 9 Before the Fall 3:48
- 10 Cold Feet 4:11
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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