Top 10 Dio Album Covers

Dio Album Covers

Feature Photo: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

Our Top 10 Dio Album Covers list will look at a heavy metal band that formed in 1982. Ronnie James Dio was the lead singer of the band. He was a former member of Black Sabbath. He left Black Sabbath to form a new band with another former Black Sabbath member Vinny Appice. The band used Ronnie James Dio’s last name because it was well known at the time. The band sold over 20 million albums worldwide. Dio released 10 studio albums during the time they were together. The band went through different member changes. Ronnie James Dio was the only constant member of the band. The band broke up when Ronnie James Dio passed away from stomach cancer.

Dio’s album covers are unique and tell a story. Ronnie James Dio liked illustration and wanted their album covers to express his love of illustration. Every album cover has a different look. They use a demonic mascot named Murray for the album covers. Their album covers look as if they belong in a horror comic book. Their album covers are creative and innovative. One thing about their covers is they weren’t predictable. You never knew what you were going to get with their album covers. The illlustrators could have won awards for Dio’s creative album covers. The album covers were never boring. If you are a fan of horror or scary movies, you will love their album covers. Our Top 10 Dio Album Covers list will give us a chance to admire Dio’s album covers.

# 10 – Master of the Moon

The first pick on our Top 10 Dio Album Covers list is Master of the Moon. Master of the Moon is Dio’s 10th studio album. This is Dio’s final studio album. The album cover features a demon holding a moon. The moon is a bright color. The demon is kneeling with his left hand on the cloud. The demon has his mouth open wide so you can see his fangs. He has long nails. The demon is wearing shields over his body. The shield on his wrist has a face on it. You can see a shot of the sky. The picture was taken at night because the clouds are dark and stars are in the sky. The band’s name is written in red letters at the top of the album cover. The album title is written in white letters.

Marc Sasso designed a scary looking but cool album cover. It looks like something that would be on a heavy metal album. This is the type of image you can see on T-shirts. Marc Sasso was able to understand the ideas Ronnie James Dio wanted to capture for the picture. Marc Sasso must have a creative mind to be able to come up with a creepy picture like this. This looks like an image that would be in your nightmares. This is a dark picture. The moon gives the picture an element of brightness. Marc Sasso is a visual artist and illustrator. He has worked with Dio, Dungeon, Rob Rock, Morbid Angel, Zandelle, Halford, Cage, Adrenaline Mob, Death Dealer, Art of Anarchy, The Three Tremors, as well as others. Master of the Moon was released in August 2004. The album peaked at number 127 on Billboard 200. The album features the singles “One More for the Road,” “The Man Who Would Be King” and “The Eyes.”

# 9 – Killing the Dragon

The next pick on our Top 10 Dio Album Covers list is Killing the Dragon. Killing the Dragon is Dio’s ninth studio album. The theme of the album is about technology threatening society. It is also about people who are not afraid to perpetrate injustice and how the world has to stop it. This is a fantasy album cover. The album cover features a fire-breathing dragon in the middle of the picture. The dragon’ s head is leaning back with flame going up to the sky. The dragon’s arms are tied at the wrists. There are several dragon slayers with their weapons of choice in their hands. The dragon slayers have knives, torches, swords and pitchforks. They are climbing up to the dragon to kill it. The album cover has different colors. The band’s name is written in black letters at the top of the cover.

Ronnie James Dio talked to Marc Sasso about what he wanted for the album cover. Ronnie James Dio wanted Marc Sasso to design a picture based on the song “Killing the Dragon”. Ronni James Dio wanted Marc Sasso to create a hideous picture for the album. Ronnie James Dio told him what he wanted and Marc Sasso got to work. Marc Sasso did exactly what he wanted. He came up with something that looked great and fit the song. The album cover isn’t grotesque because the slayers don’t actually kill the dragon, but you know what they are about to do. It looks like something that would be in mythology.

It is a realistic look. The dragon looks evil and demonic. You may find yourself rooting for the dragon slayers to take down the dragon. Marc Sasso used the right colors for this picture. The colors give the picture an ominous look. Kill the Dragon was released in May 2002. The album peaked at number 199 on Billboard 200 and number 18 on the independent charts. Kill the Dragon features the singles “Killing the Dragon,” “Guilty,” “Throw Away the Children” and “Before the Fall.”

# 8 – Magica

The eighth pick on our Top 10 Dio Album Covers list is Magica. Magica is Dio’s eighth studio album. This is a concept album. The album was supposed to be part of a trilogy but it didn’t work out because Ronnie James Dio passed away. This album took an evil perspective. Ronnie James Dio usually wrote songs from the protagonist’s point of view. This album was written from the antagonist’s point of view. The album cover features a picture of a character named Shadowcast. He is based on a game called Magika. He is from Evilsyde. He is snarling in the picture. Shadowcast’s eyes doesn’t have an expression. His eyes look dead. He has big teeth. He has a maniacal look on his face. He looks as if he wants to conquer the world. The sky looks red in the picture. The band’s name and album title are written in red letters.

Ronnie James Dio wanted the album cover to tell a story. He wanted to tell a mystical story about a fictional town. Stuart Green created an intimidating look. Shadowcast is supposed to be a leader and he looks like one. He also looks like a leader who is ready to kill. He created Shadowcast to look so intense that it may scare you while you are looking at it. Stuart Green used dark colors for this illustration which makes it look menacing. There is a hint of light shining on his face, but it is mostly a dark picture. Stuart Green is an art director and designer. He has worked with Dio, Fleetwood Mac, Paul Simon, The Stranglers, Phil Collins, The Who, U2, Meat Loaf, Bob Marley & the Wailers, Tina Turner, Steve Howe, John Power, Nazareth, George Clinton & Parliament, Dusty Springfield, as well as others. Magica was released in March 2000. The album peaked at number 13 on the independent charts. Magica features the singles “Magica Theme,” “Discovery,” “Turn to Stone” and “Loosing My Insanity.”

# 7 – Angry Machines

The seventh pick on our list is Angry Machines. Angry Machines is Dio’s seventh studio album. This is the last album to feature Vinny Appice. They stuck with the heavy metal theme for this album. The album cover features angry machines that are in the middle of a war. There is a flame behind the machines. The flame is from an explosion. The explosion destroyed the buildings. You can see debris on the ground. One of the machines is kneeling on the ground. The machines look evil. The one on the left and the one in the middle have fangs that are showing. The machines are carrying weapons to defend themselves. The machine in the middle has a red beam that is coming from its head. The band’s name is on the top left in blue letters. The album title is written on the bottom right in blue letters.

Paul R. Gregory painted an imaginative picture of a world of cyborgs. He created the look of a warzone. This album cover doesn’t feature any demons, but the cyborgs do look menacing. The fangs make them look evil. He created a picture that would be in a science fiction movie. It is reminiscent of the Terminator movies. He captured a futuristic world where machines are roaming the earth. He used dark colors for the illustration. The light from the flames gives the picture some brightness. You may find yourself wondering who is going to win the war as you listen to the album. Paul R. Gregory is a painter and illustrator. He has worked with Dio, Uriah Heep, Saxon, Molly Hatchet, Freedom Call, The Company of Snakes, Blind Guardian, Battalion, as well as others. Angry Machines was released in October 1996. The album features the singles “Don’t Tell the Kids,” “Hunter of the Heart,” “Stay Out of My Mind” and “Dying in America.”

# 6 – Strange Highways

Strange Highways is Dio’s sixth studio album. This is considered one of Dio’s darkest albums. Ronnie James Dio said recording the album was like being on a strange highway. The work on this album is different from what they did in the past and that made everything strange for him. The album cover features a demon submerged under water or coming out of water. The demon is muscular. The demon is reddish brown. It has metal on its chest. There is a target on the demon. It looks like the demon’s brain is showing. There are skulls around his head. There are twists coming from the brain. The water is wavy and has symbols in it. The name of the album is on a red border with white letters. The band’s name appears on the top right of the cover.

Ronnie James Dio felt as if he was traveling on a strange highway in his head. He wanted the album cover to depict that image. Wil Rees zeroed in on what was going on in the demon’s brain with this album cover. The picture has nothing to do with a highway. It has more to do with what is going on in the mind. Wil Rees did a fabulous job with the imagery. It is a creative way to create the metaphoric highway that was in Ronnie James Dio’s mind. Wil Rees didn’t use too many colors for the picture and that was an excellent choice. Your eyes will be drawn to the demon’s brain in the middle of the picture. Wil Rees is an illustrator who has worked with Dio and Black Sabbath. Strange Highways was released in January 1994. The album peaked at number 142 on Billboard 200. Strange Highways features the singles “Strange Highways,” “Hollywood Black,” “Pain” and “One Foot in the Grave.”

# 5 – Lock Up the Wolves

The next pick on our Top 10 Dio Album Covers list is Lock Up the Wolves. Lock Up the Wolves is Dio’s fifth studio album. The band went through multiple member changes. The band was losing interest in the music, so they went through member changes. The album cover features a monster that looks like a spider being pulled by two wolves. The monster has antlers on its head. The monster has multiple arms. It is holding two chains on the wolves. The wolves look satanic. Their eyes are red. Their teeth have blood on them. The sky looks dark. There is a moon in the sky. The band’s name is in red letters while the album title is in white letters.

There is no mistaking that this is a Dio album cover because of the satanic look. The album cover has a demonic atmosphere. It looks like an illustration from a horror movie. The grisly wolves create horror movie vibes. The wolves look as if they attacked someone. Wil Rees did an excellent job creating the story for the cover. The wolves are running wild and need to be locked up. He knew what to do to represent the message the band was trying to convey. He used dark colors which made the picture look spooky. Lock Up the Wolves was released in May 1990. The album peaked at number 61 on Billboard 200. Lock Up the Wolves features the singles “Hey Angel,” “Wild One,” “Night Music” and “Lock Up the Wolves.”

# 4 – Dream Evil

Dream Evil is Dio’s fourth studio album. This is the last album to feature Dio’s mascot Murray on the cover. The album cover features Dio’s mascot Murray. He is a demon on the album cover. He is looking into the window of a sleeping child. His arms are crossed at the wrist by his chest. He is standing in front of a full moon with flames behind him. She is sleeping on her side so her back is to him. The girl has blonde hair. She is wearing white pajamas. The covers are pink, white and blue. There is a curtain behind the bed. There are creepy animals in her room. There is a creepy hand and tenacles coming out from under her bed. There is a demon standing at the foot of her bed. There is a book on the floor as well as a crystal ball.

The album cover depicts the objects that appear to the girl in her nightmare. She is being haunted by spooky images. The concept of the album is fear and superstition which is what Steve Huston designed for the cover. He did an excellent job reenacting a nightmare the girl was having. She is surprisingly calm in the bed considering she is having a nightmare. Maybe this is why she is sucking her thumb. She could be sucking her thumb for safety. We have never seen a cover like this before. Looking at this cover you can tell what the rest of the album is going to be like.

If you aren’t a fan of horror movies, looking at this album cover may give you nightmares like the girl in the picture. Murray looks terrifying in the picture. We give Steve Huston two thumbs up for creating such a spine-chilling album cover. Steve Huston is an illustrator who has worked with Dio, Barren Cross, NWA, Killers, as well as others. Dream Evil was released in July 1987. The album peaked at number 43 on Billboard 200. Dream Evil features the singles “I Could Have Been a Dreamer,” “All the Fools Sailed Away,” “Night People” and “Dream Evil.”

# 3 – Sacred Heart

Coming in at number three on our list is Sacred Heart. Sacred Heart is Dio’s third studio album. Sacred Heart wasn’t smooth sailing for the band. Ronnie James Dio and Vivian Campbell weren’t getting along. This is the last album to feature Vivian Campbell. He was fired during the tour. The album cover features a pair of hands holding a crystal ball. The crystal ball has a dragon in it. The dragon is holding a heart-shaped ruby. The dragon is smiling in the picture. You can see a blue sky with clouds. The band’s name and album title are written on scrolls. There is Latin writing on the border of the album cover.

The album cover is supposed to represent devils and dragons imagery. Robert Florczak took an imaginative photo of two creatures. One creature is holding the crystal ball while the other one is inside of it. He chose to have the dragon smiling instead of looking evil. He also chose a bright day instead of a dark one. The demonic imagery will let you know that it is a Dio album but the bright setting is a change for the brand. Dio’s album covers represented darkness, but this album cover focuses on brightness. Robert Florczak has fans looking at the dragon through the eyes of the demon. The future must not be too bad because the dragon is smiling in the picture. Robert Florczak is an illustrator who is best known for working with Dio. Sacred Heart was released in August 1985. The album peaked at number 29 on Billboard 200. Sacred Heart features the singles “Sacred Heart,” “Another Lie,” “King of Rock and Roll” and “Hungry for Heaven.” The album sold over 500,000 copies.

# 2 – The Last in Line

The Last in Line is Dio’s second studio album. This is one of the band’s highest-charting albums. It was considered one of the best rock and metal albums of all time. This album cover features Murray. It takes place on judgment day. Souls are emerging from the grave. Some of the souls are holding each other. Murray is watching them from a distance. It looks like a satanic world. There is debris on the ground. One of the souls is perched on top of a building. The soul is looking at Murray. There is a flame around Murray. There are shots of intergalactic planets. Murray looks muscular in the picture. He is wearing a mask reminiscent of Marvel or DC Comics.

Barry Jackson designed the cover in acrylic paint. He consulted with Ronnie James Dio in the picture. Ronnie James Dio wanted a lot of people to go towards the creature. Barry Jackson drew the people as if it was the end of the world. Ronnie James Dio gave him a description of what Murray was supposed to look like. Barry Jackson created Murray based on what Ronnie James Dio wanted. Barry Jackson added Murray after he created the people. Barry Jackson and Ronnie James Dio were both imaginative to come up with this concept. It is interpretive because we are not sure what Murray’s intentions are for the souls. Is he admiring the souls? Do they admire him? Is Murry about to strike at the souls? There are so many questions to ask while you are looking at the album cover. Barry Jackson is an illustrator who has worked with Dio, Neil Young, East Coast Offering, ZZ Top, Britney Fox, The Band, as well as others. The Last in Line was released in July 1984. The album peaked at number 23 on Billboard 200. The Last in Line features the singles “The Last in Line,” “We Rock,” “Mystery,” “Breathless” and “I Speed at Night.” The album sold over one million copies.

# 1 – Holy Diver

The number one pick on our Top 10 Dio Album Covers list is Holy Diver. Holy Diver is Dio’s debut album. This is the band’s most successful album. This is the first album cover to feature Murray. Murray has chains wrapped around his left arm. He is holding on to a chain with his left hand. He is standing behind mountains. There is a priest tied to the chains. The top of the chain is broken. He is in the water. His glasses are coming off his face. His eyes are wide and his mouth is open. The priest is looking at Murray in terror. There are dark clouds behind the demon. The band’s name is written in red letters on the right side of the cover. The album title is at the bottom of the cover in red letters.

Ronnie James Dio’s wife Wendy Dio came up with the concept for the album cover. She wanted something unholy for the album cover. She came up with the idea of a priest being drowned by a demon. Randy Barrett illustrated the album cover. This is a brilliant way to introduce the band to the audience. People’s jaws probably dropped when they saw the priest drowning in the water. This isn’t something you would see every day. The dark colors make the album cover look threatening. You may be terrified for the priest since he is drowning in water. This album cover stands out in a good way. We have never seen anything like it. Randy Barrett is best known for working with Dio. Holy Diver was released in May 1983. The album peaked at number 56 on Billboard 200. Holy Diver features the singles “Holy Diver,” “Rainbow in the Dark,” “Gypsy” and “Caught in the Middle.” The album sold over two million copies.

Top 10 Dio Album Covers article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023

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