Heaven & Hell was a supergroup beyond even Black Sabbath’s wildest dreams. Consisting of past and present Sabbath members, their run at the top was only cut short by Ronnie James Dio’s untimely demise. The quality of Heaven & Hell: Radio City Music Hall – Live! Is nothing less than impressive. Where many concert videos seem to be lacking a truly visionary camera direction, this release ensures that every important note, drum roll, guitar line, and lyric is captured with eye-popping sharpness. The solid direction of this release is continued through the lush recording.
This is not the fifth-generation recording of the show marketed as a bootleg. Rather, the tracks here – be they “Neon Nights”, “Sign of the Southern Cross”, or “Lonely Is The Word” – could conceivably be heard on studio recordings. For those that have actually sunk a considerable amount of money into their audio systems, the inclusion of a 5.1 Dolby stereo mix along with HD Audio. This 2007 show may have made it onto DVD in the past, but the sheer improvements made in regard to the audio and visual sides of things makes this an integral purchase for anyone that is a fan of Heaven & Hell, Dio, or Iommi’s solo work.
The sheer amount of different concert films that only made it to DVD (much less those that have only received a VHS release) is massive, and Eagle Rock is continuing to make things current. By releasing stunning titles like Radio City Music Hall – Live and receiving strong sales of said titles, hopefully Eagle Rock’s already full schedule can be added to in the years that come.
Rating: 9.2/10
Heaven & Hell: Radio City Music Hall – Live! (Blu-Ray) / 2011 Eagle Rock Entertainment / 150 Minutes / http://www.eagle-rock.com
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.
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