Honestly, I don’t even know where to begin describing this album. The year is 1976...
Rainbow burst onto the scene like a literal rainbow, marking a major turning point for Heavy Metal. Of course, it all starts with their Rising album. An iconic lineup delivering an iconic record—34 minutes of pure gold consisting of six tracks that blend Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, and Power Metal elements into a groundbreaking masterpiece that sparked a new golden era. How was Power Metal born? How did these incredibly talented musicians come together? The answers lie deep within this album.
Fronted by the legendary voice of Heavy Metal Ronnie James Dio, with guitar wizard Ritchie Blackmore, the legendary Cozy Powell on drums (widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time), Jimmy Bain on bass, and Tony Carey on keyboards, this incredible lineup created a record that still resonates today—still endlessly listened to and talked about. Many, including myself, consider Rising to be the finest album in Rainbow’s discography.
Before diving into the album itself, a little anecdote came to mind: In one of Kadir İnanır’s films, while hunting down Tecavüzcü Coşkun for revenge, he finds and kills him in a house where a record is playing. Pay attention— the song playing on that turntable is the masterpiece “A Light In The Black” from this very album. :)
The album combines mystery, imagination, and darkness—a fact you can already sense from its cover art. Musically, Ritchie Blackmore’s creative and innovative Heavy Metal riffs, Tony Carey’s masterful keyboards, Cozy Powell’s lightning-fast, energetic drumming, and Dio’s unbelievably powerful voice come together to craft a truly exquisite record. Each of the six songs is a hit in its own right. Also, it’s worth noting that every track was co-written by Blackmore and Dio.
The opening track, “Tarot Woman,” features one of the most magnificent and enchanting keyboard intros in rock history. Tony Carey’s roughly two-minute keyboard solo firmly establishes him as one of the most skilled keyboardists in Rock’n’Roll history. Listening to it feels like entering a mysterious world, a journey into realms of imagination. Following this intro, Powell’s wild drums explode in, then Blackmore’s striking guitars and Dio’s pure Hard Rock-style vocals join in. The song rides on powerful, rhythmic guitar riffs, energetic drums, and Dio’s fierce vocal delivery. The magic of those rhythmic riffs is truly palpable. Yes, “Tarot Woman” is a full-blown Hard Rock masterpiece loaded with Blackmore’s killer riffs, amazing solos, and incredible melodies that will blow your mind.
The second track, “Run With The Wolf,” hits your face like a punch with its strong opening. It mostly stays mid-tempo, featuring appealing riffs, magnificent and powerful choir vocals in the chorus, and well-chosen keyboard tones that create a captivating atmosphere. Two geniuses—Dio and Blackmore—know exactly how to blend their creative forces here. Blackmore’s insane solo, Cozy Powell’s drumming, Jimmy Bain’s thunderous bass, and Dio’s delightful vocals all blend so harmoniously that the song is both entertaining and uplifting. This track might remind listeners of early Deep Purple work.
“Starstruck,” the third track, opens with unbelievable guitar tones—Blackmore is absolutely on fire again. And let’s not forget Powell’s thunderous drums that hit like rolling thunder. You get completely lost in the sound. Dio’s vocals take on a different, flawless character here. The band’s signature fantastical lyrics also make a strong appearance on this track.
The fourth track, “Do You Close Your Eyes,” is the shortest on the album. With fantastic Blackmore riffs and Carey’s keyboards, it packs a punch and exudes pure Rock’n’Roll vibes. Powell’s drumming slows down just a little here but never loses its lightning impact. The choir vocals are again very powerful and engaging. As everyone shouts in unison, “Do You Close Your Eyes,” the adrenaline peaks. The playful lyrics like “Do you close your eyes, When you’re making love?” reveal the song’s intended vibe. Near the end, Dio’s strong shout practically pierces your eardrums.
Now, the last two tracks bring us to the album’s most delicious section—two magnificent masterpieces, each about eight minutes long.
“Stargazer” is truly hard to describe. Considered one of the greatest songs ever made in Heavy Metal history, it can keep you spellbound for hours. It starts with Powell’s lightning-fast, classic drumming that sounds like it’s come straight out of hell. His unique drumming style, powerful drum solo, and rhythms shine through the song, acting like a key that touches your emotions. Blackmore’s terrifying guitar riffs join in, and Dio delivers one of the best vocal performances of his career. The keyboard tones in the background are so mystical and mysterious that they give the song a symphonic and incredibly powerful atmosphere. The harmony between keyboards and guitars produces mind-blowing melodies.
In the middle of the song, Blackmore unleashes an extraordinary, technically intricate solo that will either make you bang your head against the walls or freeze in place. This breathtaking solo incorporates Middle Eastern, Arabic influences. And it’s not just the solo—the melodies in the chorus sections also evoke Arabic sounds. The overall sound, especially Blackmore’s hypnotizing guitar work supported by the keyboards, creates epic feelings. As one of the first Power Metal songs ever made, this track inspired Neo-Classical Rock/Heavy Metal musicians such as Malmsteen. The song tells the story of a wizard who enchants people, making them his slaves, and builds giant towers of stone in the sky as he watches the stars. This is an extraordinary piece, complete with virtuosic guitar, amazing riffs, stunning vocals, dreamy keyboard tones, solid-as-a-rock bass, and orchestral parts performed by the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, which features as a guest on the album. A similar piece you might think of is Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.”
Finally, “A Light In The Black”—the track that, just like the album itself, utterly destroys me. A song that had a huge impact on both Power and Thrash Metal, it shines as another star and is definitely my personal number one on the album. It’s the fastest and most energetic track here, relentlessly driving forward with no intention of slowing down. Powell’s thunderous drumming alone sets the stage right from the start. The song features dominant and compelling riffs, followed by a keyboard solo, then a terrifying guitar solo that makes you say, “No way!” Yes, this insanely fast song loaded with amazing riffs is incredibly catchy and propelled by the duo of keyboard and guitar solos.
I believe Blackmore delivers his best, longest, and possibly greatest solo of his career on this track—so much so that you can hardly believe the sound is real. His guitar sings with twists and turns that leave you utterly mesmerized. With this technical and ultra-precise solo, Blackmore takes center stage and succeeds in touching your soul. He also injects Baroque influences into the solo.
Thematically, this track is a continuation of “Stargazer”—the slaves of the wizard finally return home. You’ll witness Dio’s repeated shouts of “I’m coming home” especially during the chorus and towards the end. This eight-minute masterpiece closes the album perfectly.
Let us never forget that Power Metal’s birth owes a great deal to Rainbow and, of course, the Rising album. This record is a milestone for Heavy Metal in the 1970s. Rainbow opened the door for countless bands across Hard Rock, Neo-Classical, Progressive, and Power Metal genres. The album’s sheer brilliance owes much to the presence of three giants—Ronnie James Dio, Ritchie Blackmore, and Cozy Powell—and the addition of two other geniuses, Jimmy Bain and Tony Carey, which propelled it to the summit.
This epic album is an absolute must-listen!