The show was opened by American metal group Down fronted by Phil Anselmo (formerly of Pantera). Musically they were tight, with great guitar and bass, lots of growling vocals and very loud. However, they have very little audience connection and could probably learn a few things from Dio when it comes to showmanship.

Black Sabbath are master craftsmen, responsible for pioneering metal and all its forms as we know today, including industrial, black metal, death metal etc. When Geezer Butler (Bass) saw that horror films made money, he decided “Why not horror music?”. Black Sabbath’s first album, self titled, was released on Friday the 13th Feb 1970. Sabbath are like Time Lords, most are in their fifties (or sixties) and still look and sound the same as twenty or thirty years ago.

This latest incarnation of Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler & Vinnie Appice last played Brisbane in 1980 at Festival Hall, delivering an awesome show, dark, mystical and loud, featuring a shattered cross of mirrors in the centre of two giant red crosses, a simple stage set, yet so effective. Last time they opened on Neon Knights, however, on this tour they played it as an encore. After an extended version of Heaven & Hell, this included two new verses and a pyrotechnics show.

The current stage set consists of a Gothic brick church, with large crosses in the windows and wrought iron gates representing the graveyard, the Heaven & Hell angel’s image was projected onto the back wall, with an awesome light show. Dio enters looking like a Dark Elf casting spells over the audience, he is so theatrical, with over exaggerated moves and incredible vocal skills. They open with The Mob Rules; this is a heavy and sinister track mocking the corporate world, as featured in the animated cult film Heavy Metal “If you listen to fools, the mob rules.”

This was followed by Children of the Sea, a brooding, melodic piece of dark fantasy. The show draws from three albums Heaven & Hell, Mob Rules and Dehumanizer, plus the new tracks from The Dio Years. Tony Iommi looks like a warlock, dressed in black, head to toe with a giant silver cross, he is incredible to listen to, the heavy metal riff master. His unique sound emerged from losing the tips of his fingers in an industrial accident (the doctor said he’d never play guitar again). Iommi lowered the pitch of the strings to relieve pressure on his fingertips, which created the deep, dark heavy Sabbath sound that metal bands still emulate today.

Iommi’s soaring guitar work is complemented by Geezer Butler’s pounding bass and Vinny Appice excellent drum work. Appice replaced original drummer Bill Ward when he said he no longer wished to tour with the band. He is positioned in between the Graveyard Gates, or possibly the Gates of Hell in this Gothic set, surrounded by a wall of drums, topped by a symbol shaped like a Maltese cross; it’s an impressive drum kit. Appice is one of rocks heaviest drummers, treating the audience to a wild solo ending in an explosion during The Devil Cried from Black Sabbath – The Dio Years.