DIO's 'Magica' To Get Deluxe CD Treatment

As longtime fans can attest, the quality of DIO's studio albums never wavered throughout the group's near 30-year career. Case in point, the fan favorite/concept effort "Magica", which featured Ronnie James Dio's one-of-a-kind vocals and the return of guitarist Craig Goldy. The album spawned such metal classics as "Fever Dreams", "Turn to Stone" and "Lord Of The Last Day", and has sold over 100,000 copies worldwide — largely on word of mouth alone. One small problem — the original 2000 CD version has been out of print for years, and has become increasingly hard to find. But to the delight of DIO fans worldwide, "Magica" will be getting a makeover on Tuesday, June 25 as Niji Entertainment Group will be issuing the two-CD "Magica Deluxe Edition".

A breakdown of what will be included on this two CD set is as follows:

CD 1 will contain the full album.

01. Discovery
02. Magica Theme
03. Lord Of The Last Day
04. Fever Dreams
05. Turn To Stone
06. Feed My Head
07. Eriel
08. Challis
09. As Long As It's Not About Love
10. Losing My Insanity
11. Otherworld
12. Magica- Reprise
13. Lord Of The Last Day - Reprise

CD 2 will contain "The Magica Story" (narrated by Ronnie James Dio) and the bonus track "Annica", which was only available as a Japanese bonus track along with "Electra" (which was planned for "Magica 2" and "3") and six never-before-released "official live bootleg" tracks from 2000/2001.

01. The Magica Story (narrated by Ronnie James Dio)
02. Annica (Japanese-only bonus track)
03. Electra (recorded for "Magica 2" & "3")
04. Feed My Head (official live bootleg)
05. Fever Dreams (official live bootleg)
06. Turn To Stone (official live bootleg)
07. Lord Of The Last Day (official live bootleg)
08. As Long As It's Not About Love (official live bootleg)
09. Losing My Insanity (official live bootleg)

Also included in the CD set will be deluxe packaging and a deluxe booklet (which will include the original "Magica" tour dates and a set list),as well as such bonus inserts — including the "Magica Story" — and a Ronnie James Dio postcard.

Upon "Magica"'s original release, Ronnie James Dio stated about the concept effort: "Not ever having done this before, and wanting to take some time with it, I didn't want to be foolish about it. These things can turn out pretty strange. It has its peaks and valleys of course, but it has to tell a story. I didn't want to do it all in verse. So it tells the story in music as well, with logs of high relief, share and light. It's much more involved than the things we've done before, but again, it retains the character of DIO music. As well, the songs can be removed from the whole process and stand on their own, so much so, that I've provided the narration. I'm trying to tell as much as I can in the music, but I want to tell something extra. But in essence, it's a journey that should be consumed beginning to end."

And the accolades surrounding "Magica" continue all these years later:

"Since I played such a major role in how 'Magica' was created, it became one of my most proudest Dio moments and an experience I shall never forget!"- Craig Goldy (DIO, DIO DISCIPLES)

"'Magica' is an album I know Ronnie was extremely proud of. Epic is a word that I often use to describe it to people!" - Simon Wright (DIO, DIO DISCIPLES)