Holy Diver (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Holy Diver


Artist = Dio
from Album = Holy Diver
B-side = Evil Eyes Don't Talk to Strangers
Released = August 1983
Format = 7", 12"
Recorded = 1983
Sound City Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Genre = Heavy metal
Length = 5:51
Label = Vertigo Records
Mercury Records
Warner Bros. Records
Writer = Ronnie James Dio
Producer = Ronnie James Dio
Chart position = * #40 (US Mainstream Rock Tracks)
Last single =
This single = "Holy Diver" (1983)
Next single = "Rainbow in the Dark" (1984)Single infobox
Name = Holy Diver


Artist = Killswitch Engage
from Album = As Daylight Dies Special Edition
Released = 2007
Format = CD
Genre = Heavy metal Metalcore
Length = 4:05
Label = Roadrunner Records
Chart position = * #19 (US Mainstream Rock Tracks)
Last single = The Arms of Sorrow (2007)
This single = Holy Diver (2007)
Next single = "Holy Diver" is the first single released by heavy metal band Dio, appearing on their 1983 LP, "Holy Diver". Although it only reached #40 on the charts, it is one of Dio's most popular songs.

The song is prominently featured on the soundtrack to the radio station in the video game ' and is also one of the tracks on the game '. It was also played in the "South Park" episode Hooked on Monkey Phonics, and Philadelphia Phillies slugger Pat Burrell used the song in 2005 and 2006 as his at-bat music. The song was also the lead off song in the Matchstick Films Ski Movie trilogy.

Music Video

The music video for Holy Diver, directed and edited by Arthur Ellis, features Dio as a barbarian adventuring through a desolate town. First he strikes two rascals with his sword, but instead of killing them he turns them into rats. He later visits a blacksmith who reforges his sword.

Covers

Artists who have covered the song include:
*Pat Boone, on his album "," with Ronnie James Dio himself on backing vocals.
*Metalcore band Killswitch Engage covers the song on a compilation album entitled "" for Kerrang! magazine. They also perform this song in their live shows. The song is also in the re-release of the band's "As Daylight Dies" album. It is KSE's first top 20 single on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Charts and also includes a music video which is a slightly comical take on the original Dio version.
*Folk metal band Otyg have also performed it live.
*Eläkeläiset (Humppa band from Finland) reinterpret it in their song Humpparaakki on their album "Humppa Til We Die".
*Sum 41 played the song on acoustic guitar for the MTV Show Jammed.
* Children of Bodom paid homage to this theme including its initial riff in the intro to their song "Downfall" in live shows; this can be heard and seen in the Chaos Ridden Years live album/dvd.
*Sons of Butcher (band) have also performed it live.
*Tenacious D has performed parts of the song live.
*HolyHell has done a cover of the song at some live performances.
*Fire In The Hole has done a cover of the song, blending elements from the original song and the popular cover by Killswitch Engage.