Dio – Lock Up the Wolves (1990)
Release date: May 15, 1990
Label: Reprise Records / Vertigo
Producer: Ronnie James Dio & Tony Platt
Genre: Heavy metal, hard rock
Length: 58:08
Lock Up the Wolves is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Dio, released in 1990. It marked a major lineup change and a stylistic shift toward a more polished, late-’80s/early-’90s heavy metal sound.
The album introduced 18-year-old guitarist Rowan Robertson, whose blues-infused and melodic style gave the record a different character compared to earlier releases.
Background & Lineup Changes
After internal tensions during the Dream Evil era, longtime members Jimmy Bain, Vinny Appice, and Claude Schnell departed the band. Ronnie James Dio rebuilt the lineup with:
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Rowan Robertson – Guitar
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Teddy Cook – Bass
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Jens Johansson – Keyboards
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Simon Wright – Drums (formerly of AC/DC)
This new lineup gave the album a fresh, youthful energy, though it also moved slightly away from the fantasy-driven epic metal of earlier Dio albums.
Tracklist
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Wild One
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Born on the Sun
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Hey Angel
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Between Two Hearts
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Night Music
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Lock Up the Wolves
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Evil on Queen Street
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Walk on Water
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Twisted
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Why Are They Watching Me
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My Eyes
Notable Tracks
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“Wild One” – Energetic opener showcasing Robertson’s guitar work
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“Hey Angel” – Classic Dio anthem with melodic hooks
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“Lock Up the Wolves” – Title track with darker lyrical themes
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“My Eyes” – Epic closing track featuring a dramatic vocal performance
Musical Style & Themes
Lock Up the Wolves features:
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A cleaner, more polished production
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More blues-based and melodic guitar work
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Slightly reduced emphasis on keyboards compared to mid-’80s albums
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A balance of anthemic choruses and darker, introspective moments
Lyrical themes include:
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Inner conflict and paranoia (“Why Are They Watching Me”)
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Survival and resilience (“Wild One”)
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Darkness and redemption (“Lock Up the Wolves”)
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Emotional reflection (“My Eyes”)
While fantasy elements remain present, the album leans more toward personal and psychological themes.
Commercial Performance
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Peaked at No. 79 on the US Billboard 200
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Charted in the UK Albums Chart Top 50
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Did not achieve Gold certification in the US, reflecting changing trends in heavy metal at the dawn of the 1990s
The album was released during a transitional period in rock music, just before the rise of grunge, which affected many traditional metal acts.
Fun Facts ⚡
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Rowan Robertson was only 18 years old when he recorded the album.
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Simon Wright brought a heavier rhythmic feel from his time with AC/DC.
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“Hey Angel” became a popular live track during the supporting tour.
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The album’s darker tone foreshadowed Dio’s later reunion with Black Sabbath in the early 1990s.
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The production is noticeably longer and more expansive than previous Dio albums, with several tracks exceeding five minutes.
Did You Know? 🤔
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The departure of long-time collaborators Jimmy Bain and Vinny Appice marked the end of Dio’s classic ’80s lineup era.
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Jens Johansson later became known for his work with bands like Stratovarius.
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Ronnie James Dio described the album as an attempt to modernize the band’s sound for a changing musical landscape.
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“My Eyes” is one of Dio’s longest and most dramatic studio recordings.
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The tour supporting the album was more stripped-down compared to the elaborate dragon-filled stage shows of the mid-’80s.
