There’s something uniquely bittersweet about revisiting the last great creative surge of a legendary band—especially when you know how the story ends. That’s exactly the emotional weight carried by Breaking Out Of Heaven 2007–2009, a newly released box set that captures the final era of Heaven & Hell, the Dio-fronted incarnation of Black Sabbath that burned bright one last time.
Formed in 2006, Heaven & Hell reunited Ronnie James Dio with his classic Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice—a lineup responsible for some of the most revered heavy metal ever recorded. Rather than lean on nostalgia, the quartet carved out a distinct identity under a new name, revisiting their shared legacy while pushing forward with renewed fire.
Ronnie James Dio performing live, 2009. Photo by Diego Torres Silvestre / CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
A Late-Era Renaissance, Captured in Full
At the heart of this release is the band’s lone studio album, The Devil You Know (2009)—a record that proved this wasn’t just a reunion, but a reinvention. Dark, crushing, and unmistakably Sabbathian, it stands as the final studio statement from Dio before his passing in 2010.
The box set goes further, compiling the full scope of Heaven & Hell’s short but explosive second act. Fans get the thunderous Live From Radio City Music Hall (2007) performance and the emotionally charged Neon Nights: Live at Wacken 2009, recorded just months before Dio’s death.
Together, these recordings chart a band not coasting on legacy, but operating at full creative tilt—tight, heavy, and deeply inspired.
More Than a Box Set—A Time Capsule
Available as both a lavish 7LP vinyl collection and a 4CD/Blu-ray edition, Breaking Out Of Heaven 2007–2009 is more than just a compilation. It’s a curated document of a band that, against all expectations, found new life decades into their careers.
Included are extensive liner notes, a replica tour book, and rare memorabilia—details that elevate the set into something closer to a museum piece than a standard release.
But what truly sets it apart is the emotional resonance. These recordings weren’t meant to be a farewell. By all accounts, the band were “on a roll,” with more music likely to come had fate not intervened.
The Voice That Still Echoes
Listening back now, what hits hardest is Dio himself. His voice—operatic, commanding, unmistakable—remains one of heavy metal’s defining instruments. Even decades into his career, there’s no hint of decline—only power, control, and that signature sense of drama.
It’s no surprise that Iommi himself has called Dio the greatest metal vocalist of all time.
Ronnie James Dio performing with Heaven & Hell, 2007. Image released into the public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Final Thoughts
Breaking Out Of Heaven 2007–2009 isn’t just a box set—it’s a closing chapter, preserved in full force. For longtime fans, it’s a reminder of how potent this lineup truly was. For newer listeners, it’s a gateway into one of metal’s most vital late-period renaissances.
And above all, it’s a fitting tribute to a voice—and a band—that never faded quietly.