The birth of neoclassical metal began with Rainbow's inception in 1975. Uniting guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's blistering melodicism with Ronnie James Dio's operatic flights, the group pioneered the genre's soaring grandeur and fantastic exuberance. With its epic strings and pounding gait, “Stargazer” boasts all the magnificence of a medieval cathedral. The proto-speed-metal ripper “Kill the King” agilely balances pristine execution with raw, propulsive fury. Following Dio's departure in 1979, the outfit shifted into radio-rock mode, churning out riff-packed catchiness like “Since You Been Gone.”