Heaven & Hell: Breaking Out of Heaven 2007-2009 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Heaven & Hell: Breaking Out of Heaven 2007-2009 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman February 26, 2026

Heaven & Hell: Radio City Music Hall Live! was released on Blu-ray by what was then known as Eagle Rock Entertainment (now Mercury Studios) in 2011, in the wake of the then recent death of Ronnie James Dio. The ache of that loss may have lessened somewhat in the interim, but for fans of this band in general and probably Dio in particular this new collection from Rhino should be welcome news, even if some of what's offered on the Blu-ray disc in this package is that same aforementioned live New York city appearance, with some of the supplements also being the same supplements as were offered on the old Eagle Rock Entertainment disc. That said, the Blu-ray disc in this package does offer a second concert (in less good video condition) and some newly released supplements as well, along with a glut of other material, including four CDs. Rhino's website provides some background on the release for those who may be less acquainted with this particular aggregation as opposed to some of the arguably better known groups Dio was with (including his eponymous band), as follows:

Ronnie James Dio joined Black Sabbath for 1980’s platinum selling Heaven And Hell album. When Dio regrouped with Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice between 2007 and 2009 they did so under the name Heaven & Hell. They released the live albums Live at Radio City Music Hall in 2007 and Neon Knights Live at Wacken in 2009, plus their sole studio album The Devil You Know in 2009. These recordings are now collected together as Breaking Out Of Heaven 2007-2009 on a 4 CD set that includes a Blu-ray featuring the aforementioned live shows in their entirety. These were the last recordings made by Ronnie James Dio before he sadly passed away in 2010, and represent a fitting testament to the music he made with Black Sabbath, featuring tracks from Heaven And Hell, Mob Rules, Dehumanizer and The Dio Years.

The two concerts offered on the Blu-ray disc are Radio City Music Hall (HD; 1:55:27) and Neon Nights Live at Wacken (HD; 1:27:43). The Radio City Music Hall set list can be seen in screenshot 13 and the Neon Nights Live at Wacken set list can be seen in screenshot 14.

Heaven & Hell: Breaking Out of Heaven 2007-2009 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots 1 through 7 are from Live at Radio City. Screenshots 8 through 12 are from Neon Knights Live at Wacken. Screenshots 13, 14 and 15 show relevant menus and submenus on the Blu-ray disc.

Heaven & Hell: Breaking Out of Heaven 2007 - 2009 is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Warner Music and Rhino with the two concerts listed above presented in AVC encoded 1080i transfers in 1.78:1. The Live at Radio City transfer is by far the sharper and better looking, and I'd refer those interested to Svet Atanasov's old Heaven & Hell: Radio City Music Hall Live! Blu-ray review for another take on the presentation, but aside from recurrent combing artifacts, this offers secure detail levels and a nice reproduction of the palette. Things are a good deal more ragged on the Neon Knights Live at Wacken presentation, with a more obvious older video source and an overall opaque appearance that keeps detail levels from ever really popping. Milky contrast doesn't help things. I've split the difference with the overall score above.

Heaven & Hell: Breaking Out of Heaven 2007-2009 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Both of the concerts on the Blu-ray disc feature DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 tracks. With "onslaught" tunes like the ones frequently on display here, it might be joked that it can be hard to tell at times between the surround and stereo tracks simply because there is a veritable "wall of sound" virtually assaulting the listener at times, though tongues removed from cheeks, there's no doubt that the surround track offers a more forceful midrange and low end and despite the unified riff driven material a more spacious accounting. Some of the quieter moments actually feature some nice breathing room and hall (or outdoor) ambience than the stereo tracks. There are optional subtitles in English, French and Spanish for some of the supplements.

Heaven & Hell: Breaking Out of Heaven 2007-2009 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Blu-ray Disc

• Road Movie (HD; 19:14) offers some interesting background on then new material.


• Hail The Gods of Metal (HD; 5:24) features some pretty excited fans.


• Meet the Mob (HD; 3:14) has some even more excited fans.


• Radio City (HD; 4:07) features a production event coordinator for the venue.


• The Wisdom of Dio (HD; 11:06) has some fun content with Ronnie.


• 30th Anniversary Interviews

Ronnie James Dio (SD; 15:00)




Geezer Butler (SD; 15:08)




Vinny Appice (SD; 14:53)




Tony Iommi (SD; 14:59)

• Ronnie James Dio Tribute

Tony Iommi (SD; 1:47)




Vinny Appice (SD; 00:52)




Geezer Butler (SD; 00:56)

CD One: The Devil You Know

1. Atom and Evil
2. Fear
3. Bible Black
4. Double The Pain
5. Rock And Roll Angel
6. The Turn Of The Screw
7. Eating The Cannibals
8. Follow The Tears
9. Neverwhere
10. Breaking Into Heaven

Bonus Tracks from The Dio Years


11. The Devil Cried
12. Shadow Of The Wind
13. Ear In The Wall

CD Two: Live from Radio City Music Hall

1. E5150 / After All (The Dead)
2. The Mob Rules
3. Children Of The Sea
4. Lady Evil
5. I
6. The Sign Of The Southern Cross
7. Voodoo
8. The Devil Cried

CD Three: Live from Radio City Music Hall

1. Computer God
2. Falling Off the Edge Of The World
3. Shadow Of The Wind
4. Die Young
5. Heaven And Hell
6. Lonely Is the Word
7. Neon Knights

CD Four: Neon Nights: 30 Years Of Heaven & Hell

1. Mob Rules
2. Children Of The Sea
3. I
4. Bible Black
5. Time Machine
6. Fear
7. Falling Off The Edge Of The World
8. Follow The Tears
9. Die Young
10. Heaven And Hell
11. Neon Knights

This comes packaged in a box measuring approximately 6" wide by 8" high by 2" deep. The box holds a really sumptuously produced perfect bound collector's booklet with some great writing and a ton of archival images. A second, smaller insert replica concert booklet offers more writing and images of the band, along with some credits. Next in the pile is a folded mini poster, after which mini LP reproduction sleeves (all gatefolds) hold the CDs, with the Blu- ray disc in its own mini LP sleeve at the bottom of the box.

Heaven & Hell: Breaking Out of Heaven 2007-2009 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

For probably understandable reasons, Heaven & Hell's output was severely limited, and so this appealing collection should be especially appreciated by fans, even if some of the Blu-ray material is "recycled". Technical merits vary a bit in the video department on the Blu-ray disc, but audio is secure in both concerts, and the on disc supplements are very appealing. The included CDs and other extras are all great and help to make this a more or less "complete collection" for fans. Highly recommended.