Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow: Black Masquerade Volume 2 (Clear Vinyl)

Live at Rockpalast, 1995 – Limited Edition RSD 2018 Pressing

This clear vinyl gem captures Rainbow in their mid-90s incarnation, fronted by the mighty Doogie White and helmed by guitar wizard Ritchie Blackmore during his brief return to rock before heading off to Renaissance land.

Sound & Performance:

The live mix is raw but powerful—authentic to the era, with a touch of bootleg charm. Blackmore’s playing is as unpredictable and brilliant as ever, mixing finesse with bursts of wild, medieval madness. The band sounds tight and charged, riding on Doogie’s theatrical delivery.

Highlights:

• “Since You’ve Been Gone” – A fan-favorite with a fresh live punch. Catchy, energetic, and stadium-ready.

• “Perfect Strangers” – A Deep Purple classic in Rainbow’s hands; darker, slower, more atmospheric. Doogie makes it his own without losing the essence.

• “Greensleeves” – A brief but haunting interlude, showing off Blackmore’s flair for the medieval.

• “Hall of the Mountain King” & “Burn” – The set ends with two showstoppers. “Burn” is particularly fiery, with Blackmore shredding through it like it’s 1974 again.

Packaging:

The clear vinyl is visually stunning, with solid pressing quality. It’s a must-have for collectors—especially fans of Blackmore’s post-Dio work.

Verdict:

🔥 A short but punchy slice of Rainbow magic. It’s not the legendary lineup, but it is a legendary guitarist, still on fire. For those who appreciate Blackmore’s eclectic mid-90s return to rock, this is a killer snapshot in time.