Rainbow – Temple of the King (1975–1976)
9CD Box Set Review | Ritchie Blackmore at His Creative Peak
There are certain periods in rock history that feel almost mythical. Moments where everything aligns — the musicians, the songs, the ambition, and the sheer electricity of what is being created.
For many fans of hard rock and heavy metal, Rainbow between 1975 and 1976 is one of those moments.
The new 9CD box set Temple of the King – 1975–1976 from Demon Records celebrates the first two years of Rainbow’s remarkable journey following Ritchie Blackmore’s departure from Deep Purple. Inside this substantial set you’ll find the band’s first two studio albums, three complete live shows, rarities, rehearsal recordings, and a newly remastered presentation of some of the most influential music of the era.
And for those of us who lived through it — or have spent decades exploring it — this music still carries an incredible power.
What’s Inside the Box
This 9CD collection brings together:
Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (1975) – newly remastered
Rainbow Rising (1976) – newly remastered
Three full live concerts from 1976
Rare tracks and studio rehearsals
A 24-page booklet featuring sleeve notes, photos and memorabilia
Demon Records have also avoided the fragile outer packaging that sometimes appears in box sets. Instead, this one comes housed in a solid outer slipcase, something collectors will appreciate.
Inside you’ll find the discs packaged in 7-inch sized sleeves, a format Demon has used frequently in recent years. It works surprisingly well — giving CDs a presentation closer to a vinyl album while allowing the artwork to breathe.
The Booklet
The booklet is excellent and provides real context.
It covers:
The formation of Rainbow
Blackmore’s departure from Deep Purple
Ronnie James Dio’s early career
The creative environment that produced Rainbow’s earliest music
There are also reproductions of single sleeves, photographs from the original albums, and artwork variations from the era.
For fans of this period, it helps place the music into its historical setting — a time when Blackmore was determined to follow his own creative path.
The Albums
Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (1975)
This album has been newly remastered by Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham, and it’s the first time in a long while that the record has received this level of sonic attention.
For many fans — myself included — this was an album that changed everything.
I remember buying it back in 1975, seeing the posters, seeing that famous photograph of Richie Blackmore in the gatefold sleeve, and hearing Man On The Silver Mountain for the first time.
That music stayed with me.
Rainbow Rising (1976)
Then came Rainbow Rising, which remains one of the greatest hard rock albums ever recorded.
Tracks like:
Stargazer
A Light in the Black
represent some of the most powerful music ever committed to tape.
The album has long been famous for its thin bass presence in the original mix, which led to the later New York and Los Angeles mix variations on earlier deluxe editions.
The remaster here improves the overall clarity and weight of the recording, although it doesn’t radically change the mix itself.
But honestly, when the opening of Stargazer begins — with Ronnie James Dio delivering one of the greatest vocal performances in rock history — none of that matters.
It’s simply epic.
The Live Recordings – The Heart of the Set
For many listeners, the real treasure in this box lies in the live material.
Three full concerts from Rainbow’s 1976 tour capture Ritchie Blackmore at the absolute height of his creative powers.
These performances stretch songs far beyond their studio versions:
Catch the Rainbow
Mistreated
Man on the Silver Mountain
Still I’m Sad
often expand into 15–20 minute explorations, allowing Blackmore’s improvisation to roam freely.
This was a period where Blackmore had complete artistic control. No compromises. No committee decisions.
Just the music.
The result is electrifying.
You can hear the beginnings of what would later influence epic metal, progressive metal, and symphonic metal.
The Rarities
The set also includes studio rehearsal recordings from the 1976 world tour.
These are bootleg-level recordings, and Demon Records are upfront about that in the booklet.
They’re rough, distorted and clearly captured for reference rather than release.
For casual listeners, they may be difficult to sit through.
But for serious Blackmore fans — particularly those interested in his guitar work — there are moments where you can hear his playing clearly enough to make them fascinating historical documents.
Who Is This Box Set For?
This is the key question.
If you already own:
The 2011 deluxe edition of Rainbow Rising
The 2006 live albums from Germany
then much of the material here will already be familiar.
But those releases are now long out of print and expensive.
So if you’re newer to Rainbow or have been slowly working your way backwards through the Deep Purple family tree, this box set is actually an incredibly affordable way to obtain this music in one place.
For around £65, it represents very good value.
Ritchie Blackmore at His Peak
For me personally, 1974–1976 represents Richie Blackmore at his creative peak.
He had just left Deep Purple.
He had Ronnie James Dio beside him.
He had the freedom to follow his own musical vision.
And the result was music that felt larger than life.
The live recordings show Blackmore stretching out — exploring blues, classical influences, and something that would soon evolve into the foundations of heavy metal.
It’s thrilling to hear.
Final Thoughts
Temple of the King – 1975–1976 is a beautifully presented collection that captures Rainbow at the beginning of their extraordinary journey.
If you already own everything in previous editions, you may want to think carefully about whether the upgrades justify another purchase.
But if you’re discovering this era for the first time — or if you simply want these albums and live recordings gathered together in one place — this set is absolutely worth exploring.
Inside this small box lies:
Two classic studio albums
Three remarkable live concerts
A snapshot of Richie Blackmore at the height of his powers
And for fans of classic rock, hard rock, and the birth of epic heavy metal…
That’s something truly special.
