Rainbow – Difficult To Cure VG+/VG+ (Japanese pressing)

Difficult to Cure shows Rainbow pivoting decisively into a sleeker, arena‑ready sound, trading the darker mystique of the Dio years for something brighter, punchier, and built around melody rather than atmosphere. Joe Lynn Turner’s arrival reshapes the centre of gravity: his smooth, radio‑friendly delivery gives the songs a confident, streamlined lift, while Ritchie Blackmore channels his virtuosity into tighter, hook‑driven lines that still carry his unmistakable bite. The rhythm section keeps everything taut and propulsive, giving the album a clean, modern sheen that feels engineered for big rooms and bigger choruses. What makes it work is the balance between craft and immediacy — the band sounds disciplined without losing personality, leaning into accessibility without flattening their edge. It stands as a snapshot of Rainbow embracing reinvention, turning precision and polish into a new kind of momentum.