A concept album, it was produced by frontman Ronnie James Dio and released on March 21, 2000, through Spitfire Records.

[6] Said Dio: "Magica is the saga of Blessing, a netherworld invaded by dark forces that vaporise people into pure, evil energy.

The planet's saviours are master, apprentice heroes Eriel and Challis, who must recite a spell from the sacred book of Magica to defeat their foe, Shadowcast.

I left the ending ambivalent because evil always exists, good doesn't always triumph and that's the universal balance.

Goldy said that the lyrics were written by Dio when he was fighting cancer, and are "very emotional" and "hard to listen to without a lump at the back of your throat".

"Turn to Stone" was announced on the official press release for the deluxe edition, issued by Niji Entertainment Group, but was eventually omitted from the album, for unknown reasons.