Diamond Head Diamond Head 2016 Dissonance Productions Diamond Head are a Heavy Metal band that are considered to be one of the most highly influential bands that were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement in the early 80’s. With Brian Tatler still at the helm, Diamond Head are best remembered for releasing the seminal NWOBHM classic, Lightning to the Nations in 1980. Diamond Head have disbanded and reformed a few times in their career, but since original vocalist Sean Harris and Tatler went their separate ways in 2003, Diamond Head have maintained a generally stable release of albums. Diamond Head’s eponymous latest release is their 7th album and their long awaited follow up to 2007’s What’s In Your Head? Diamond Head is the first release with Danish vocalist Rasmus Bom Andersen, who replaces former vocalist, Nick Tart who left the band in 2014. The rest of Diamond Head is completed by Karl Wilcox on the drums, Eddie Moohan on the bass and Andy Abberley joining Tatler on the guitars. Diamond Head has been self-produced with the recording being completed by Adam Beddow. Diamond Head has a typically NWOBHM sound and at times, it moves to a more Classic Heavy Metal sound. Tatler has always had a distinctive guitar tone, that once more rears its head to identify the music as Diamond Head. The rest of Diamond Head tries very hard to capture the magic and tone of Lightning to the Nations and it nearly does, the whole album sounds very much as if it was recorded in 1980, of course there are some modern twists, in particular the bass groove to Our Time is Now is exceptionally clean and deep. Bones is the opening track from Diamond Head and sets the pace for the remainder of the album and gives us the first glimpse of what to expect from Andersen. At first listen, Andersen’s voice can seem a little generic and weak, however, this is not the case, as the album progresses, you find that Andersen’s voice is very versatile, easily being able to hark back to a similarity with Harris’ voice whilst being nowhere near a straight up imitator, Andersen stamps his own mark all over Diamond Head and let’s hope this is the start of a new era of prosperity for Diamond Head. There are tracks on Diamond Head that would not be out of place on Lightning to the Nations, Shout at the Devil, Wizard’s Sleeve – even though it does contain the chorus ‘can I come inside your wizard’s sleeve’, Speed and Diamonds. The latter is a fantastic slice of pure NWOBHM gold. Diamond Head isn’t all about recapturing their youth, there are tracks on the album that show a different side to them, the slow brooding of Set My Soul on Fire, the Black Sabbath inspired groove to Our Time is Now, the Led Zeppelin rhythm which gives way to a classic Diamond Head romp with Diamonds. However, it is the final Middle-Eastern flavoured Silence which steals the album, it is a slow burner, building up to near Stargazer proportions that brings a close to an album that has been a great surprise. Diamond Head is a great album by a band that has had their fair share of ups and downs, but Diamond Head is infectious, it will grow and before you know it, you will have a serious contender for one of the top spots comes year end. 9/10 Adam All the Reasons you Live (Diamond Head)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Welcome to Chicken Lizard HQThere's plenty to look at, you'll find reviews for games, sporting events, heavy metal music and anime Archives
November 2016
Categories |