Diamond Head : The Point, Cardiff 14/07/2005 Setlist: It's Electric / Give it to Me / The Prince / Mine all Mine / Fallen Angel / I Can't Help Myself / Lightning to the Nations / To the Devil His Due / Alimony / Sucking My Love / Streets of Gold / Helpless / Am I Evil / In the Heat of the Night



The latest Tatler lead version of Diamond Head hit the streets of Cardiff tonight, unleashing their powerful brand of seriously hard rock. A mixture of old and new tracks, including four from the recently released 'All Will Be Revealed' CD, captured the attention of the small but lively crowd from beginning to end.
New singer Nick Tart, whilst obviously not Sean Harris (they've got different coloured hair for a start), is no passenger. His on stage energy and vocal stamina were enough to persuade any doubters of his pedigree. The trouserless Karl Wilcox clad only in a tee shirt and small nappy (seriously) caused aftershocks around the South Wales area with each strike of his skins and his partner in crime Eddie Moohan, grimacing like an angry bass playing Viking minstrel, were faultless throughout. And there on the end was Mills, steady and workmanlike, his solid addition to the backbeat gave Brian Tatler the space to move around the set comfortably with all the usual flair and invention that fans have grown accustomed to over the years.

The absence of a support band was hardly a blow as DH took to the stage pounding out the opening chords of the legendary 'Am I Evil'. The intro quickly slid into It's Electric, the first of the classics to be aired tonight. Indeed, it was a night where the old school were well served. Standing out of a back catalogue that leaves the competition sick with envy were Lightning to the Nations and Helpless, two examples of the finest vintage from the cellars of rock.
Of the new material Give it Me and Mine all Mine provided the most edge and acted as proof that this Diamond is still shining as bright as ever. Single representatives from Death and Progress, I Can't Help Myself and Canterbury, to the Devil His Due (interesting arrangement), saw the mid period a little under represented. So many songs, but such little time!

Am I Evil did its usual trick of whipping the crowd up into a frenzy before the encore delivered haunting melody of In the Heat of the Night. Diamond Head proved that the personnel changes have not dented their ability to convert anybody within earshot into open jawed, metal zombies. How the hell do they still manage to do that?

High Point: Lightning to the Nations Funniest Moment: A request for The Kingmaker which caused Brian to pluck a couple of the opening chords before finding it all too amusing. Let Down: Notable absence of Borrowed Time and All Will be Revealed

Review by Adam Lees