SONIC STORMTROOPERS from Stourbridge, Diamond Head, since the turn of the decade, have come to the fore as one of THE most stunningly individual new metal maestros. Mind you, the term 'new' is rather misleading as the band has been together for some three years, paying their rock 'n' roll dues on the local Black Country club circuit before graduating in recent months to playing the more prestigious venues throughout England, gaining useful experience by supporting the likes of AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Girl and Angel Witch.
Musically, Diamond Head successfully draw on the very best elements of transatlantic heavy rock, their instantly recognisable sound possessing not only a raw, unfettered UK-style ferocity but also boasing a complementary degree of poise and balance in the Stateside tradition. There can be no more startling testament to these impressive qualities than their meisterwork 'Am I Evil'. Weighing in at just over seven minutes in length, this number is initially built around a stirring 'Hell House' rhythm, before some excellent tremelo guitar work helps burst 'Evil' out of its self-imposed riff-cage and to a gory road as the song unfurls the terror-stricken tale of a witch's son with a grotesque turn of phrase. This entire headshaker is the conceptual brainchild of just four musicians with an average age of 19, namely Sean Harris (vocals), Brian Tatler (guitar), Colin Kimberly (bass) and Duncan Scott (drums).
However, Diamond Head are more than a one-track band as they've amply shown with their debut single on Wolverhampton label Happy Face Record, 'Sweet & Innocent' / 'Streets of Gold', plus their all-consuming contribution to MCA's 'Brute Force' compilation, 'It's Electric'. Future plans for the band include the imminent release of an album entitled 'Lightning To The Nations', again on Happy Face.