Diamond Head -Diamond Head
What they say –
Influential and iconic heavy metal band, Diamond Head, have announced their first album of new material in eight years. Entitled Diamond Head, the album features an exciting new talent in singer Rasmus Bom Andersen.
In 2014 Diamond Head invited London based, Danish-born Ras to join the band. Together they completed a European tour, which included appearances at Hard Rock Hell and Head Bangers Open Air in Germany.
The spark of creativity led the band to start working on the new album in January 2015. Brian Tatler, founder of Diamond Head, said: “When we began talking with Ras about making a new record he said we should write the songs as a band just like Diamond Head did at the beginning of our career. There’s no substitute for writing together in the same room, we spark each other off and create something far bigger than we could have done individually.”
Brian continued, “Ras has certainly renewed the energy within the band. I had no interest in doing another record but after working with Ras on the European tour that all suddenly changed. I wanted to make a record with him. He’s a confident singer and he’s not trying to fill anyone’s shoes.”
Speaking about the new album, Brian said: “This new album has an echo of the early albums but I always try to push our music forward somewhere new if possible.”
Ras adds, “All in all this album was made with the band’s first fans foremost in mind from start to finish. We wanted to write songs that would have ties to the best parts of the all the previous albums. We feel we have achieved what we set out to do and we hope everyone will hear and feel the Diamond Head spirit through this new eponymous record.”
In general the album lyrics focus on political and environmental themes, specifically warning that our world is in many ways leaning towards self-destruction. The opening and closing songs encapsulate these themes, while the body of the album explores subtopics in more depth, along with songs dealing with lighter subjects that aren’t so heavy on the heart.
Diamond Head are –
Brian Tatler – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Eddie Moohan – bass
Karl Wilcox – drums
Andy “Abbz” Abberley – rhythm guitar
Rasmus Bom Andersen – lead vocals
© owners
Website – http://www.diamond-head.net
What I say –
Personally I’m very glad to see Diamond Head making a very welcome return to our beloved world of British Rock. Not only have they released this new self titled album, (their first studio release since 2008), but they’ve made a cracking album. First listen blew me away. Straight down the middle, all out rock in the way only Diamond Head can do. Like many a person of a certain age, I’ve been a fan of Diamond Head for many a year, and I’m no stranger to standing at the front screaming ‘Am I Evil, Yes I Am’, so it fills my heart, ears and head with joy to see the Brian and the lads back with this killer. New singer Rasmus certainly adds a certain something, call it energy, call it what you will, but its definitely out there for all to hear, fearlessly fronting up the driving darker riffs from the lads. Unmistakably Diamond Head.
The album opens with ‘Bones’ which is not unlike ‘In The Heat Of The Night’ albeit a bit faster. It has a hallmark Diamond Head main guitar riff which leads us headlong into the the first howling vocal from new boy Rasmus Bom Anderson.
All the while, the rhythm, bass and drums drive us along til we get to the lead break by none other than Diamond Head founder Brian Tatler. The lad shows he can clearly still rip it up with amazing licks and plent of hammer on’s etc. Next up is ‘Shout At The Devil’ which has the Diamond Head NWOBHM stamp written all over it. Its like being a lad again. Rasmus’s vocal strains are pure Diamond Head. The riffs, the thundering grooves and long, lung busting vocals make this one of my many faves on this album.
‘Set My Soul On Fire’ again has all of the tried, tested and much loved Diamond Head hallmarks. Driving rhythm and thunderous bass pounding throughout. The guitar solo precedes a shift into a higher gear as the vocals build soar higher and higher… Love it!
‘See You Rise’ starts off in a sort of post NWOBHM punk fashion, which soon makes way for a more appropriate heavy rock riff topped off by another high octane guitar solo midway.
‘All The Reason You Live’ initially takes the pace down a little with some atmospheric strings and acoustic guitar. This is short lived. As soon as the main riff starts, you know you’re in for a treat. Chugging riffs, strings and thoughtful lyrics make this a real class track. Mr Tatler’s restrained solo perfectly compliments the track, while the rest of the rhythm section, including strings bring the song to an amazing heavy riffing crescendo, to finish with an acoustic and strings outro.
The AC/DC like powerchords in ‘Speed’ crash in between the wiry riffs with a guitar solo to sum up the songs title. The laid back riffs and a vocal tour de force make ‘Blood On My Hands’ a contender for song of the album but this is left to album closer ‘Silence’, a 6 minute long string drenched Zeppelin like beast that has to be heard to be believed. The classically heavy midsection is the icing on the cake. To call it stunning does not even scratch the surface.
Diamond Head by Diamond Head
Would I buy it? – I did!
Would I recommend it? – If you want British Classic/Heavy Rock with a darker edge, done exactly as it should be, then definitely.
Would I pay good money to see them live? – Yes, I’d gladly pay my money again.
Overall – I’m a huge fan of this band and album. Welcome back lads. I’ve waited quite a time for this album, and it was well worth the wait.
Rating – 5 out of 5
Tracklisting –
Bones
Shout At The Devil
Set My Soul On Fire
See You Rise
All The Reasons You Live
Wizards Sleeve
Our Time Is Now
Speed
Blood On My Hands
Diamonds
Silence