FRENZY FIRE

    

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

    
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

     
     
     
     
         

Diamond Head

      
         
         
         
     
             
Diamond Head are a heavy metal band from the UK formed in 1976 and are widely recognised as one of the founders of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement. Diamond Head have inspired more artists and bands to begin a musical career than any other band ever has. Their first single, 'Shoot Out The Lights', was released in 1979, followed by their debut album in 1980. Achieving cult status, the early eighties was a great time for Diamond Head, including opening the prestigious Monsters Of Rock festival at Donington Park, UK in 1983. The band then went on hiatus for a few years due to musical differences and resurfaced with their fourth album 'Death And Progress' in 1993, only for the band to split up the following year. Reforming in 2000, the band went on to release an album in 2005 with a new singer. The band continued to tour relentlessly, and in 2016, forty years after their formation, album number seven has just been released.    
             
There is an old saying "life begins at forty" and with Diamond Head celebrating forty years in the music business, you could argue that life has begun (again) for the band. Armed with a new singer, a new self titled album and an upcoming UK and European tour, the UK legends of NWOBHM are hitting the heights again. Trends come and go but the sound of the NWOBHM will remain forever. Diamond Head have written an album that pays homage to their roots, classic sounding and oozing NWOBHM traits. 'Bones' opens the album with a guitar riff that could have come from the eighties, but obviously hasn't. New singer, the Danish born Rasmus Bom Andersen, has a superb vocal range with a very clean and clear delivery. Over the years Diamond Head have stood tall and proud to be British, flying the flag for NWOBHM all around the world. 'Bones' is an exciting, sit up and take notice song, because Diamond Head are back.    
             
Before all you hard rock fans out there scream "is Shout At The Devil a Motley Crue cover"...I can, with one hundred percent certainty say "no". Ballsy and bombastic 'Shout At The Devil' is classic sounding British heavy metal with a catchy, sing a long chorus. Foot tapping and head bangingly addictive 'Shout At The Devil' builds in intensity to a crescendo as it romps to a conclusion. The moody mid tempo stomp of 'Set My Soul On Fire' drops the pace. Very atmospheric, 'Set My Soul On Fire' is a head nodder, with some cracking heavy guitars. 'See You Rise' is classic Diamond Head with some detectable blues influence tucked in there. Not just the guitars, but the vocals take on a little twang also. Every member of the band is hugely experienced and this shows in the tightness and confidence with which every song oozes in abundance. 'All The Reasons You Live' chugs like a tug boat on the Thames and is melodic NWOBHM at its best. With traits of the American hard rock genre, 'All The Reasons You Live' showcases the diversity that the band write with. While a lot of the album is aimed at their core fan base, there is plenty on offer here to appeal to new fans too.    
             
Upping the pace, 'Wizard Sleeve' is a cracking head bangingly addictive song that just smacks of the eighties NWOBHM sound. Pace and power abound as 'Wizard Sleeve' flies by in a flash. 'Our Time Is Now' could be prophetic as Diamond Head continue to impress the longer the album rumbles on. There is zero evidence that this is an album that tries to recapture past glories. The sound quality and production is modern, the guitar hooks and melodies definitely British with the lyrical themes all about the state of the planet and how we are destroying it. 'Speed', as the title suggests is up tempo, energetic and gallops along at pace with blistering guitars and a thunderous rhythm. Add to that, one of the best guitar solos on the album and you have a sparkling song.    
             
'Blood On MY Hands' is a lazy, smooth amble of blues influenced rock. With a nod towards the legends of rock that are Led Zeppelin, 'Blood On My Hands' delivers an atmospheric blast of classic rock that will appeal to the older generation, but will also make the younger generation sit up and take notice. In my opinion, Diamond Head have nothing to prove, they have done it all, played it all and seen it all. The energetic 'Diamonds' is pure Diamond Head. Yes it is classic sounding, but it also has enough modern touches to attract a wider audience than just the hard core Diamond Head fan. Powerful vocals and sparkling guitars backed with a relentless rhythm has 'Diamonds' stealing the light as one of the best songs on the album. An atmospheric guitar rumble brings 'Silence' to life with a guitar chugging riff that is heavy yet melodic and vocals that are the most powerful heard on the album. 'Silence' is anything but silence or silent...the mid section of the song lowering the tone and pace before rising again with that chugging guitar riff. A cracking climax to a cracking album.    
             
Overall, the classic NWOBHM sound has never sounded better, and neither has Diamond Head. The album is packed with enough to excite fans, old and new.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Top