aaamusic | On 27, Nov 2011

Right. Hands up who knows Diamond Head? Hands down those who just know them as “Metallica like them, right?” I’m not going to lie, I was in that camp until this solid and hugely enjoyable double-disc package arrived in the post, and I for one feel that this sadly-overlooked masterwork of heavy metal should be given its dues this time around.

 

Disc one opens with ‘Lighting To The Nation’, a solid and hard-rocking track that rushes through its four-minute length in what feels like no time at all thanks to its great riffs and fevered basslines, not to mention some excellent Led Zeppelin vocals. ‘The Prince’ hybridises a Motörhead punk-metal wail and Deep Purple’s habit of making everything way more artistic than you’d expect, again galloping on at a million miles an hour with instrument work that is deft yet clearly skilled, as whirling bass and snarling guitar add feral melody to the piledriving juggernaut that is the drumming and the near-inhuman vocals, before the song weaves in and out of galloping heavy metal and proto-Pantera groove.

The nearly ten-minute behemoth ‘Sucking My Love’ has a seductive rock n roll tone to it that balances and compliments the heated fantastic elements of the song, as the vocals wail and yelp with impassioned heat. The drums are a marvel in their own right, as they not only cement and drive the track but add expression and even manage to pull off that much-sought-after trick: a tom roll that isn’t naff. The guitars are dirty and tasty, the bass heavy and tight, and the guitar solo accomplished without showing off. A chillingly arousing breakdown throws variation into the mix, building up thanks to some of the most (dare I say?) erotic vocals to come out the 80s NWOBHM scene, and it’s only with Diamond Head’s excellent musicianship in tow that the whole thing remains clearly on the seething metal side, not tipping into cringeworthy.

Possibly the most iconic track is ‘Am I Evil?’ and with that opening alone, I can see why. Heavy, atmospheric, tight and thrilling, it shows exactly where Metallica got their stick from, as chords, bass and drums all crash in upon the listener in a seething mass before we get the true body of the song. The riff is a thrilling piece of work, the solo incredible, the lyrics a great work of metallic bombast and rock simplicity, and the vocal delivery again unnervingly arousing, especially in the sheer thrill of the music that Diamond Head play. Again, most bands would render this song ridiculous, but these guys are so tight and so good at their sound that it all comes together into a truly great piece of heavy metal. Few bands could all pull their weight in a solo section without sounding like they’re just fighting for the limelight, but here the band are a true unit.

I suppose the “lesser” tracks are then neglected somewhat, but in themselves there’s yet more stellar work on offer. ‘Sweet And Innocent’ and ‘It’s Electric’ again feel like proto-Pantera low end mixed with thrashy guitars, pure momentum in percussion and FWOBHM vocals, all done with a whipcrack rhythmic precision and effortless yet passionate delivery from all corners. There’s more Deep Purple on the latter, circa ‘In Rock’, but blended with hard rock, like an AC/DC with brains. ‘Helpless’ rounds off disc one with a resounding triumph of style and substance that again proves a seven-minute song can be snappy, as it builds to a great heavy metal climax that strips the pretention associated with the genre and just rocks hard and oh so well.

The second disc is a collection of the band’s singles, and although it feels less rewarding as a whole, the songs work as the immediate standalone tracks they were meant to be. ‘Shoot Out The Lights’ is a tasty sleazy speed-blues number that could get any dancefloor going, and ‘Streets Of Gold’ sweats out the soul of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Kashmir’ with a stripped-down velocity and ferocity. Elsewhere, ‘Waited Too Long’ is a strangely chart-sounding number that sits between Guns N Roses’ predecessor and 80s pop-rock, although the off-kilter melodies and distinctive lead vocals save it from jarring too much, and ‘Diamond Light’ too feels a bit… too easy? ‘Play It Loud’ is aptly fast and brash, with a subtly skilful bassline and real sense of purpose behind its snappy riffing.

‘We Won’t Be Back’ is one of the few singles that really taps into the band’s menacing side, with some powerful vocals that occasionally overpower the mic in a way that just sounds cool as the musicians pound out solid rock n roll, and there’s something in the sound and the way it’s played that smacks the listener with the sense of something greater that is evident on the first disc. And startlingly enough, ‘I Don’t Got’ feels like a direct bridge between Black Sabbath and Alice In Chains. There’s something almost proto-grunge in its snarling guitar tone and bile-drenched sneer that makes the track feel like a chronologically natural closure.

 

So there you have it: two good reasons (and many great sub-reasons) to get into Diamond Head. Disc one gives you the might of their ability to create what feels like a full, planned and crafted entirety with heady Deep Purple moments and real musicianship, and disc two offers up quick fixes of heavy rocking. All this, and there’s a refreshing lack of pretension to savour here: this means that production can vary in quality, with especially disc two sounding a little grainy, but the pleasure of listening to straightforwards no frills and no holds barred metal is a rare one that can only be savoured. There is a reason Metallica love this band, and I think it’s one many of us can understand.

 

Katie H-Halinski