NWOBHM At It's Best! Too Bad It Is All But Forgotten.
B. Cross | Clarksburg, WV | 08/29/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Diamond Nights is a compilation album of some of the choisest Diamond Head tracks from the late '70s and very early '80s. Diamond Head is a band that is somewhat of a paradox. Most metal fans know their songs, but don't know the band. That is because during Metallica's early days, they performed (and eventually released) many Diamond Head songs. The CD's liner notes cover this by saying, "...Metallica didn't start off creating anything much, only covering songs released by Diamond Head..." The notes go a bit further by saying, "...it might be suggested that Metallica stole the limelight away from Diamond Head, and it should have been Diamond Head who stood in the limelight and not Metallica, even today..." Diamond Head burst out of England around the same time as Iron Maiden and Def Leppard. Unfortunately, they did not share the enormous fame as their collegues. DH's music is outstanding, well crafted and produced, while still having the all-important "rawness" of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). DH was powered by Brian Tatler's furious riffing, Sean Harris's soaring vocals, Colin Kimberley's thumpy and precise bass work, and Duncan Scott's heavy-duty drumming. Again, many songs were covered by Metallica, but the originals are always the best. James Hetfield's (annoying) vocals do not even come close. Standout tracks include: "Sweet and Innocent", "The Prince", "Helpless", "I Don't Got", "Lightning to the Nations", "Am I Evil", "Sucking My Love", and "Shoot Out the Lights". The best part of this CD, is these are the original versions of these songs, simply cleaned up and remastered. So, you will hear these tunes how they were meant to be heard. So, if you need some new Metal for your tunes collection, check this one out. It has a great collection of songs (15 tracks), lyrics, and very informative and interesting liner notes. After listening, don't be surprised if you find yourself cursing the very existance of Selloutica (sorry, I mean Metallica)."
"Diamond Lights" on CD at last....
John F. Moore | Albany, New York United States | 01/16/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This "new" Diamond Head compilation is a great buy--not only does it contain all seven tracks from Diamond Head's classic debut LP, "Lightning To The Nations", which is by far the best record they ever made, but its got a bunch of songs from their early singles (like "Streets of Gold", "Shoot Out The Lights" and the somewhat poppy "Waited Too Long"). Although all of the above have been previously available on CDs like "Behold The Beginning" and the re-release of "Lightning...", what puts this CD above the other early DH compilations is that it has all four tracks from the 1981 "Diamond Lights" EP ("Diamond Lights", "We Won't Be Back", "I Don't Got" and the remix of "It's Electric"), never previously available on CD, and all great songs (although the remixed "It's Electric" really isn't all that different than the "Lightning..." version). Well worth having whether you're new to Diamond Head or are an old fan looking for a great mix."
The TRUE ORIGINAL version of DH's debut LP! BUY IT!
_-^-_ | 12/30/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This are the same songs on High Vaultage Records' compilation CD "Lightning To The Nations", although Metal Blade changed the playing order. To play the songs from the debut LP in their original order, play these tracks: 7, 4, 12, 10, 2, 14, 5. The other songs are from singles or the EP album "Diamond Lights" (which BTW is also the title of track 15, despite what this page says.) Personally I like the songs from the LP (especially "Helpless") better than the others. The band's untitled debut LP is generally considered to be their best album. I think it's one of the best rock albums ever. If you like any kind of power metal or thrash metal you'll probably like this CD. If you like this you'll probably also like their last studio album "Death & Progress" (the song "Damnation Street" from that one is a lot like "I Don't Got", one of the non-album tracks on this compilation.), although I prefer this one. That album has better sound quality, but I prefer the more "raw" production on this one. The production here is better than the production of "Live In The Heat Of The Night" also. "See the flashing lights, hear the thunder roar!" - Sean Harris"
Give Diamond Head a chance
zhlmsd | Canton, MA United States | 12/24/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"They are among the first members of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) which brought to life groups like Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Saxon and Tygers of Pan Tang. Yet they never got the airplay or the record sales that they deserve. This CD is a re-packaged, re-released version of the limited re-release of Lightning to the Nations, the groups debut cd. The production has been cleaned up and the songs sound crisper than ever, and the tracks have been rearranged in a far superior order (Note: Track 15 is called Diamond Lights, not Diamond Nights). Some people have criticized Sean Harris' vocals as a reason why the group never took off, and admittedly, there are a couple songs in their catalogue that are mildly annoying because of his voice, but you listen to Diamond Head for the pleasure of the songwriting and Brian Tatler's breakthrough guitar work. Let's give a quick rundown of the song list:We'll start with a classic track, The Prince. This is a straightforward metal blitz, showing the truw origins of the thrash style perfected by Metallica and Megadeth. 'Talica even covered it on Garage Days Inc. After that is Helpless, one of the better lyric songs in the catalogue, but another rocking classic, and another Met. cover. Lightning to the Nations was the bands anthem when it began, and it still has the feel of what coulod have been a radio-friendly song, with its crisp chorus, and less lengthy arrangement. It's Electric is a five-star song about being a rock-n-roller, and its one of the bands best. The remix isnt altogether necessary, but oh well, i dont mind hearing it twice. Shoot out the lights, Sucking my Love, Sweet and Innocent are all straightforward rock/metal songs which are DH classics, that you just have to hear. The six newer songs are quite interesting, with the best being Diamond Lights and Streets of Gold. We won't be back yields on ominous note to all of us who desire a DH reunion. This brings me to Am I Evil. This is oner of the greatest songs of all-time, and the band's best. The driving beat at the beginning can stir the blood of even the most casual of listener. Tatler's guitar work is spectacular in this piece, and even borrows a riff from Guitar-God Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmore's Night). This song also showcases the strongest lyrical work the band put out, and some of the best percussion work as well. Just listen to it again, and again, and you'll realize why it's one of Metallica's alltime favorite concert covers. Buy this CD if you're already a DH fan. If you like metal, either thrash or Maiden's melodic style get this now. If you like hard rock (i.e. Guns and Roses) try it. If you do like it I would humbly reccommend Kamelot's The Fourth Legacy and Legacy of Kings by Hammerfall as two of the NEW Heavy Metal aces. Brian, Sean.... please reunite Diamond Head!!!!"