Brian Tatler's - Am I evil?

It is easy reading and easy to understand. Amazing to read about that time and finally understand why the bloody hell this band was not as big as Led Zeppelin...

To me it is clear that the one who made the difference was manager Peter Grant. On the other side, Diamond Head did pretty well, since it has become the spark for groups you may know ;-)

Amazingly Brian is happy with how things went (more or less) though to me it is clear they deserved, for their music, much much more than they got.

I was happy to see them live in 2005 supporting Megadeth . Thanks Dave! to bring my heros to my country.

The MCA Years

2 out of 5 of my favourites all time records. In one nice nicest package.
What more can i ask for?

People do not buy records... these are the records fans want.

Only 14€... new and sealed :-)

BUT, after reading the little booklet inside, i learn more things regarding 'the Diamond head curse'. How is it possible such a band could not achive the status the deserved?

20,000 records skiping first song Makin' music, poorly managed, misprinted booklet (even this one), critisized by press, a record company which do not understand music,..

All can be resumed in Dee Snider's words, when he met Sean (regarding "Am I evil") "You wrote that song? You need a manager"

I just heard the B sides from Canterbury, they are great. I love them!

World service

I would have never paid attention to this one if it was not because Brian Tatler played in it... his name appears only as songwriter and I do not know how much he'd played. There is one song that's worth the record Red sun blue moon, the rest is not bad but is not good, so this one I would recommend only to DH fans as me...

Although you can enjoy the listening as well.



7/10 dh fans only

death and progress

diamond head's come back. it was not the same. nothing to do with the fabulous releases from the 80s. the core though was intact. but there are 4 songs really good. starcrossed, featurin tony iommi, truckin', featuring dave mustaine, calling your name, and my favourite, run.
the rest is forgetable, something inconceivable for a DH record. the logo and the cover art are somehow poorer, but you can not live in history all the time, so any come back is welcomed.

8/10 just ... nice to have

to heaven from hell, behold the beginning ...

these are compilations from diamond head.mainly they got remixes of the songs and they have been very popular in the stores due it is extremely difficult to find the originals.

for instance, borrowed time and canterbury are only japanese versions, however lightning to the nations has come out with several reissues, including these compilations.

to heaven from hell, am i evil, behold the beginning, are not special really nice collections with great booklets, photos, lyrics ... but at least decent ones. they are very recommended if you can not find the originals, though i would try it.

why i bought them? well, because there was a time i wanted to have everything about this band, and being their records so hard to find (my first one was behold the beginning), i had to live with what i had :-)

thanks to god, internet, ebay came to save us :-D

10/10 each compilation is worth your money, but am i evil (the anthology) is the best one

Am i evil? The anthology

Diamond Head is a band i know thanks to the am i evil? song that Metallica -credit to them, they deserve it- have sworn to play it at every gig. and when I heard the original one, I said, listen this is not a good voice but a great one. Sean Harris.
Sucking my love became instantly favorite, despite its 9 minute long, this song is just incredible, a real sonic orgasm ;-) . Great and intense solos. Brian Tatler.
Helpless was another song Metallica used to cover. And I could talk and talk about the songs of my beloved band and I would not be fair or partial, 'cos I love them.
Borrowed Time brought them less raw and more maturity, the songs became maybe more complex. Listen to In the heat of the night solo, it is one of the best ever. Canterbury was one of the first epic records, and as i read it was light years ahead its time. Ishmael, to the devil its due ... Sadly it does not have master track Canterbury. Did it had love songs too? One more night, well, it is not necessary to talk always about drugs, death and whatever all the time!

Led Zeppelin successors?. Absolutely yes. They were creative, innovators and made not good music, but some of the best I can hear anywhere anyhow. They did what they wanted, with no compromise attitude. Sadly the band was poorly managed, so poorly ... And a good manager made some groups to reach stardom in an easier way, and when money is welcomed ... Well, it is true, in other cases, money leads you to destruction, but it is mainly your fault if you are not able to manage your success, I would say you sadly deserve it, I won't name any, but surely you can bring to your mind 2 clear examples ... :-S

Well, this is an anthology of my favourite group.

28 songs, makes a good route around DH career.
Good booklet. 16 pages, with photos & comments from various reporters.
It does not contain the lyrics, as most of them -except if they are japanese - with a nice slipcase.

Just bought it for pleasure since I had all the songs except the acoustic ones, the Acoustic EP.
I had many opportunities to buy it in ebay for a fixed price, and even i have enough DH collections i did not want to buy it. why? i just heard such was my love instead of sucking my love, and can't blame the group but i did not want to keep that one in memory so I just forgot it ;-)

10/10 am i evil? yes i am :-D

Borrowed Time

2nd record from the trilogy from Diamond Head. only 5 new songs... :-(
Am i evil? and Lightning to the nations, again since they were already in their debut record... why? i would never understand it...
anyway 5 new songs:
Borrowed time, In the heat of the night ... I would said metallic roccoco style ... The final solo of in the end of heat of the night is truly memorable... And i saw it live!!! -last year, supporting Megadeth-
Call me, love song, that was the flirting with radio commercial songs ... Who cares! Pretty good. DH signature. Enough said
To heaven from hell, suggestive title ... More into nwobhm rythm than melody, great song anyway.
Don't you ever leave me ... this song i liked most the first time i heard it, it is a lament-like song, it is very good, but probably has become less favorite ... Damned good anyway.

The lyrics seem to get you into a 'lord of the rings'/sci-fi/magic world, ... I would like to have them commented by the authors...

But love deceived me, and in my despair
I recalled the ring once again
Born of Sorrow my cunning revives me,
And I took them with me enchained

On scorched earth return me to be a simple man
I am destined by the gods to walk this land

Lonely moor, sky is grey
Moon acroos the waves
See the steely shafts of light reflect across the bay
Towards the tower

of course, beyond any classification

lightning to the nations

1980.
Brian Tatler, Sean Harris,
Colin Kimberley, Duncan Scott.

These are the four horsemen creators of the finest record in metal history. Do you really understand? the finest record in metal history. No other metal record can top this one.
This is really 'la crème de la crème'. I do not own the LP, but i of course have the CD.

these four guys were the true successors of Led Zeppelin, if originality and no-compromise are counting factors, always trying to be creative and originals, not following any other style. the band was light years ahead from its time. not enough words to describe it.

Lightning To The Nations, The Prince, Sucking My Love, Am I Evil?, Sweet and Innocent, It's Electric, Helpless

every song is a monstruous achievement, but i enhance as favourite, sucking my love, helpless and the sonf that introduced me in nwobhm: am i evil?
even the worst track will enhance any record just to make it worth a listening.

the compilation, on the right also includes, from their singles:

Streets Of Gold, Shoot Out The Lights, Waited Too Long, Play It Loud, Diamond Lights, We Won't Be Back, I Don't Got, It's Electric (remix)

the sentence 'there are more good riffs in your average DH single than in the first four albums of Black Sabbath' is true 100%, at least for me :-D

criminally underrated

beyond any classification, timeless, forever

Canterbury

The third record from Diamond Head's essential discography. The one who is less famous. However it is a piece of art. It was said, in fact, they said that they were the true successors from Led Zepp. Big affirmation. For me it is 100% true. They managed to record 3 albums in 5 years (with some singles in between) which have nothing in common but originality & perfection. Well ... :-) ... more in common than this, just we could classify them in different styles, each one the best of them.
Lightning is pure, raw nwobhm -the best record in its style, the nº1 -, borrowed is a mix between nwobhm and hard rock - less raw, more polished -and canterbury, the softer, i would say it is hard rock.
This record is divided between the love songs & the epics ones. It is the mellower from the three, and some people here they thought they were sold... again, typical straight/square mentallity... :-(
Melody, composition, and arrangements even without the original line up (bass & drums) were great. For me a true classic. The song Canterbury is incredible, with the piano and the voice intro, a song which tells a historical story ... wonderful!
I cant understand the people who just criticise any band who add keyboards in their records. they do not listen. They need 2 only guitars... well, i do not mind how the hell is the song as long as it is a good song, though i doubt i could like some styles ..
Enough. Epic ones: Canterbury, fabulous, Ishmael, knight of the swords, the kingmaker, to the devil his due.
Love songs: I need your love, one more night, out of phase, and the first one, makin' music ... I always have loved the easiness of their lyrics and how damn good they are...
A really underrated record. They always tried to be originals, not to repeat themselves, and they really knew how to write songs.

My all-time favourite band. The three records are sacred.

Again, beyond any classification. Classic status