DIAMOND HEAD — Lightning to the Nations (review)

DIAMOND HEAD — Lightning to the Nations album cover Album · 1980 · NWoBHM Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
siLLy puPPy
Originally released simply titled DIAMOND HEAD in 1980 it has since been renamed after the first track LIGHTNING TO THE NATIONS. This band was another one of those influential NWOBHM bands that despite being in the top ranks didn't quite see their just dessert until Metallica covered some of the best tracks such as “Am I Evil” on their debut album. For whatever reason they couldn't find a record contract and had to resort to starting their own record label. This album was their debut and for financial reasons only released 1000 copies. Once the band became recognized as the influential entitiy it was it created a huge interest for collectors wanting to get a copy of one of the original releases.

What we get here musically is some standard NWOBHM with the obvious influences ranging from Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Judas Priest. I personally think this album is often overrated in the influence department. Very good it is, but by the time this hit the market Iron Maiden, Angel Witch, Saxon and even Def Leppard were in the same league and I actually prefer their early albums to this one. This is one of those influential albums that I actually prefer less than the bands that would be influenced by them such as Metallica or Megadeth, however I don't want to deprive this band of the dues owed them simply because the album doesn't satisfy me on some profound level. The songs here are well written and well performed and if you get the remastered CD you will also be treated to seven tracks from their earlier EP s that seem more influential to me because of the much earlier date in which they were recorded and released. Definitely a worthy addition to any metal collection.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Merciless Crossover Thrash
BODY COUNT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed