Diamond Head are set to return to North American for their longest tour in their 40-year career. The headline run will feature songs that span their extensive recording catalog including their self-titled new album out now on Dissodance Productions.
Decibel Magazine calls Diamond Head "vital and interesting. All the songs, thanks to (Brian) Tatler's masterclass riffing, are all rock solid from top to bottom. These guys deserve their legendary status." Brave Words adds, "the real key to Diamond Head 's success and longevity is simple: the songs,:" while Noisey claims simply, "Diamond Head stand the test of time on their new album."
Recorded at Vigo Studios in Birmingham, Diamond Head is the first album toe feature new vocalist Rasmus Born Anderson and ends an eight-year silence for the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) legends. Prior to 2014, the thought of a new album was bleak as guitarist and band founder Brian Tatler previously revealed.
"I had no interest in doing another record but after working with Ras on the 2014 European tour that suddenly changed. I wanted to make a record with him. He's a confident singer and he's not trying to fill anyone's shoes". Recording of the album commenced last July with the band and engineer Adam Beddow at the helm. Tatler notes, "I gave Rasmus some music to listen to last January. He selected songs or riffs that he wanted to work on and we began rehearsing. We whittled things down to fourteen songs by April". Eleven songs were selected in the end for the album; all mixed by Dave Nicholls and mastered by John Davis at London's Metropolis.
Diamond Head are considered one of NWOBHM's early members. Formed in 1976, their songs influenced a slew of early 80?s thrash metal bands, in particular Metallica who recorded the band's "Am I Evil" as a b-side to their 1984 Creeping Death single and again included on the band?s multi-platinum 1998 covers album Garage Inc. Tatler joined members of Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax at the 2011 Sonisphere Festival. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich addressed the crowd saying, "if it wasn't for Brian Tatler, there's a pretty good chance none of us would be here tonight". Later speaking about the event Tatler said, "if it wasn't for Metallica, Diamond Head would not have had this second wind". Metallica would record three additional Diamond Head songs "Helpless" (Garage Days, 1987), "The Prince" ("Harvester of Sorrow" Single b-side, 1989), "It's Electric" (Garage Inc., 1998).
US Tour Dates:
11/02 - Slim's, San Francisco CA
11/03 - Whiskey, Hollywood CA
11/04 - LVCS, Las Vegas NV
11/05 - Brick By Brick, San Diego CA
11/10 - Grizzly Hall, Austin TX
11/11 - Concert Pub North, Houston TX
11/12 - Rock Box, San Antonio , TX
11/13 - Trees, Dallas TX
11/17 - Sellersville Theater, Sellersville PA
11/18 - Fish Head Cantina, Baltimore MD
11/19 - The Chance, Poughkeepsie NY
11/20 - Webster Hall's Marlin Room, New York NY
11/21 - Bug Jar, Rochester NY
11/22 - Katacombes, Montreal QC
11/23 - Brass Monkey, Ottawa ON
11/24 - Garrison, Toronto ON
11/25 - Token Lounge, Detroit MI
11/26 - Tailgators, Chicago IL11/27 - Metal Grill, Milwaukee WI
UK & Europe
June 2016:
5th ALVESTA - Muskelrock på Tyrolen, Sweden
8th SOLVESBORG - Sweden Rock Festival, Sweden
18th DAUN - Der Detze Rockt, Germany
July 2016:
30th BARNET - Barnet Rugby Club, United Kingdom
August 2016:
12th BLOODSTOCK, Catton Hall, United Kingdom
18th BILSTON ' The Robin, United Kingdom
27th LES ESCUELAS Jaén, Andalusia - Skulls of Metal Fest, Spain
September 2016:
1st SOUTHAMPTON - The Brook
2nd NUNEATON - Queens Hall
17th PUCHERSREUTH ' Stormcrusher Festival, Germany
22nd DUBLIN ' Fibber McGee's, Ireland
23rd BELFAST ' Voodoo, United Kingdom
24th LIMERICK ' Dolans, Ireland
29th NORWICH ' The Waterfront, United Kingdom
October 2016:
4th YORK ' Fibbers, United Kingdom
5th GLASGOW ' Academy, United Kingdom
6th EDINBURGH ' La Belle Angèle, United Kingdom
7th ABERDEEN ' Moorings Bar, United Kingdom
8th SHEFFIELD ' Academy, United Kingdom
9th LONDON ' Islington Academy, United Kingdom
