When someone (is there a 'god' out there, eventually?) or something (worldwide plague, mass nuclear massacre etc) decides to end it all in the music genre we all refer to as 'Heavy Metal', I hope he'll be sure to promptly extol DIAMOND HEAD's contribution in embossed lettering upon the metallic coffin. Letting aside every other inner 'gratitude' emotion, it's the Stourbridge, UK legendary band's new album entitled What's In Your Head? herein set upon district examination.
When 9 out of 10 Metal fans recognize you as the band METALLICA has covered multiple times (even if you're identified in the Top-10 of all-time greatest British Hard Rock/Heavy Metal bands), then limited is the chance you'll turn the world upside down in year 2007. All Will Be Revealed, the quintet's previous album (2005) marked two or three things in specific: a) the reunited(?) outfit did expose a new singer, Nick Tart. Meaning, no Sean Harris anymore, b) this was DIAMOND HEAD's first studio album in 12(!) whole years. Meaning, eras and people and the music industry who-is-who had already changed drastically, c) was the one and only (remaining original member) Brian Tatler capable of writing such striking riffs and melodies? Even if the vast majority of Metal fans is not aware of the weight of the 'DIAMOND HEAD' name, this British bands stands alone as the leader in many many things.
Enough with the past(?): first thing I noticed is - indeed - a vivid work in guitars. Both Tatler and Abberley are alive and kickin' and (even if I'd prefer the guitars' distortion to be somehow 'harsher' - see below) there's plenty of interest in the 6-string field. Nice technique, too, enough of twisted/mystique solos plus there are times things are going somehow 'new' British Rock. C'est la vie (see below again)...
Tart is his name. The ideal replacement for Sean Harris' ultimate throat is successful in impressing the listener with two things. First, he actually is (when he wants) a Harris 'clone' in voice and - having the chance to see DIAMOND HEAD performing in Greece two years ago - verifies you'll get in the mood while listening to D.H. onstage. Second, with a little help from the 'mixing team', he bears courage in flirting with complex vocal lines (I can recall equally difficult vocals in some of Canterbury's tracklist, e.g. in To The Devil His Due or Knight Of The Swords, right now) without losing the game. Letting technical facts aside, Nick Tart has (gradually) won me over.
So, 10/10? Hell, no...The most crucial factor in every Rock/Metal album is - or should be - the vibe of the songs. And, in What's In Your Head?, things are not that cheerful. Even if, as pre-mentioned, the guitar work is notable there's that certain 'moody' feeling diffused during these 50 minutes of DIAMOND HEAD music. Few are the times there's nerve in a random song, there's not enough of 'acceleration' or 'grand bpm' attitude; and when this happens it's not easy to distinguish it's not some modern British Rock band.
OK, the case is not to hear songs and sounds based on the Lightning To The Nations(!) sessions, but - the same thing did happen with All Will Be Revealed, I feel - it is not clear enough what DIAMOND HEAD's proposal is in the 21st century. To avoid any kind of misunderstanding, this has nothing to do with the new singer. Listening to Tonight or Skin To Skin or Killing Me or (eventually) the whole album again and again, there seems to be a conflict between exciting, memorable, confusing and incomprehensible musical pieces.
If you give What's In Your Head? a chance, you may come up with any possible conclusion. I rest my case...