Album Evaluation: Diamond Head Strike Lightning with The Coffin Practice
The Lowdown: British heavy steel band Diamond Head are most nicely remembered for his or her instant-classic debut album, Lightning to the Nations, which was a cornerstone inspiration on Metallica’s early profession. The unique band failed to finish an appropriate follow-up and later splintered. Unique guitarist Brian Tatler has assembled a bunch of gifted younger musicians to assist him preserve the torch lit and, with the brand new album The Coffin Practice, has delivered the primary worthy successor to the 1980 debut LP.
The Good: Tatler and his present crew of employed weapons delivered a strong however considerably pedestrian self-titled album in 2016, and toured behind it with some success. The band sounds emboldened on The Coffin Practice, with opening monitor “Stomach of the Beast” essentially the most thrilling Diamond Head tune since 1980. A lot of the credit score goes to singer Rasmus Bom Andersen, who made his debut on the 2016 LP. Sure, his voice sounds extra like Chris Cornell than unique singer Sean Harris, however he has extra vary than Harris ever did. Andersen’s efficiency on The Coffin Practice is among the finest vocal performances on a rock album of any stripe this yr.
The Dangerous: Diamond Head might have been so pleased with their new materials and singer that they assembled The Coffin Practice with impatience — it’s critically front-loaded. “Stomach of the Beast” could also be a pure burst of electrical energy, but it surely’s essentially the most energetic monitor on the album. Remaining songs stick in a moody mid-tempo groove and — “The Sleeper” apart — are likely to lower in high quality. The Coffin Practice could be a a lot stronger document with just a few extra quick and bruising numbers; with out them, it peaks too early.
The Verdict: The Coffin Practice is the perfect Diamond Head album since Lightning to the Nations, but it surely additionally sounds nearly nothing just like the band’s traditional sound. Tatler’s new path is moodier and darker — to not point out anchored by Anderson’s jaw-dropping vocal efficiency — and it fits him. That stated, even Andersen’s singing can’t preserve the joy up on the document’s slower, brooding second half. Somewhat extra of the band’s traditional pace steel sound would solely make the document that significantly better. Even so, it’s outstanding that Diamond Head have returned with such vigor after the higher a part of 35 years treading water.
Important Tracks: “Stomach of the Beast”, “The Coffin Practice”, “The Sleeper”