Lightning to the Nations is the debut album by heavy metal band Diamond Hea… Read Full Bio ↴Lightning to the Nations is the debut album by heavy metal band Diamond Head.
The album was recorded in 1979 (after the 1977 and 1979 demos) and released in 1980 through their own label Happy Face Records, due to lack of interest from major labels and band feeling that they needed to get the ball rolling as other bands from the same era, such as Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, were already becoming big names.
Metal Blade Records re-released it to CD in 1992. In 2001, it was reissued in its original "White Album" form by Sanctuary Records, featuring seven bonus tracks that were featured on singles and EPs from this era.
Diamond Head's unique sound and quality of song writing gained enough attention to tour as support with AC/DC and Iron Maiden. Although a clutch of record companies fought to sign the band, none were willing to fully commit. The fact that the band was at the time managed by Sean Harris' mother (Linda Harris) did not help the band's commercial momentum. So, while other New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands were signed to major labels and were headlining their own tours, Diamond Head were growing increasingly impatient and decided that they would release their material through their own label, Happy Face Records.
The album was recorded within seven days at The Old Smythy Studio in Worcester, which the band described as 'dead'. This album came in a plain sleeve with no title, having on it only a signature of one of the band members and no track listings. The reason for this was that the band's manager, Reg Fellows, owned a cardboard factory and could produce blank sleeves at a low cost. Also, the reason for recording this album was an attempt to lay down some tracks so they could send it to a record company who would be more willing to release it, as the recording costs had already been covered; this idea came from Fellows and Linda Harris (Sean's mother and tour manager). There were originally only 1000 copies pressed of the album, which were only available at their concerts or through mail-order at a price of £3.50. In fact the only mail-order advertisement appeared in British music magazine 'Sounds' and ran for four weeks. However, the band did not pay for the ad and ended up being sued.
This album has become one of the most sought-after items from the time for record collectors. Later, 1000 more copies were pressed, which contained the track listings. Unfortunately, the only original one-and-a-quarter-inch master tapes were lost after the band sent them to the German record company Woolfe Records, and they were never returned. Although Woolfe Records did release the album, which is the version with a picture of the world burning on the front cover. However, in 2001 Sanctuary Records released the album along with bonus tracks containing all the B-sides of the early Diamond Head singles.
The album catapulted Diamond Head to the forefront of the NWOBHM scene and was a big influence to many later metal bands, including Metallica, Exodus, and Megadeth. The former have covered songs such as "The Prince", "Sucking My Love", "Am I Evil?", "It's Electric", and "Helpless", all throughout their career and recorded most of them. Versions from various periods were compiled on Metallica's album Garage Inc. As a result, Diamond Head became relatively well-known to Metallica fans and enjoyed exposure to a broader public than similar NWOBHM bands from the late 70s and early 80s. Am I Evil borrows a guitar riff from Hard Rock and Heavy Metal band Deep Purple's 1972 song Highway Star.
In 2008, the Japanese metal magazine Burn! rated this album as the third best riff album of all time, behind Black Sabbath's Master of Reality and Slayer's Reign in Blood. Also, the Guitarists Book of Heavy Metal ranked the track Am I Evil? as the 5th best riff behind Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast.
The album was recorded in 1979 (after the 1977 and 1979 demos) and released in 1980 through their own label Happy Face Records, due to lack of interest from major labels and band feeling that they needed to get the ball rolling as other bands from the same era, such as Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, were already becoming big names.
Metal Blade Records re-released it to CD in 1992. In 2001, it was reissued in its original "White Album" form by Sanctuary Records, featuring seven bonus tracks that were featured on singles and EPs from this era.
Diamond Head's unique sound and quality of song writing gained enough attention to tour as support with AC/DC and Iron Maiden. Although a clutch of record companies fought to sign the band, none were willing to fully commit. The fact that the band was at the time managed by Sean Harris' mother (Linda Harris) did not help the band's commercial momentum. So, while other New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands were signed to major labels and were headlining their own tours, Diamond Head were growing increasingly impatient and decided that they would release their material through their own label, Happy Face Records.
The album was recorded within seven days at The Old Smythy Studio in Worcester, which the band described as 'dead'. This album came in a plain sleeve with no title, having on it only a signature of one of the band members and no track listings. The reason for this was that the band's manager, Reg Fellows, owned a cardboard factory and could produce blank sleeves at a low cost. Also, the reason for recording this album was an attempt to lay down some tracks so they could send it to a record company who would be more willing to release it, as the recording costs had already been covered; this idea came from Fellows and Linda Harris (Sean's mother and tour manager). There were originally only 1000 copies pressed of the album, which were only available at their concerts or through mail-order at a price of £3.50. In fact the only mail-order advertisement appeared in British music magazine 'Sounds' and ran for four weeks. However, the band did not pay for the ad and ended up being sued.
This album has become one of the most sought-after items from the time for record collectors. Later, 1000 more copies were pressed, which contained the track listings. Unfortunately, the only original one-and-a-quarter-inch master tapes were lost after the band sent them to the German record company Woolfe Records, and they were never returned. Although Woolfe Records did release the album, which is the version with a picture of the world burning on the front cover. However, in 2001 Sanctuary Records released the album along with bonus tracks containing all the B-sides of the early Diamond Head singles.
The album catapulted Diamond Head to the forefront of the NWOBHM scene and was a big influence to many later metal bands, including Metallica, Exodus, and Megadeth. The former have covered songs such as "The Prince", "Sucking My Love", "Am I Evil?", "It's Electric", and "Helpless", all throughout their career and recorded most of them. Versions from various periods were compiled on Metallica's album Garage Inc. As a result, Diamond Head became relatively well-known to Metallica fans and enjoyed exposure to a broader public than similar NWOBHM bands from the late 70s and early 80s. Am I Evil borrows a guitar riff from Hard Rock and Heavy Metal band Deep Purple's 1972 song Highway Star.
In 2008, the Japanese metal magazine Burn! rated this album as the third best riff album of all time, behind Black Sabbath's Master of Reality and Slayer's Reign in Blood. Also, the Guitarists Book of Heavy Metal ranked the track Am I Evil? as the 5th best riff behind Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Lightning to the Nations
Diamond Head Lyrics
Am I Evil? My mother was a witch, she was burned alive Thankless little…
Helpless (Originally recorded by Diamond Head) [Hmm-hm-hm-hm-hmm-m H…
It's Electric I'm gonna be a rock and roll star Gotta groove from…
Lightning to the Nations Yes i'm coming Angel from the sky, put his hand in…
Sucking My Love Over and under, do you go down to the sea Oh…
Sweet and Innocent You live it good girl And baby you live it high You…
The Prince (Originally recorded by Diamond Head) Now I see his face, I…