Diamond Head
Borrowed Time

"Borrowed Time", released in 1982, is the second album by Diamond Head, following the great success of "Lightning To The Nations".

The original line-up consisted of the charismatic Sean Harris on vocals, guitarist Brian Tatler, the only surviving member in the current formation, bassist Colin Kimberley, and drummer Duncan Scott. The band debuted with the hugely famous "Lightning To The Nations", now a milestone of N.W.O.B.H.M., where all the tracks on the album are true hits, such as the lengthy "Sucking My Love", the immense title track, the explosive "Helpless", "It's Electric", and the furious "The Prince".

Subsequently, the band, which began performing concerts alongside very important artists, recorded their second album, "Borrowed Time", which turned out to be another great record. The sound undeniably remains classic metal, with the traditional rock-blues undertones akin to Led Zeppelin, but with a greater presence of melodies in songs like "Call Me", in the title track, or in the chorus of "In The Heat Of The Night". The tracks are quite long and complex, with most of them nearing the seven-minute mark, a rather unusual length for a heavy group.

The album opens with "In The Heat Of The Night" which from the first listen proves to be enjoyable, with a simple riff, an excellent vocal performance by Harris, adding an extra touch of originality to the song, with the classic melodic and catchy refrain. Surely Diamond Head could not have chosen a better track to start this album! It continues with "To Heaven From Hell", introduced by a small drum part before reaching the beautiful riffs and the masterful voice of Sean, who sings divinely, making this track one of the most engaging on the entire album.

"Call Me" showcases the band's more "soft" side. The fourth song is "Lightning To The Nations", a real burst of pure adrenaline, characterized by energetic guitar riffs supported by Kimberley's remarkable bass work. The title track encompasses all the different styles of the album, featuring good melodies, a full-bodied bass, and pretty effective riffs supporting Harris's fine vocal work, demonstrating once again his skill. "Am I Evil?" deserves a separate mention.

The beginning of the piece already indicates what we are heading towards: bone-crushing riffs, technical solos, speed-limit accelerations reminiscent of Anvil, and an anthemic chorus like "Am I Evil? - Yes I Am / Am I Evil? I Am Mad, Yes I Am"! This track, which has been covered by Metallica, is the most famous of Diamond Head.

What can be said about Sean Harris? An outstanding singer with a capital S, who would have much to teach these current small bands that don't know what TRUE MUSIC is. Diamond Head is a band that has nothing to envy from the big names of N.W.O.B.H.M. and with their five albums, they have achieved great popularity.