Diamond Head "Lightning To The Nations" ***1/2 Originally recorded as a national finished project to hawk round the majors, this album suffered the effect of bad sound and now finds itself available as a mail order treat for the fans and the merely curious. But fear not, it's not outrageously duff or anything like that, there's just a certain sparkle missing, as the owners of the Marlborough Diamond are doubltless thinking right now. It's not the stunning tour de force it might be, but it's well worth every cheap-at-the-price penny it's currently available for. The D.Head boys present an unusual contradiction in terms - a heavy metal band playing hard rock songs, and for the most part it works remarkably well. Something that didn't strike me at their recent Brolleys gig in Richmond was the leaning toward Schenker-period UFO, but on vinyl they swoop and roar in all the same places, with guitarist Brian Tatler more than nodding in Schenker's direction. But in no way is this an accusation of rip-off, more a case of great bands thinking alike. "Sweet and innocent" has the Schenker-like riffing as it's base, with Sean Harris declaiming the lyrics in a savage pout, a masterful blend of poise, pose and power that augurs well for his future, and the epic "Sucking my love" (complete with cries of 'tasty' - what can the boy mean?) is almost "Rock bottom" revisited, full of powerful riffing and reflective soloing. Elsewhere though it's impossible to draw the parallel, and the likes of the angular attack of "It's electric" are sheer razor-edged originality, and although the riffing of "Am I evil" may bring Sabbath to mind it's far more charismatic than those old duffers ever were. This may be a slightly lack-lustre recording, but only marginally so (I've heard international releases much worse than this), and I recommend the investment. After all they're going to be stars. (Paul Suter, Sounds 20/09/80)