«Lightning to the Nations» is the first Diamond Head album, released on 3 October 1980 through Happy Face Records. The sessions took place in March 1980 at Old Smithy Recording Studio in Worcester, with Reg Fellows producing — he was the band’s manager as well. The line-up was Sean Harris on vocals, Brian Tatler on guitar, Colin Kimberley on bass and Duncan Scott on drums.
“`Country: England
Style: NWOBHM
For fans of: Iron Maiden, Saxon, Angel Witch
The band had already toured as support to AC/DC and Iron Maiden, but no major label committed to backing them. So they decided to put the material out themselves, on their own label. The album came in a plain white sleeve, with no title and no tracklist, which is why it stayed known as «The White Album». Only 1,000 copies were pressed at first, sold at gigs and through the post.
The sound is straight heavy metal: twin guitars, fast riffs and melodies that carry the era in them. Standouts include the title track «Lightning to the Nations», «The Prince», «It’s Electric» and «Am I Evil?», a song that became widely known through Metallica’s cover. Next to them are «Helpless» and «Sucking My Love».
Despite the tiny pressing, the record grew into one of the most sought-after collector’s items of its time and is still treated as a classic NWOBHM document. In 2020 the band re-recorded the whole album, along with covers of songs that had influenced them, as «Lightning to the Nations 2020». On top of that, Metal Blade Records reissued the album on CD in 1992, while in 2001 Sanctuary Records brought it back in its original form with seven extra tracks from singles and EPs of the period.
See also
Saxon – Wheels of Steel and Iron Maiden – Piece of Mind: Nicko McBrain’s First Album with the Band.
