DIAMOND HEAD – the Stourbridge, England born New Wave Of British Heavy Metal pioneers – return to the world stage with a new album, set for release May 24th via Silver Lining Music. The Coffin Train is at once fresh and exuberant while also being a stone-cold classic slice of oldschool heavy metal excellence. Is it packed with the sort of riff-fueled power that founding member Brian Tatler led a genre and influenced the odd band or two with? It’s electric for sure… and then some.
With a mean driving riff that resembles a thunderous machine gun, the album’s second single, “Death By Design,” is a powerful track. It is a song that takes the listener along for one hell of a ride which promises to put the fire back in the spirit of anyone daring to jump aboard.
Notes Tatler, “‘Death By Design’ is the second song from the new DIAMOND HEAD album The Coffin Train. This song began life in my home studio in 2015. I had the opening top E string riff and tried to build a song around it. I gave a demo to [vocalist] Ras [Rasmus Bom Andersen] and he added a new verse riff. We worked on the arrangement and made another demo early 2017 before trying it out in rehearsal. It has a four-bar guitar solo that was recorded in a hotel room on Ras’s laptop while on tour, another first for DIAMOND HEAD!”
Adds Andersen: “Contrary to the title, ‘Death By Design’ is not a song about death but about life. It’s about choosing life, your path and on your terms. It’s saying ‘no’ to rotting in the giant hamster wheel and drowning in pre-conceived notions of ‘the good life’ checklists, so that when you’re done and heading down into the fire, you can wear that big smile saying you did it your way and had one hell of a ride.”
On the video production, he continues: “We’ve shot the most videos the band has ever shot for an album launch. The music video for ‘Death By Design’ was a tough one to shoot right. We don’t exactly have Hollywood budgets for the production, but our director on this song, Russell Cherington, has been a massive support in shooting a rather fantastic video. We wanted to create something that resembled a descent into hell and follow the concept from the lyrics. We hope everyone will enjoy the second single and video and that it might inspire them to live life on their terms.”
View DIAMOND HEAD’s “Death By Design” video at THIS LOCATION.
View the band’s previously-released “Belly Of The Beast” video at THIS LOCATION.
The Coffin Train will be released via Silver Lining Music May 24th. For preorder options go to THIS LOCATION.
Formed in 1976 under the riff-rolling leadership of guitarist Brian Tatler, DIAMOND HEAD would quickly establish themselves as a vanguard of the exploding New Wave Of British Heavy Metal scene. With their genre-defining debut album Lightning To The Nations, DIAMOND HEAD became the band who influenced and opened gates for many metal bands.
The Coffin Train, DIAMOND HEAD‘s eighth studio album, is a glorious testimony to Brian Tatler and Rasmus Bom Andersens’ masterful ability to create the flavors necessary for prime DIAMOND HEAD music. The record was written on the road and recorded in several different places. Guitars, bass, and vocals at Vigo Studios in Walsall and drums at Circle Studios in Birmingham. The album was produced and mixed at Ras’ Raw Sound Studio in London.
When it comes to the concepts behind The Coffin Train, Tatler left the heart to Ras, who being a thinker and life-conceptualizer, doesn’t lack sources of inspiration. DIAMOND HEAD have not only managed to create an album of pure heavy metal intensity, they have created a timeless aural statement which feels destined to see them delivering both The Coffin Train and DH 2.0 to more fans than ever.
DIAMOND HEAD will be touring Europe in the coming weeks and are confirmed on the lineup of two very special UK shows with NWOBHM giants, Saxon, which will take place on October 19th at the legendary Hammersmith in London and October 20th at the O2 Apollo in Manchester with additional shows to be announced soon.
DIAMOND HEAD:
6/21/2019 Hellfest – Clisson, FR
7/26/2019 Camp Bestival – East Lulworth, UK
7/27/2019 Rock & Blues Festival – Cambridge, UK
8/24/2019 Stonedeaf Festival – Newark, UK
10/19/2019 Hammersmith Apollo – London, UK w/ Saxon
10/20/2019 O2 Apollo – Manchester, UK w/ Saxon
11/07-10/2019 Hard Rock Hell Festival – Great Yarmouth, UK
6/21/2019 Hellfest – Clisson, FR
7/26/2019 Camp Bestival – East Lulworth, UK
7/27/2019 Rock & Blues Festival – Cambridge, UK
8/24/2019 Stonedeaf Festival – Newark, UK
10/19/2019 Hammersmith Apollo – London, UK w/ Saxon
10/20/2019 O2 Apollo – Manchester, UK w/ Saxon
11/07-10/2019 Hard Rock Hell Festival – Great Yarmouth, UK
11/16/2019 Cornwall Rocks Festival – Looe, UK
11/29/2019 Winterstorm Festival – Scotland, UK