Black Diamond

If you haven’t noticed, in the early 1980s a LOT of bands were operating in the space between traditional hard rock and the revitalized heavy metal sound that had recently been ushered in during the NWOBHM explosion. So where does the obscure outfit BLACK DIAMOND, hailing from New York state, fall? Are they a lost gem, or one of those cheap knock-off rocks you buy from the Home Shopping Network?

The cover is enticing, with artwork and song titles that hint at heaviness. But there is precious little else to go on, with the back cover containing no pictures and very little info about the band. The minimal liner notes scream that this was a DIY affair, and the fact that very little information about the band is to be found, with the members seemingly giving up their musical ambitions after this release, leaves an air of mystery about the whole affair.

For those who brave the Unknown and buy a copy, there’s a surprisingly good slab of hot rockin’ proto-metal inside. With such releases, it’s important to consider what your expectations are. Me, I want to hear some songs that are catchy and memorable, featuring some heavy rhythms, passable singing, and hotshot guitar work. And on those fronts, this album delivers really nicely!

Side A is particularly strong, with opener ‘You’ setting the stage right away. Slick guitar leads, check. Catchy tune with hooks aplenty, check. Vocals are alright, check. The trend continues with the slightly more laid back ‘Now and Forever’ before picking back up on ‘Power Ride’. ‘Earth Shaker’ is one of the highlights, with a powered-out vibe that just begs to be played at max volume on your tape deck while revving your Mustang in the high school parking lot. ‘Distant Eyes’ is a slower, pseudo-ballady number but it’s not too bad. Side B is decent but the tracks stick to the same overall pacing and style as Side A, so they do start to feel rather samey, and there just aren’t as many standouts on this side. By the end, you realize that this is one of those albums that would’ve been noticeably stronger if they had shaved 1-2 tracks off the total run time.

It should be noted that the vinyl is pretty thin and there are some sound quality issues within the recording. If you’re one of those audiophiles who gets exasperated because your $11,000 speakers and flawless crystalline needle carved from the tooth of a baby albino narwhal make it annoyingly obvious every time the vocalist inhales through his left nostril during the time change in stanza 3, this album is gonna by a tough listen. For everyone else, the problems are relatively minor but are noticeable, and the rather flat production does undersell the quality of the music you’re trying to listen to.

One last Public Service Announcement: if you’re checking this out on YouTube, the Heavy Metal Forces posting of the album has several tracks mistitled.

As limited indie metal albums from almost 30 years ago fare, this one is relatively easy to find for a reasonable price, as some quantity was recovered by dealers years ago and still trickle onto the market pretty regularly. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’ve got about $50 to spare and like this style of early 80s US steel.

Very early US-album with incredibly poor production. Sometimes it has a doomy touch, but all in all its for die hard-collectors only.