Photo by Jay Shredder
British heavy metal icons DIAMOND HEAD today unveil an animated video for “The Messenger.” The track is the second single taken from the band’s upcoming live album Live And Electric, set for release this Friday, July 11th via Silver Lining Music.
“‘The Messenger (Live At The Cambridge Corn Exchange)’ is a very powerful track. It started life in my head when I was watching Cradle Of Filth live on the 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise,” remarks founding lead guitarist Brian Tatler. “They played a song with a fantastic groove which reminded me of ‘Tobacco Road’ by The Nashville Teens. I thought to myself, ‘that’s brilliant, I will try and come up with a riff for a groove like that,’ and so I came up with ‘The Messenger’ riff – everything comes from somewhere. We recorded it for the album The Coffin Train and played it live on the 2022 UK and European tour opening for Saxon. It always sounded good live, even next to classic DIAMOND HEAD songs like ‘The Prince’ and ‘In The Heat Of The Night.’ We recorded all the shows on the UK tour and thought this version at Cambridge was the mightiest. Heavy Metaaaaaaaal!”
Watch DIAMOND HEAD’s “The Messenger” video, created by widely acclaimed visual arts icon Costin Chioreanu, HERE.
Watch the band’s previously released video for “Helpless,” by Jay Shredder, HERE.
With a thunderous crunch and genuine in-your-face production that places the PA up against your ears, Live And Electric is a live album that delivers every nuance of that four-letter word thanks to a song selection that covers DIAMOND HEAD’s seminal career, and a sound that leaves you breathless in the stalls and smelling the sweat and leather of a classic British Heavy Metal night.
Recorded in 2022 on the band’s tour with Saxon, Live And Electric takes in performances from Aberdeen, Blackburn, York, Cambridge, Cardiff, and Bexhill, creating in the process an unmistakably British energy which is superbly recorded and mixed by Jay Shredder, with singer/frontman Rasmus Bom Andersen mastering. By now, the rock and metal scene knows all about Brian Tatler, whose riffs have genuinely defined a genre as well as influencing one of the world’s biggest-ever rock bands, Metallica, but the contribution of Andersen to these DIAMOND HEAD performances is explosive as he bursts with power, presence and personality.
The seamless way in which old classics such as “The Prince” and newer stormers like “Belly Of The Beast” thunder down the tracks is a testimony to the lock-tight no-nonsense foundation that bassist Paul Gaskin, rhythm/lead guitarist Andrew “Abbz” Abberley, and drummer Karl Wilcox add to the alchemy and the balance of respect plus reinvigoration for treasures “It’s Electric,” “Helpless,” and “Am I Evil?” is electrifying. Live And Electric is a true roots representation of Britain’s metal communities, and a wonderful live celebration of DIAMOND HEAD’s distinctly British heavy metal music which feels as fresh, vital, and important now as it ever has before.
Live And Electric is set for release on July 11th via Silver Lining Music and will be available on 2xLP, CD, and digital formats. Find preorders HERE.
Live And Electric Track Listing:
- The Prince (Live At The Bexhill De La War Pavilion)
- Bones (Live At St David’s Hall, Cardiff)
- The Messenger (Live At The Cambridge Corn Exchange)
- In The Heat Of The Night (Live At The York Barbican)
- Set My Soul On Fire (Live At The Bexhill De La War Pavilion)
- It’s Electric (Live At The Bexhill De La War Pavilion)
- Dead Reckoning (Live At The Aberdeen Music Hall)
- Death By Design (Live At The Aberdeen Music Hall)
- Sweet And Innocent (Live At The Aberdeen Music Hall)
- Helpless (Live At The Aberdeen Music Hall)
- Belly Of The Beast (Live At The Aberdeen Music Hall)
- Am I Evil? (Live At King George’s Hall, Blackburn)
“…I can imagine sore necks for the punters who swirl their head and hair around going bananas! It’s headbanging heaven.” – Fistful Of Metal
“James Hetfield loves them, they are for sure NWOBHM veterans, and they are coming with a new live record after 20 years. The sound is real and raw – wonderful. This record is a MUST not only for the fans but also for beginners.” – Hardline
“Everyone knows that Metallica are real fans of DIAMOND HEAD and the band shows with this record that they know their craft.” – Rock It
“DIAMOND HEAD have been covered many times by Metallica who named DIAMOND HEAD as a big influence. This album offers natural but powerful sound and gives one a good overview of what DIAMOND HEAD created… very appealing.” – Classic Rock
“The audiences scream and shout in all the appropriate ways as the band fire these songs out like men half their age…There aren’t many heavy metal bands in 2025 that still remain relevant who got their start in the mid-’70s like DIAMOND HEAD. — Dead Rhetoric
“With a thunderous bang and an in-your-face production DIAMOND HEAD are powerful with Live & Electric. This live concert covers the career of the NWOBHM veterans, one of the biggest fans are Metallica.” – Good Times
“Some of the songs come off sounding much stronger and heavier than on their respective studio albums. It’s one of these albums that’s over too quickly and leaves you no choice but to hit the play button again once it’s over.” – Metal Crypt
“…this is the sound of a band at the top of their game” – The Midlands Rocks
DIAMOND HEAD:
Brian Tatler – lead, rhythm guitars
Rasmus Bom Andersen – vocals
Karl Wilcox – drums
Andrew “Abbz” Abberley – rhythm, lead guitars
Paul Gaskin – bass
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