To Heaven from Hell

This collection of early Diamond Head demos reveals a young band clearly enamored with the heavy metal sounds of the late '70s, and also displaying some clear songwriting and instrumental chops of their own. These early cuts are all superior to the officially released versions that later wound up on "Borrowed Time," or as b-sides to the singles.

Of particular note is the frenzied ride pattern on "Dead Reckoning," the faster pace to "Borrowed Time," and the lack of backing vocals on "To Heaven From Hell." All of these elements provide an experience more in line with the hallowed "Lightning to the Nations." The pulsing bass melody of "In the Heat of the Night" is an excellent propulsion for Tatler's more basic power chords on the slow burner, using the same trick John Entwhistle taught thousands of bassists.

This compilation has surprisingly strong fidelity for a series of demos from the late '70s, and displays everything that was marvelous about the band before Tatler and Harris started emulating MTV arena rock. Frank Sinatra once said "the past is where you screwed up, and the future's where you're dead." Fans of Diamond Head can point to this EP as evidence to the contrary on at least one account. The earliest years were easily the best.