Lightning to the Nations

Lightning to the Nations is the debut album by heavy metal band Diamond Head.
The album was recorded in 1979 (after the 1977 and 1979 demos) and released in 1980 through their own label Happy Face Records, due to lack of interest from major labels and band feeling that they needed to get the ball rolling as other bands from the same era, such as Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, were already becoming big names.
Metal Blade Records re-released it to CD in 1992. In 2001, it was reissued in its original “White Album” form by Sanctuary Records, featuring seven bonus tracks that were featured on singles and EPs from this era.

Diamond Head’s unique sound and quality of song writing gained enough attention to tour as support with AC/DC and Iron Maiden. Although a clutch of record companies fought to sign the band, none were willing to fully commit. The fact that the band was at the time managed by Sean Harris’ mother (Linda Harris) did not help the band’s commercial momentum. So, while other New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands were signed to major labels and were headlining their own tours, Diamond Head were growing increasingly impatient and decided that they would release their material through their own label, Happy Face Records.
The album was recorded within seven days at The Old Smythy Studio in Worcester, which the band described as ‘dead’. This album came in a plain sleeve with no title, having on it only a signature of one of the band members and no track listings. The reason for this was that the band’s manager, Reg Fellows, owned a cardboard factory and could produce blank sleeves at a low cost.