Canterbury

Diamond Head's third album, Canterbury was a huge disappointment for fans and critics alike. Gone were the colossal, Black Sabbath inspired riffs and complex arrangements which permeated their classic debut Lightning to the Nations, replaced by an ill-fated attempt at incorporating pop elements into their songwriting. Whether this resulted from record label pressure or a conscious effort by the band to write a hit single is unknown, but Canterbury comes across as a failed experiment. The band only replicates the glory of their early days on the epic "Knight of Swords," and made to order singles like "One More Night" and "I Need Your Love" come off are pedestrian at best. Still, guitarist Brian Tatler provides tasteful melodies and solos, while vocalist Sean Harris (who reveals a Freddie Mercury influence on the title track) displays his beautiful voice despite a strange obsession with "wooing" and "aahing" through virtually every song. Obviously wrestling over their direction, Diamond Head disbanded soon after this release. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia