Diamond Lane-Terrorizer

Self-Release/Independent
2014

"Terrorizer", the upcoming new release from L.A.'s Diamond Lane, is due out next month and up front let's state the obvious. If you were a fan of either 2011's "World Without Heroes" (the band's debut full-length release) or last year's EP, "Sapphire", they you are going to love this new 9-track album. For anyone who has yet to hear Diamond Lane then let's spell it out. Somewhere between a more metallic version of hard rock and a less sleazy version of eighties hair metal is where you'll find this five-piece parked and hanging out and with "Terrorizer" lead vocalist Brandon Baumann stay true to their trademark sound while the group occasionally pushes the limits of their sound into an area usually reserved for N.W.O.T.H.M. bands. Early on cuts like "The Enemy", "Cheating Death", "Slow Destruction" and  "Life to Lose" (a cut that blazes towards true heavy metal!) show that the band can still write the kind of heavy hitting hard rock that makes small music venues shake, rattle and roll while tracks like "Kiss The Ring" and "Hopeless Romantic" recall this L.A. band's earlier years when the band excelled at pumping out their own brand of Skid Row-like hard and heavy. Saving one of the better tracks for last, Diamond Lane swaggers their way through "New Model" which, in a better light of day, could be a lost lost Mötley Crüe track that was given new life and a real bad attitude makeover to make it more mean and way more desirably! But then again, Mötley Crüe never employed a pair of guitarists like Jarret Reis and Frankie Lindia! Together they deliver scorching leads that recall the glory years of heavy metal! Even ending on a bait of a down note with the half ballad/half rocker "Drift" (the one track that has throwaway written on it) couldn't spoil this party as "Terrorizer" proved to be a worthy follow-up to the group's last two recordings and a positive step forward towards even better things to come. 

http://diamondlanerocks.com/

Diamond Lane-World without heroes

Self-produced
2011

When I received this promo I remembered the band name and checked back and saw I had reviewed their "Save this city" EP back in 2008. I also noticed that in that review I mentioned reading they had slated to release an album called "World without heroes" for later in 2008. Well, maybe it's coming two and a half years after they originally planned it, but this album was worth the wait. This year hasn't been the greatest for hard rock so far, but Diamond Lane liven that scene up a little bit and hopefully some people take notice. These guys remind me of early Skid Row only brought up to date a bit. The riffs are spectacular and the production is quite a bit short than on their 2008 EP. The rhythm section is solid and the vocals lead the way. Some of the real standout tracks are "All rebels welcome", "Needle down" and "Heaven's Falling". Opener "All rebels welcome" is a smooth track that I found a appealing right away. "Needle down" is a heavy galloping track that's extremely tight and boasts a spectacular solo as well. "Heaven's Falling" is a slick, melodic track that shows how strong this band's writing skills are. Every track is a winner on "World without heroes". Glad to see a young band stick at it and really knock one out of the ballpark as Diamond Lane have done on this album.

Diamond Lane-Save this city

2008
Self-produced

As I listened to the opening riffs of Diamond Lane's "Bite the bullet" I suddenly saw flashes of 1990 in my head. I think this song triggered memories of hard rock from that time in that there were some hard rock bands who stepped up the heaviness level just enough to make you notice them. At that time I thought that was a good sign and that metal was going to rule the 90's like it did in the 80's. Of course I was dead wrong on that however I think that I have a better handle on what's going on with Diamond Lane's four song EP. The two founding members of this sourthern California based band are vocalist Brandon Baumann (22 ) and guitarist Jarret Reis (23). So these guys are fairly young yet this album very much sounds like early 1990's hard rock with some leanings towards Skid Row on the heavier tracks and a touch of Bon Jovi on "Lonely Road". They also put forth enough of their own ideas to make me think they are on to something as well. The opening riffs are big and undeniably tight plus the vocals are solid all the way through. I think the approach is different enough from a lot of the other young hard rock bands pouring out of every crevice these days. The only fault I had was a concern that 2/3 or so through every song except the ballad they seem to kind of run out of ideas. Not so much that it's repetitive, but more that they to need a little more of something to keep the song going throughout the entire length of the track. That didn't keep me from enjoying this album, but I think it's something that can be the difference between being good and being great and right now this band is in that first category. According to their Myspace page they have a full length album titled "World Without Heroes" slated for a late 2008 release. They are also looking for a 2nd guitarist, a bass player and a drummer to round out the line-up. So my hope is that they working on fine tuning their songs and find the rights people to fill in those spots.

http://www.myspace.com/diamondlane