Lightning To The Nations  by Diamond Head

Diamond Head was a British heavy metal band formed in Stourbridge, central England, in 1976. In 1980, they released their debut titled Lightning To The Nations and rightfully claimed the title of leader of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) music movement. The leader and mastermind of the band is guitarist Brian Tatler, who founded the band on his own initiative.

The album's sound is overwhelming, leveling, and raw. Without - obviously - realizing what they were doing, Diamond Head was opening new paths for heavy music at the dawn of the '80s. It's no coincidence that members of Metallica stated just a few years later that Diamond Head was one of their main British influences. Songs like Am I Evil? and Helpless built Metallica's career, as the American thrashers covered them and even presented them at their concerts as their own songs (!)

Lightning To The Nations may be the most legendary album in the long history of heavy metal in terms of its promotion, as the original album was released with an all-white cover because the then-manager, Reg Fellows, had a printing workshop for white covers, which would significantly reduce the cost. The album's price (which is why it is also called the White Album) was 3.50 British pounds. Initially, only 1,000 copies of the album were printed, which were distributed and sold on-site at their concerts.