Borrowed Time (album)

Borrowed Time
Studio album by Diamond Head
Released 1982
Genre Heavy metal
Length 42:10
Label MCA
Producer Mike Hedges and Diamond Head
Diamond Head chronology
Lightning to the Nations
(1980)
Borrowed Time
(1982)
Canterbury
(1983)

Borrowed Time is a recording by Diamond Head. This is Diamond Head's fourth recording, their second on the MCA label. The album was recorded in 1981 and released in 1982, reaching Number 24 on the UK album chart.

In a recent interview guitarist Brian Tatler announced that this was his favourite period with Diamond Head and that the band "seemed to be getting somewhere after six years of building."[1]

Contents

Album information

This was the band's first major label released after being signed to MCA Records in 1981. As this was their first album under a major label, the album was much cleaner and better produced. However, some now say that MCA were the wrong label for Diamond Head, which is one of the contributions to their downfall.[2] Some have also questioned the necessity for "Am I Evil?" and "Lightning To The Nations" to be included on the album,[3] since they had already appeared on the band's debut album, Lightning to the Nations. Although the reason for this was that their first album was only meant as a demo with the idea of Borrowed Time being their first official album. However, things have not quite worked out that way with the former becoming their most notable work to date.

Style

This album also saw the band move away from all out heavy riffs and towards softer and more progressive songs, such as "In the Heat of the Night" and "Don't You Ever Leave Me", which was well received by fans, as the former has remained a regular in the live set list to this day. This album was only released on CD in Japan making it a highly collectible item. Although on October 15, 2007 it was released by Metal Mind Productions on CD format, with bonus tracks. However, this was limited to 2000 copies. The release contained B-Sides, such as "Dead Reckoning", which were previously unavailable on CD. However, Geffen Records have now issued the album on general release.[4] The cover featured a lavish Rodney Matthews illustrated gatefold sleeve, based on the album's Elric theme, which was the most expensive sleeve commissioned by MCA at the time.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [5]

Commercial

The album managed to get to #24 in the UK album charts, becoming the bands first and only album to chart. The band went on to perform a full scale UK arena tour, performing large venues such as London's Hammersmith Apollo.

Critical

The album failed to live up to prior expectations as the bands more commercial take to their music turned out to be a disappointment to critics.

Track listing

All tracks by Sean Harris & Brian Tatler

  1. "In the Heat of the Night" - 4:57
  2. "To Heaven from Hell" - 6:14
  3. "Call Me" - 3:54
  4. "Lightning to the Nations" - 4:09
  5. "Borrowed Time" - 7:39
  6. "Don't You Ever Leave Me" - 7:56
  7. "Am I Evil?" - 7:21

2007 CD reissue bonus tracks

  1. "Trick or Treat" - 3:30
  2. "Dead Reckoning" [B-Side to Call Me] - 3:31
  3. "Shoot Out the Lights" - 3:23
  4. "In The Heat of the Night" - 3:20
  5. "Play It Loud (Live)" - 6:12
  6. "Sweet and Innocent (Live)" - 3:33
  7. Interview with Sean Harris and Colin Kimberley by Tommy Vance recorded in June 1982 [B-Side on "In the Heat of the Night" single] - 13:38

Line Up

References