BATTLE REVIEW: Diamond – Don’t Lose Your Cool

What exactly is a BATTLE REVIEW? Good question. Sometimes the UTG staff cannot decide who will review a record and our solution is to let all interested parties voice their opinion. Below you will find two reviews, one by Grace Duffy and the other by Sean Reid, each covering the new release from Diamond. We highly encourage you consider each viewpoint when making your purchasing decision.

Battle reviews are rare on our site, but we have been thinking of doing more in the future. If you like this feature, comment below and let us know!

Artist: Diamond
Album: Don’t Lose Your Cool
Genre: Rock
Label: [none given]

What Grace has to say:

My research on this band has been hampered somewhat by pictures of glossy precious stones, so if I make any glaring mistakes in the course of this review, I apologize in advance. In any case, this is a pretty damn good album. It’s more of an EP really, with seven tracks, of which one is a 46 second interlude. There’s more than a smattering of good old-fashioned rock and roll to Don’t Lose Your Cool, evident in its freewheeling guitar spiels and soulful singing. The instruments are natural and untarnished and the rhythms perennially fluid and fast, lending a decidedly glamorous and confident feel to the tracks. The downside is that it isn’t always as electrifying as it could be, and sometimes the guitar work feels a little rough, but it is stimulating and enjoyable nonetheless.

“Sunburn” is a collected track to open. The instruments are sharp, with a certain roughness that seems to lend a natural or organic air to proceedings. The vocals are laid simply over this and it’s competent and likeable although it seems to lack real spark. There is evidence of energy to burn, however, and they come good on this promise as the record progresses. “Fix of Mine” is instantly more accomplished. The rousing opening strains crash in authoritatively and rampage throughout vociferously. The vocals are, by contrast, far milder – they’re a softer touch, sweeter even, and their loving tone contrasts well with the roughly-hewn nature of the instruments. The harmonies in this are excellent, as one lone guitar sparkles idealistically beneath the dominant musical fray. The song has a determined air and its cacophonous instruments are endearing for their sheer commitment throughout; the singing starts to verge on warbling after a time which is unfortunate but doesn’t detract that much overall.

“Fly Solo” brings in the same noisy musical firestorm as above. It’s smooth and compelling, with the guitars once again going out of their way to raise minor hell as the vocals croon almost obliviously over them. “Don’t Lose Your Cool” is a midsection breather. It’s a brief a-cappella offering comprising 42 seconds in total, with a chorus of voices singing light-heartedly. This adds greatly to the recurrent old-school vibe, and a striking indication as to class and elegance beneath all the crude riffs.

The vocals spice up a bit on “The Feeling,” going for a deeper, layered approach that strips a lot of the brusque swagger. The song itself is a bit cooler, affording more intensity to the singing and the pleading lyrics, which makes it feel a lot realer and less posturing. The rushing music gives it a kind of desperate, anguished air and peaks in a demonstrative solo that devours the entire final verse. All in all, it’s a scintillating affair – atmospheric and affecting with a fully realised sound.

“Keep Dreamin’” opens slow before allowing the rambunctious pace to resurface. It, too, has a more overt and honest tone with a hint of defiance in the steady flight of the music. “Pleasantries,” the final track, rather fittingly ends the album on a jubilant and reflective note. It seems nostalgic, with a palpable sense of pining in its lyrics. It is lifted however by a huge solo in the middle, which delivers a shot of adrenaline to proceedings and blasts the pace into a hearty, fiery swell for the end.

A renegade and breezy album, this is an alluring and accomplished piece of work. It’s a mixture of toughness and eloquence with something to love for anyone who’s a fan of rock music. Highly recommended.

SCORE: 8/10

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What Sean had to say:

One year on from their demo EP, Diamond are back with their second offering; Don’t Lose Your Cool; a seven-track mix of upbeat alt-rock with sensible pop harmonies, something which is an exit for members of this band, as it features members from two Hardcore bands; Down to Nothing and Trapped Under Ice.

Nevertheless Don’t Lose Your Control certainly rectifies the idea that Diamond is a separate project and does not come close in comparing to either of those bands. Much like their previous EP, Don’t Lose Your Control provides summery alt-rock that flows along a steady, feel-good pace.

One band Diamond have been compared to is Weezer and with opening track ,“Sunburn,” its easy to understand why, as their style is one that blends edgy alt-rock with harmonies pop sensibilities. It’s a clever combination that works very well, as their light vocal melodies easily sits well next to the bands driving guitars.

“Fix of Mine” keeps up the momentum, as once again the bands upbeat, punchy approach produces a highly favourable sound, and although it’s a sound that Jimmy Eat World have pulled off time and time again, tracks like “Fix of Mine” and later on “The Feeling” show Diamond are clearly capable of producing consistent alt-pop rock.

With these seven songs there is little variation but with tracks like “Fly Solo;” a summery, hook-filled highlight, you can’t and probably shouldn’t complain. However tracks like “Keep Dreamin’” do hint a slightly heavier Diamond sound, it’s the clean, chorus-driven direction which wins over.

Throughout Don’t Lose Your Control, Diamond showcase a knack for writing well-structured pop-rock songs, that you will more than likely have on repeat for days. Their use of blending gorgeous vocal harmonies works a treat, and in some ways is a world away from their other bands. On top of that, the bands driving guitars add emphasis and provides an edge that some may considered in places.

Nevertheless it is hard to pick fault with Don’t Lose Your Control. It brilliantly combines the pop-sensibilities of Weezer and Jimmy Eat World and adds a slight 90’s emo lyrical approach, thus producing an instantly favourable collection of compelling, well-structured songs that you’ll be listening to again and again.

SCORE: 9.5/10

James Shotwell
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