Da momentan, in der Mitte der zweiten Dekade des laufenden Jahrhunderts, im wahren Heavy Metal auf dem Release-Sektor die Wiederveröffentlichungen auch von ihrer Qualität her gegenüber den Neuheiten langsam überwiegen und diese Entwicklung sozusagen der auf dem Live-Sektor folgt, in dem sich immer mehr wiederauferstandene, altgediente Recken mit ihren Comeback-Tourneen als Coverbands mit womöglich nur einem Original-Mitglied lächerlich machen, kann es nie verkehrt sein, den eigenen Blick zu schärfen.

Heute schwenken wir ihn gar nicht so viele Jahrzehnte zurück, sondern widmen uns schlicht der 2013er Veröffentlichung von BLACK DIAMOND, einer weiterhin aktiven slowenischen Combo, deren einziges Album bislang sträflich vernachlässigt wurde. Folglich ein Newcomer, dessen Existenz und musikalisches Oeuvre weitestgehend unbekannt sein dürfte, obwohl eigentlich alle nach diesen jungen Truppen gieren sollten. Außer die Metal-Gemeinde ist satt und ruht sich auf dem Kanapee sitzend, auf den altbekannten Klassikern aus.

Die beiden Gitarristen und Masterminds hinter BLACK DIAMOND, Igor Manasljevic und Nejc Vidmar, waren jedenfalls nicht untätig und werkelten bis zur Veröffentlichung von ´Last Man Standing´ sechs lange Jahre. Herausgekommen ist ein fesselndes Metal-Werk über dem zwar leicht, vom Winde verweht, der Geist britischer (IRON MAIDEN), amerikanischer (QUEENSRYCHE) und skandinavischer Schmiedekunst (TAD MOROSE) weht, das aber sein eigenes Feeling und seinen eigenen Spirit entwickelt. Keinesfalls progressiv, suhlen sich die Herren musikalisch in Gefilden, die ansonsten in den 90s viele genossen haben, verstecken sogar einige Male einen Hauch Orient in den Gitarrenmelodien.

Neben der Rekrutierung von Drummer Robert Kovacic (SCAFFOLD), Bassist Urban Medic (PROSPECT) ist natürlich Sänger Žanil Tataj-Žak ein Glücksgriff gewesen, konnte er immerhin bereits bei den großen DIVLJE JAGODE, bei TURBO und MARY ROSE seine Klasse unter Beweis stellen. Und mit den Granaten-starken ´Edge Of Sanity´ und ´The Thing That Couldn’t Die´ sowie dem epischen ´Dreams Of Tomorrow´ belegt die gesamte Band ihre Hochklassigkeit. Als zusätzliche Dreingabe sollten dagegen die letzten drei Songs aufgefasst werden. Das slowenisch vorgetragene ´Lazne Zvezde´ ist für Leser des Buches ´Heavy Metal aus Osteuropa´ essentiell, während das von Simon Jovanovic (ex-PROSPECT) gesungene ´Mastermind´ zudem wegen dessen Aussprache nicht ganz überzeugen mag. Das finale ´Tears In Eyes´ singt Samo Urbancic, ein Förderer der Band, hingegen recht ansprechend.

BLACK DIAMONDs ´Last Man Standing´ sollte also heutzutage entdeckt werden, nicht erst bei seiner Wiederveröffentlichung in zwanzig Jahren oder seiner Erwähnung in einer Chronik.

(8 Punkte)

Von: Michael Haifl

Original link:

http://www.streetclip.tv/magazine/details/suchergebnisse/article/black-diamond-last-man-standing/

One of the first things I noticed when listening to the album, was that the albums artwork did not represent the style of music these Slovenians play. The cover will make you think you’re about to listen to a thrashmetal-oriented band, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Most of the songs on their album can be categorised as hard- and progressive rock, are mid-tempo, and bursting with melodic vocals. The powerful vocals of Žanil Tataj Žak are absolutely a plus for this album. Drummer Robert Kovačič is no stranger either as he used to be employed by Belphegor.
If you’re a lover of bombasticly composed songs with an average duration of 7 minutes, you will appreciate listening to this album, as you may also very well want to add it to your collection.
With ‘Last Man Standing’, Black Diamond has carefully tread the path to create a sound of their own. Production of the album is top notch, and I have found a band that I have not been able to fault for the work they’ve done in terms of compositions as well. This is an A-star album!

Original link:

http://www.whiteroomreviews.nl/cdreview/last-man-standing

The Slovenian label On Parole Productions has introduced us with great bands from their country. This time we have the Black Diamond, despite the not so original name, the band honors the style of the label producing quality Heavy Metal that will please many fans of the genre.

On the scene since 2005, “Last Man Standing” is the first album of the quintet. Their music is influenced by the best possible bands, such as Iron Maiden and Savatage. The band’s sound is intricate, has a good variety and still flirts with the Prog Metal a bit but is devoid of unnecessary juggling.

The most interesting feature of Black Diamond is the fact that the band walks a line between ‘old school’ and contemporary Metal. For example, the band shows a lot of influence coming from their roots but the compositions do not sound dated. Another fact to be emphasized is that the songs are long most of the time, although do not sound tiring. Another score for the fellas.

It is difficult to single out the best track, as the whole album has a great balance. So I will mention the great guitar riffs by the hands of Nejc Vidmar and Igor Manasljevič with the good and enjoyable vocal of Žanil Tataj. The rhytm section is led by Urban Medič (bass) and Klemen Markelj (drums).

Rating: 8/10

Original link:

http://whiplash.net/materias/cds/191913-blackdiamond.html

When listening to this album one thing springs to mind – Iron Maiden. The band have an obvious love of Eddie and pay homage to Britain’s finest throughout the album. Where ‘homage’ becomes ‘plagiarism’ is debatable but I think Black Diamond inject just enough of their own individual style into the tracks to make it acceptable.

Formed in Slovenia in 2005 the guitar duo of Igor Manasijevic and Nejc Madic, have written around 40 tracks, ten of which feature on the album. The pair found it hard to recruit band members and had to hire in musicians to complete the recording.

The results though give the impression that the band were a solid, well rehearsed unit rather than hired session men which is mainly due to Igor and Nejc’ s eye for detail and need for perfection.

One thing that impresses is the high calibre of the songwriting on the album. The tracks are all well formed and contain great melodies and harmonies. A good example of this is ‘Power Of Mind’ which actually starts sounding more like Metallica before morphing into another Maidenesque romp.

One criticism that could be levelled at the band is that some tracks tend to be overly long. No song is less than 5 minutes with most pushing the 6 or 7 minute mark. A little trimming in some areas would have provided  punchier and more accessible tracks which may have made more commercial sense.

Overall, this is a good album which contains some great music. I think that it is not individual enough to get the band established in their own right and that the lack of a short punchy lead track will exclude it from rock radio airplay. There is future potential though.  ***1/2

Original link: http://getreadytorock.me.uk/blog/2014/01/album-review-black-diamond-last-man-standing/

The debut album from yet another talented new band on the scene, this Slovenian five-piece has actually been around since 2005 before finally releasing their debut album. Ten tracks of traditional metal with a bit of a power infusion in them, Black Diamond show a definite side of maturity for a debut album.

Opus 91-96, Edge Of Sanity and Power Of Mind are at the forefront of the album and therefore they are the first impressions that the listener soaks in. I must say that musically the band is pretty tight, Opus 91-96 and Power Of Mind are particularly strong and Edge Of Sanity has very good moments in there as well. Of the three I would say Power Of Mind is the most consistent and is one of those tracks that will stay with you long after you are done listening to the album. Dreams Of Tomorrow clocks in at almost eight minutes, but despite it’s size, it doesn’t drag down and is a very good number. The first half of the CD concludes with a ballad in Hold Me Tonight that unfortunately to my ears sounds a bit awkward, not one of my favorite tunes.

The second half starts out with their self-titled “theme” song so to speak, and it is also a very solid track. The Thing That Couldn’t Die has a haunting beginning and slowly builds throughout the track, and shows some of the most energy and intensity you will find on the album. It must be said that the guitar work on this track has a definite Iron Maiden gallop to the feel! Lazne Zvezde is a puzzler for me. It is an epic track at nearly nine minutes, but it is in a foreign language which leaves me feeling a bit lost, though musically it’s not bad. If I knew the meaning, I would probably be able to appreciate it better though. I will just leave that one up for the individual listener to decide upon. Tears In Eyes is an interesting spooky type of ballad which is both a nice change of pace and a stellar piece of songwriting. Mastermind ends things out nicely.

I would say overall, this CD was definitely worth the wait for me (I had tried to track it down for a couple of months before it finally got in my hands). I would say my biggest concern is that the songs are a bit on the long side and that could potentially turn off some listeners. Other than that, a very solid effort and a nice addition to the already impressive selection of music this year!!

m/ 7 m/

Original link: http://www.truemetallives.com/reviews.html

Recently I’ve reviewed bands from Argentina (42 Decibel), Ukraine (WindRunners), Norway (Requinox), Australia (Destroy She Said) and Switzerland (Gloria Volt). Proof, should any be needed, that Uber Rock is all about giving as much coverage to bands from all over the world as Bret Michaels’ bandanna gives to his receding hairline (i.e fucking loads). And every so often something really exciting comes along, a band from a country that doesn’t really have a strong showing on the world map throws up something remarkable. This time it’s down to Slovenia to surprise with the rather excellent ‘Last Man Standing’ from the band Black Diamond.

Written primarily by guitarists Igor Manasijevic and Nejc Vidmar (Black Diamond is their baby) ‘Last Man Standing’ is the culmination of six years’ work and recording. As such there are no less than four different singers tackling the twin guitarists material over the course of the ten impressive tracks that make up the album and somewhat surprisingly that doesn’t distract you as a listener one bit, such is the quality of the songs they have to work with.

Being influenced by the likes of Iron Maiden and Metallica has given them a mature sounding quality to their tunes which speaks volumes about the seriousness with which these guys take their mission. ‘Opus 91-96’ is a near seven minute epic that opens the album with just a hint of middle eastern promise lurking beneath the flowing rhythms. Zanil Tataj is the vocalist who handles the majority of ‘Last Man Standing’, his tone is similar to Lizzy Borden, sharp and clear, a little bit sinister when it needs to be and tender when it doesn’t. The light and shadows that reside in songs like ‘Hold Me Tonight’ and ‘The Thing That Couldn’t Die’ highlight this perfectly.

‘The Edge Of Sanity’ is another fine example of what Black Diamond are capable of. It drifts in and out of delicacy with a beautiful structure that surges one minute and settles calmly the next. This softer, more melodic side is balanced perfectly by the heaving storm that is their signature tune ‘Black Diamond’. Above all else ‘Last Man Standing’ shows what accomplished songwriters Manasijevic and Vidmar are.

Now sporting a solid line-up with Zanil a permanent fixture behind the mic Black Diamond are ready to break out of Slovenia and take on the world. There’s some really cool stuff contained on ‘Last Man Standing’ making Black Diamond a band for fans of traditional metal with a progressive edge to keep a watchful eye on. Plenty of potential to go further here. Slovenia certainly get points on the board for this offering to the Ubervision song contest.

Link:

http://www.uberrock.co.uk/cd-reviews/31-november-cd/9884-black-diamond-last-man-standing-on-parole-productions.html