Album Review: Diamond Rain – Chapter One

Pride & Joy Music – October 23^rd, 2026

Reviewer – Jason Hopper

There’s been a strange, but not uncommon, phenomenon happening with bands lately. It’s the Ghost effect. Seeing how successful that band has become internationally, other bands have followed suit with band members obscuring their faces and identity. Of course, Ghost are following in the footsteps of bands like KISS and Slipknot, but there seems to be more mimics of band obscurity than ever before.

The latest band to take on this elusive persona is Diamond Rain. Fronted by The High Priest, his band consists of members referred to as The Faithful Disciples. According to the press release: “Diamond Rain offers more than just music. It is a journey through melody, drama, power, and emotion”. This is all rather silly to me, but then again, I love the band Lordi. At the end of the day, what is most important is the music. To that end, Diamond Rain offer a sound and style that I found to be very impressive and, dare I say, innovative.

I usually do not use a term like that to describe an AOR/Melodic Rock band. It seems it’s all been done before, just with new takes or slight variations that keep me interested. This band is different. They take the best elements of 70s and 80s rock and combine them to create a sound that is unique to this band. There are parts to songs where I can point and say, “That comes from this decade and that band”. The album kept me fascinated by what the band had in store.

Their sound wasn’t a complete surprise. I have been listening to the two singles for some time now. Opening track and first single ‘Naked City’ immediately caught my attention when YouTube randomly recommended it to me. It put the band on my radar and made me think the band was your typical high octane melodic rock band.

Second single ‘I Need Love’ was unexpected. An early 80s dance groove with guitar pedal effects that a new wave band would utilize. It exudes pop rock and would have easily been a hit back in ’82 or ’83. Any record executive would have sold their first born for the chance to make money from this song.

With those two songs opening the album, I didn’t know what to expect from Track 3. What I got was a song that made me realize I was in for a great listening experience. ‘Saviour (Minutes Away)’ is a top-notch track and quite possibly my favorite song, although a few others give it a run for its money. It’s a bit more intense and immediate than ‘Naked City’ with a chorus of superb gang vocals that are harmonized with key strikes to give it a fullness that is exceptional.  Picture an 80s rock superhero theme song. Whatever’s playing in your head will probably sound like this song.

I’ll go straight to the next song competing for best track. ‘Rosalie Hillsong’ begins with a bass rhythm before The High Priest comes in with his best Paul Stanley vocable. It was so spot on that I got a laugh out of it. If KISS decided to stick with their disco vibe from ‘I Was Make For Loving You’, this is the song they would have produced. A late 70s dance/rock hybrid that once again showcases a powerhouse chorus.

Most of the other tracks are strong, but a few won’t be played by me again. ‘Alistah’ is the biggest letdown. A fast paced, rhythmically exciting verse and bridge melody give way to a time break to allow a tonal shift and slowed chorus. Jarring to listen to and a faux pas for nearly any band that attempts such a song structure.

Closing track ‘Noli Respicere’ does not belong on this album. It exists solely to pad the album with ten tracks. It’s a 1:17 acoustic ditty with some faint voiceover in another language. No one is going to return to this track after hearing it once.

Ignoring the silliness of their lore, the band has some fantastic tracks and offers a great mix of 70s and 80s styles and constructs. When I first acquired this album, I had a bunch of other ones to listen to. I played this one straight through and immediately wanted to replay the album again rather than move onto the next one. That’s always a great sign for longevity. This album is one I will be returning to on a regular basis. Don’t let this release pass you by.

Track List:

1. Naked City
2. I Need Love
3. Saviour (Minutes Away)
4. Heroes
5. Spiritual Revolution
6. Rosalie Hillsong
7. Alistah
8. The Key
9. Never Leave
10. Noli Respicere (Outro)

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