Influential and iconic heavy metal band DIAMOND HEAD will release its first album of new material in eight years on March 11. Titled "Diamond Head", the disc features an exciting new talent in singer Rasmus Bom Andersen.

In 2014, DIAMOND HEAD invited London-based, Danish-born Ras to join the band. Together they completed a European tour, which included appearances at Hard Rock Hell and Headbangers Open Air in Germany. The spark of creativity led the band to start working on the new album in January 2015.

Brian Tatler, founder of DIAMOND HEAD, said: "When we began talking with Ras about making a new record, he said we should write the songs as a band just like DIAMOND HEAD did at the beginning of our career. There’s no substitute for writing together in the same room. We spark each other off and create something far bigger than we could have done individually."

Brian continued: "Ras has certainly renewed the energy within the band. I had no interest in doing another record, but after working with Ras on the European tour, that all suddenly changed. I wanted to make a record with him. He's a confident singer and he's not trying to fill anyone's shoes."

Speaking about the new DIAMOND HEAD album's musical direction, Brian said: "This new album has an echo of the early albums, but I always try to push our music forward somewhere new if possible."

Ras added: "All in all, this album was made with the band’s first fans foremost in mind, from start to finish. We wanted to write songs that would have ties to the best parts of the all the previous albums. We feel we have achieved what we set out to do and we hope everyone will hear and feel the DIAMOND HEAD spirit through this new eponymous record."

In general, the album lyrics focus on political and environmental themes, specifically warning that our world is in many ways leaning towards self-destruction. The opening and closing songs encapsulate these themes, while the body of the album explores subtopics in more depth, along with songs dealing with lighter subjects that aren't so heavy on the heart.

"Diamond Head" track listing:

01. Bones

02. Shout At The Devil

03. Set My Soul On Fire

04. See You Rise

05. All The Reasons You Live

06. Wizards Sleeve

07. Our Time Is Now

08. Speed

09. Blood On My Hands

10. Diamonds

11. Silence

Tatler joined members of METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX at the U.K.'s Sonisphere festival in 2011, performing DIAMOND HEAD's classic song "Am I Evil?" METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich addressed the crowd, saying: "If it wasn't for Brian Tatler, there's a pretty good fucking chance none of us would be here tonight. Would you give it up for Brian Tatler one more time?"

Speaking about this event, Brian said: "It was great. A nod towards DIAMOND HEAD to say, 'Respect. You're an important band. You might not have sold millions of records, but you're an influential band.' And it's nice to be influential." Brian continued: "But equally, if it wasn't for METALLICA, then DIAMOND HEAD would not have had this second wind."