If you’ve ever stood in a crowded stadium or a sweaty basement club and heard those three menacing, descending notes—DUN-DUN-DUN—you know exactly what’s coming. We’re talking about Am I Evil, the song that basically served as the DNA for the entire thrash metal movement. It’s heavy. It’s dark. Honestly, it’s a bit unhinged.
Most people think of it as a Metallica song. That’s fair, considering they’ve played it over 800 times live since the eighties. But the real story starts in 1980 with a band called Diamond Head and a guitarist named Brian Tatler who just wanted to write something heavier than Black Sabbath.
The Riff That Changed Everything
Brian Tatler and singer Sean Harris weren’t trying to invent a subgenre. They were just kids from Stourbridge, England. Tatler spent literal months refining that opening "Mars, the Bringer of War" style rhythm. It’s got that Gustav Holst vibe, doesn't it? That classical, apocalyptic dread.
The Am I Evil song wasn’t an instant radio hit. Far from it. When it dropped on their 1980 debut Lightning to the Nations, it was part of what we now call the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). It was long. It was nearly eight minutes of shifting tempos and frantic soloing. Most labels at the time didn't know what to do with a track that felt like three different songs stitched together with leather thread.
Lars Ulrich, however, knew exactly what to do with it. He was a Diamond Head superfan. Like, the kind of superfan who followed them around the UK and slept on their floors. When Metallica was looking for covers to fill out their early sets and the B-side of the "Creeping Death" single, they went straight for this one. They sped it up. They made it meaner.
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Why the Lyrics Still Freak People Out
The lyrics are... dark. Let's be real. "My mother was a witch, she was burned alive." That’s a hell of an opening line. It taps into this primal, gothic horror that was popular in the late seventies but feels even more visceral today.
Sean Harris wrote those lyrics from the perspective of someone consumed by a generational curse. It’s a revenge fantasy. It’s about a protagonist who is convinced that because of his lineage—the "witch" mother and the "devil" father—he has no choice but to be evil. It’s fatalistic.
- The First Act: The setup of the crime against the mother.
- The Second Act: The internal struggle and the acceptance of the "darkness."
- The Climax: That frantic, galloping tempo change where the vengeance actually happens.
People often ask if the Am I Evil song is actually "satanic." Not really. It’s more in line with Hammer Horror films or old folklore. It’s storytelling. It’s a character study in madness, much like what Iron Maiden was doing around the same time with songs like "Hallowed Be Thy Name."
The Metallica Effect: From B-Side to Anthem
When Metallica recorded their version at Music America Studios in 1984, they arguably saved Diamond Head’s legacy. If Metallica hadn't covered it, Brian Tatler has admitted he might be working a "normal" job today. The royalties from the Garage Inc. era alone changed his life.
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The Metallica version is "chunkier." James Hetfield’s down-picking is legendary for a reason. He took Tatler's swing-heavy British riff and flattened it into a rhythmic steamroller. It became the ultimate encore song. You’ve probably seen the Big Four footage from Sofia, Bulgaria in 2010. Seeing members of Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax all on one stage playing the Am I Evil song was a watershed moment for metal. It proved that this specific track was the common ground for every thrasher on the planet.
Misconceptions and Technical Weirdness
One thing people get wrong is the tuning. A lot of beginners try to play it in E-flat because that’s where Metallica eventually landed live, but the original Diamond Head recording has this slightly "off" pitch that makes it feel eerie.
And that solo? It’s a nightmare to play correctly. Brian Tatler used a lot of "stretched" fingering and blues-based licks that James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett had to meticulously transcribe. It’s not just mindless shredding; it’s a structured piece of music that builds tension until it finally snaps at the five-minute mark.
Is it the best metal cover of all time? A lot of critics say yes. It’s one of the few times a cover version eclipsed the original in popularity without disrespecting the source material. Metallica didn't change the structure; they just turned up the "mean" factor.
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How to Truly Appreciate the Track Today
If you want to understand why this song matters in 2026, you have to listen to the original Lightning to the Nations version first. Notice the "boogie" in the drums. It’s got a swing that modern metal usually lacks. Then, jump over to the Metallica version from the Creeping Death EP. The contrast tells the whole history of how heavy music evolved from the 70s to the 80s.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Musicians:
- For Guitarists: Don't just learn the main riff. Focus on the palm-muted bridge sections. That’s where the real "heaviness" lives. Use a bridge humbucker and keep your gain high but your clarity higher.
- For Music Historians: Track down the "White Label" version of the Diamond Head debut. It’s the rawest form of the song before any major label polish touched it.
- For New Listeners: Check out the live version from Metallica’s Cunning Stunts video. The energy in the room when that riff starts is a perfect example of why live music is irreplaceable.
The Am I Evil song isn't just a piece of nostalgia. It’s a masterclass in tension, a blueprint for thrash metal, and a reminder that sometimes, the "scary" songs are the ones that bring everyone together.