For fans of the Metallica version—which appears on their Ride The Lightning (Deluxe / Remastered) and Garage Inc. collections—the Diamond Head remasters provide essential context for the song's massive influence on thrash metal.
: The iconic intro was inspired by Gustav Holst’s "Mars, The Bringer of War" from The Planets suite. Am I Evil? Remastered
: The original master tapes were restored and digitized under the supervision of current Diamond Head frontman Rasmus "Ras" Bom Andersen . This process uncovered previously "lost" alternative mixes and supplemented the core track with bonus recordings from the 1980s. For fans of the Metallica version—which appears on
The 2021 remaster stands out by offering a pristine look at the track that defined the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). : The original master tapes were restored and
: This version features founder Brian Tatler and guitarist Andy Abberley providing a "new razor edge" on guitars, with Karl Wilcox and Dean Ashton on rhythm and Rasmus Bom Andersen on vocals.
: Vocalist Sean Harris crafted the dark opening lyrics— "My mother was a witch, she was burned alive" —which were among the most extreme in metal at the time.
While is perhaps most famous today for its 1984 cover by Metallica , its definitive modern treatment arrived with the 2021 Remaster by the original creators, Diamond Head . This version, part of the Lightning To The Nations (The White Album) [Remastered 2021] release, utilized original tapes that were literally "baked" to restore their quality before being digitized. A Legacy Restored: The 2021 Remaster