This week on Diamond Cast, we dive deep into lyrics — how much to say, how much to leave unsaid, and why trusting the listener is often more powerful than spelling everything out.

We talk about simplicity versus complexity in dark music, from Rage Against the Machine and nu metal to Smashing Pumpkins’ strange phrasing, lyric techniques we use ourselves, and why writing lyrics can feel closer to scriptwriting than poetry.

We also explore whether rhyme is restrictive or liberating, if ambiguity is lazy or respectful, and how mystery — in music, film, and storytelling — can deepen meaning, with detours into Donnie Darko and Stephen King.

A thoughtful, creative episode about finding your voice and letting the audience meet you halfway.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

00:43 – Recap: last week’s London show

02:38 – This week’s topic: lyrics & trusting the listener

03:24 – Does simplicity hit harder in dark music? (RATM & nu metal)

09:17 – Lyric writing styles and techniques we use

12:41 – Lyrics as scriptwriting

17:34 – Smashing Pumpkins & unconventional phrasing

19:46 – Trusting the listener

23:30 – Is rhyme restrictive or does it sharpen ideas?

28:22 – Should lyrics and stories be overexplained?

35:59 – Is ambiguity lazy or respectful?

41:45 – Finding your own voice

44:12 – Oh no… dream talk

47:05 – Does mystery deepen meaning? (Donnie Darko & Stephen King)

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Join the Diamond Black Community:

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel

Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG

Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:

Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial

X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

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Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/

Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/

Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

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Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic

Adam - @adamhartist

Vincent - @vincentvdrums

Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps

Instagram - @diamondblackofficial

Facebook - @diamondblackofficial

X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we dive deep into nostalgia — why it’s so powerful, how it shapes music and fashion, and whether it inspires creativity or traps us in the past.

We talk about whether past decades were really better to live through, how new music scenes often react against what came before, and whether it’s still acceptable to “stay young” as you get older.

Along the way there are stories from awkward teenage years, questionable music choices, how nostalgia feeds into songwriting, a surprise Diamond Black Jingle Challenge, and a peek into Ben’s gym soundtrack.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

00:46 – Does nostalgia keep us stuck in the past?

06:48 – Can nostalgia inspire new creativity?

08:26 – Why nostalgia is so powerful

10:13 – Were past decades really better to live through?

12:09 – Are new music scenes reactions to what came before?

18:32 – When music and fashion were inseparable

23:29 – Are we allowed to “stay young” anymore?

27:39 – Trying to be cool as an awkward teenager

29:35 – Teenage Ben gets confronted over his music taste

32:29 – How nostalgia feeds into songwriting

35:50 – The Diamond Black jingle challenge

38:46 – Ben’s gym soundtrack

43:00 – Should we play these songs live?

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Join the Diamond Black Community:

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel

Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG

Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:

Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial

X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

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Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/

Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/

Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic

Adam - @adamhartist

Vincent - @vincentvdrums

Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps

Instagram - @diamondblackofficial

Facebook - @diamondblackofficial

X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we’re kicking off the new year by looking back at our highlights of 2025 and getting excited for our London headline show next week.

With a very London-shaped episode, we talk about what we love most about the city, how the London rock scene has evolved, the venues and nights that shaped us, and the places that still keep it alive today.

From Shot Through The Heart, Decadence and Metalworks, to our favourite modern rock bars like Blondies, The Big Red, and Helgi’s, this one’s a love letter to the city that raised us creatively.

We also dive into the origins of Flashbang Studio, share our favourite London shows we’ve played, and finish things off with some Tube trivia chaos.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

00:37 – Welcome back & Happy New Year

00:54 – Our highlights of 2025

07:20 – London headline show next week

10:45 – A London-themed episode: what we love about the city

17:54 – The London rock scene over the years

20:49 – Shot Through The Heart, Decadence & Metalworks

27:45 – The origins of Flashbang Studio

35:14 – Best current London rock bars: Blondies, The Big Red & Helgi’s

41:30 – Our favourite London shows we’ve played

45:41 – Tube or taxi in London?

51:26 – Tube trivia: Adam vs Ben

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Join the Diamond Black Community:

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel

Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG

Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:

Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial

X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

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TOUR DATES:

🗓 17TH JANUARY 2026 – London – THE DEVONSHIRE ARMS - CAMDEN - 33 Kentish Town Rd, London NW1 8NL

PLEASE NOTE VENUE CHANGED ^^^^^

LONDON TICKETS: https://wegottickets.com/event/679431/

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Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/

Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/

Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic

Adam - @adamhartist

Vincent - @vincentvdrums

Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps

Instagram - @diamondblackofficial

Facebook - @diamondblackofficial

X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com