Bloody Diamonds

I was particularly impressed by the moody and introspective vibe from Bloody Diamonds, in particular the raw and guttural energy from lead vocalist Sara Elizabeth. During the band’s set she morphed from purring like a kitten to growling like a panther and it was a wondrous thing to behold. Bloody Diamonds undoubtedly will be a band I continue to watch for going forward. - Lithium Magazine

Nothing like an angst-ridden, angry rock song on a cold winter day, is there. I was just looking back through my unread email and came across this gem. I meant to write about them at the time, but hey, better late than never.

Bloody Diamonds, fronted by the wondrous marvel that is Sara Elizabeth, toured western Canada in the fall. Their next gig is January 9th at the Mod Club in Toronto. - New Music Michael

Bloody Diamonds | w/ Damage Therapy | Al’s Bar | September 29th, 2015

Toronto based, Bloody Diamonds put on one hell of a show at Al’s Bar in Lexington, KY for their last show of the tour. Sara Elizabeth’s powerful gritty vocals set against the heavy riffs of Jake Seaward create songs that you have to move to. Even when breaking a string on the last song, Jake continued to kill the set. Everyone go check them out

http://www.bloodydiamonds.com/ - Kentucky Underground

When singer Sara Elizabeth first started in the music biz, her vibe was mellow.

How times have changed.

Her initial forays were as a coffeehouse singer-songwriter, but then she met guitarist Jake Seaward, and soon, “we turned all of my songs into electric, heavy songs,” Elizabeth said.

Now, the duo rocks out as Bloody Diamonds, which will return to Amarillo for an 8:30 p.m. Monday show at The 806, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave.

Meeting Seaward and discovering new musical influences “totally changed everything,” the singer said.

“Now, I definitely just try to write the heaviest, like, groovy, bluesy stuff that I can,” Elizabeth said. “It’s feel-it-in-your-gut music.”

The show is free, but donations are accepted.

For information, call 806-322-1806 or visit www.bloodydiamonds.com. - Amarillo Globe News

Bloody Diamonds: OK, confession time, it was the thought of seeing this former Halifax based band, who consist of Sara Elizabeth (Vocals, Keys), Jake Seaward (Guitar), Jordan Quinn (Bass) and Andrew Wiseman (Drums), that brought us to Rancho, that and the fact that they delivered a stonking set at the Bovine this time last year, but as a two piece. Opening with a storming version of their superb latest single ‘Skin and Bones’ (see video link below), they quickly moved onto ‘She Ain’t Pretty’ and then ‘Monsters’, which framed the stunning ethereal and dramatic lead vocals to perfection. Their next number ‘Rose Tattoo’ took no prisoners with an amazing haunting 60’s spy theme guitar riff that really worked. ‘Baby Don’t Be Nice’ could have been taken from the film Cabaret as the dark noir set continued and the organ base for ‘Twisted’ was excellent. There was even time for an encore, ‘Nightmare’ with its slow build into a raging spitting vitriolic conclusion, brilliant, there we said it. Bloody Diamonds spent a lot of time touring last year and it shows, their no holds barred approach to Goth Rock is as complex as their musicianship is excellent. Miss them when they pass through your town at your peril.

SynBrit Rating 4/5 - Danger!!! Canadian Content

Hailing from Halifax, Bloody Diamonds slayed the youngsters hovering in the sweaty atmosphere of the Bovine on Good Friday, flooring them with their brand of heavy riff-rock.

The real story with Bloody Diamonds, hands down, is lead singer Sara Elizabeth. There are very few people with pipes that come close to her controlled-yet-wild dynamic. Although she doesn’t stray much from her main trick—an otherworldly, carefully wavering wail—it’s so incredibly effective that it doesn’t matter. Elizabeth’s voice distracts from the band’s mostly straight-up alternative guitar rock enough that onlookers needn’t focus on much else. Although lead guitarist Jake Seaward’s riffs are monstrous earworms, to be fair, there is no distraction from the real pull of Bloody Diamonds, which is Elizabeth’s bewitching stage presence.

By the end of the night, Bloody Diamonds was tired, but they left everything on the stage, pulling out all stops possible and leaving exhausted. Elizabeth’s voice is next level, but could benefit from a backing and atmosphere that matches it wholeheartedly. - NOW Magazine

I caught Bloody Diamonds opening for Little Foot Long Foot's Woman EP release at Cherry Cola's on December 6. I came away impressed with this Halifax duo's songs and performance. Sara Elizabeth's powerful and soulful voice combines beautifully with Jake Seaward's heavy riffs and percussion. They sum up their influences fairly well in their bio, naming acts like Black Sabbath and Band of Skulls. I'm looking forward to seeing this duo again and can only imagine how powerful they would be with a full band behind them. - One In Ten Words

Wednesday July 9th, 2014

The Owl Acoustic Lounge featured a little bit of doom and gloom, June 28 as they brought in Halifax blues/rock duo The Bloody Diamonds.

They played a huge, loud set of noisy, sludgy, Black Sabbath styled , detuned rock.

They had an absolutely heavy sound from guitarist/ Vocalist Sarah Elizabeth and the pounding drums of Jake Seaward.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

Link: http://www.labeat.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3657:the-bloody-diamonds-play-sludgy-alternative-rock&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50 - The Lethbridge Alberta Beat, Arts & Entertainment Magazine

Stripping down to an intense duo set, Sara Elizabeth and Jake Seaward will be bringing their stoner rock blues riffs and seductively powerful vocals to cities throughout all of Canada and the U.S. With Sara trading her organ for guitar, and Jake on both bass drum and guitar, the pair will soon be off on their biggest adventure yet. Lucky for me, I had the chance to catch up with Sara before she hits the road.

GUFF: Tell us a bit about what’s been going on since releasing your album Monsters last year.

Sara: Since Monsters came out we’ve pretty much just been touring. We’ve spent a few months on the road since then, played some cool shows, went through some line up changes. Toured in the middle of the summer and through the dead of Canadian winter. Almost died once. Band stuff, ya know?

GUFF: So you’re off on your biggest adventure yet! How does it feel to be hitting the road?
Sara: Good, I mean this is what we live for and love to do so it always feels good to be getting back on the road. The tour is a little intimidatingly big so theres a mixture of nerves and excitement.

GUFF: What made Bloody Diamonds decide to tour as a duo, and not full band?

Sara: Logistics. The reason we’ve had so many line up changes in the past couple of years is because we’ve been touring so much. It can be hard on people physically, mentally, and especially financially. Can’t even explain how important it is for us to tour though, we’ve gained so much experience and so many fans by getting our asses in the van and driving the long distances to play for new crowds. Making touring the top priority is definitely the best decision we’ve ever made, but it’s also one the hardest. Keeping members around that are willing to quit their jobs, leave the girlfriends, and eat PB&J while sleeping in a van for weeks on end is not easy. So, last year we came up with the duo set so we could keep touring in between tours with the full band. It ended up being our best tour to date, and the duo set went over really well, so we decided to do it again. It’s just so much more financially effective.

GUFF: What are the highs and lows of touring as half a band?

Sara: Though we definitely prefer playing with a full band, the duo set has gone from a messy accident to a really cool and intense performance. I don’t think there are really “highs and lows,” just differences. We can afford to tour way more with the duo set, that’s pretty much it.

GUFF: How do you feel about playing alongside Bella Clava (Toronto), and The Dregs (Halifax)?

Sara: We’re really stoked. Dregs are a new band but we’ve been friends with Alex MacAskill for a long time so we’re really looking forward to seeing them. They have a single out now and it sounds pretty sweet. We’re doing a bunch of shows with Bella Clava, some east coast dates, Quebec City and a Canadian Music Week showcase. It’s going to be a good time. We’ve never played with them before but we’ve played with Caitlin’s other band Public Animal and they are sooo sick. Bella Clava just put out a new record too and it sounds deadly.

GUFF: What are you’re favourite things about touring?

Sara: We surround ourselves with music, new cities, and people who are all interested in the same things we are. Every night we hang out with other musicians and music fans. It’s a lifestyle… touring IS our favourite thing.

GUFF: How long is the tour? Where are you most excited to play?

Sara: When this tour is all said and done we’ll have spent just short of four months on the road. It’s hard to say where we’re most excited to play as there are a lot of places we’re really stoked on. Going to the desert is definitely one of the things we’re really looking forward to for sure. We’re getting to play a lot of cities we never imagined we’d get to when we started the band, so that’ll be pretty awesome. New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Austin should all be pretty cool stops. We’re doing western Canada for the first time as well, so that should be sweet. We’re pretty excited for everywhere really.

GUFF: What’s been the most rewarding experience for Bloody Diamonds so far?

Sara: Being able to tour, and meet fans in person. Watching them sing along to your songs while you play. Having them tell you how much they love your music, and appreciate you driving to play for them. Then telling the fans how much we appreciate them listening to our music and coming to our shows… big crazy circle of love.

GUFF: If you could dream up the ultimate Bloody Diamonds’ show roster, including rock legends of all eras, what would the lineup look like?

Sara: It would include bands that are all still alive actually. Band Of Skulls, they’re one of the best bands going right now. The Dead Weather, that band was killer and hopefully they keep playing. And local(ish) band Crosss. We’ve been listening to their album Obsidian Spectre on repeat for months, such a good band. All those bands together would be a killer show to see and we’d be stoked to play with any of them, let alone all of them at the same time.

GUFF: What’s next for Bloody Diamonds?

Sara: We’ll be touring with a full band this fall, playing some more festivals, and working on the stack of new tunes we’ve been writing. Might hit the studio, we’ll see.

GUFF: What can someone expect if they come out to the Halifax kick-off show this Saturday?


Sara: They can expect distorted, heavy rock n’ roll and a killer vibe. We may never make it back from this tour in all honesty, so we’re going to make this as big of a party as we can.

Be sure to hit up the all ages show this Saturday, April 26 @ Plan B.

Show starts at 7p.m., $7 cover. - Guff Magazine (Halifax)

No booking agent? No problem. As far as Bloody Diamonds vocalist/guitarist/organist Sara Elizabeth is concerned, booking an independent tour is something new bands need to go through.

“I’d suggest any bands, for as long as possible, book their own tours because it’s such a good learning experience, going through the whole process and learning how to do it better every time,” she says, acknowledging that at some point, bands need to rely on someone else in order to get on larger bills, but not right out of the gate.

She jokes there’s probably not enough time in the interview to go through everything the band has learned through the booking process, but a lot of it has to do with where to go, who to trust and how a band should present itself.

“Show up on time, don’t be late—don’t be a dick, basically,” she says. “Be mature. Sometimes at first it seems like a party. A lot of new bands that go on tour and play shows, they’re just there to get really drunk and play for their friends, but after awhile that really goes away and it becomes, not a job, but kind of, so you want to do a good job.”

The bluesy Halifax-based four-piece, which has drawn comparisons to Band of Skulls and the Dead Weather for its gritty melodies, is tackling its largest North American tour to date as a two-piece, with Elizabeth joined by guitarist/percussionist Jake Seaward in support of Bloody Diamonds’ latest EP, Monsters. A four-piece is the ideal configuration for Bloody Diamonds, but changing lineups and logistics have made it easier for Elizabeth and Seaward to hit the road as a duo—at least for now.

“We’re not making millions so it’s hard to take four people on the road for three months at a time—basically impossible—so we came up with the duo set just out of necessity and it allows us to tour so much more,” she explains. “We’re not all about the money but we can make it work with the two piece and tour for a really long time whereas with the full band we have to be careful because there’s four of us, and we can’t all starve to death.”

Bloody Diamonds does all its recordings with a full band, so Elizabeth and Seaward have to replicate that intensity with half the people. Elizabeth says the result is that the melodies often end up being heavier and “sludgier” than they are on tape.

Once the duo wraps up this tour, the plan is to head back into the studio as a four-piece and get some new recordings done, as well as find some live dates with the full group.

“There are people I know that have seen us both ways and they prefer the duo to the full set and some the opposite,” she says. “We prefer the full band but it’s also good to tour and spread your name to a whole new country.”

Wed, Jun 25 (9 pm)
With Noisy Colours, Banshee
Wunderbar, $10 - Vue Weekly (Edmonton)

Since Halifax’s Bloody Diamonds formed in 2011, they’ve been honing a goth-tinged hard rock sound that has been winning over audiences mostly in the Maritimes and Ontario. In that time, the band has released an LP, They’ve Got Secrets, and a 7-inch, “Monsters”. Although the tireless Bloody Diamonds have developed a solid following on the east coast on the strength of those releases, the band is in the midst of bringing their music to new audiences across Canada and parts of the US. After numerous line-up changes, Bloody Diamonds, who often perform as a four-piece, have embarked on their longest tour yet as the core duo, Sara Elizabeth and Jake Seaward.

One of the several new cities Bloody Diamonds will hit is Vancouver. On Sunday, June 22, Bloody Diamonds will appear at the Railway Club alongside Vancouver bands Kicked off the Farm, Grizzly Bones, and Elizabeth. While on the road, Sara took time to answer a few questions from Vancouver Weekly about touring big, winning over new audiences, Halifax’s all-ages music scene, and the band’s visit to Jack White’s studio/performance space/vinyl-fetishist’s paradise, Third Man Records in Nashville.

Vancouver Weekly: Spanning 20,000 kms, this is your biggest tour yet. Did the idea that a big tour required a big band ever cross your minds?

Sara Elizabeth: Touring with a full band is ideal. It always has been. But once we started touring regularly, and the tours became longer, it became really hard to finance four people to leave their day jobs and come on tour year round. The duo set was born out of necessity and ended up working really well. It allows us to tour so much more than we’d be able to with the full band, and people seem to dig it just as much. So it’s really been a blessing in disguise. We’ll be touring again as the full band in the fall, but for this 3.5 month tour, we knew it would be more beneficial to go as the duo and hit a bunch of new markets without worrying about starving drummers and bass players. The duo set has allowed us to spread our live show throughout most of North America and create a base for when we return as the four-piece.

VW: Speaking of big, last year you played your first Halifax Pop Explosion. That must have been a huge opportunity for you, to play for new and long-time Bloody Diamonds fans. How was that experience?

SE: We were honoured to play Halifax Pop Explosion this past fall. It’s one of the best music festivals in Canada, in our opinion. Though we were super excited for the show, there were a bit of nerves too. You never know who’s going to be in the audience at festival showcases, so there’s a lot of pressure to really leave your mark. It was a really great week overall!

We don’t get nervous for many shows anymore. For the most part, once we start the first song all of that goes away. The focus is always putting on a good show and winning over the crowd. Sometimes it’s easier than others, but feeding off the audience’s energy is always what makes a good show a great show. The best feeling is having a crowd get more and more into the music as our set goes on. By the end of the show they’re screaming for an encore, and you know everyone had a really good time and will remember you.

VW: You once played three shows in one day, and the first two were all ages. Do you generally play a lot of all-ages shows? Are there a lot of opportunities for underage fans to go out and see live music in Halifax?

SE: Though we do specific all-ages shows once in a while, we do a lot of in-store performances at record stores which are all ages and are always a great time. There’s always a mix of people at record store shows, and it gives kids a chance to check out music in a really cool setting. I find there used to be a lot more all-ages shows in Halifax than there is now. They still exist but [are] not as frequent. Venues have kind of been disappearing for a while now in Halifax.

VW: Where’s the furthest Bloody Diamonds have played from Nova Scotia before this tour?

SE: Before this tour the furthest we’ve played was Windsor, Ontario. We’ve also been up to North Bay and Sudbury, but not past that. We’re really excited to finally get out west – we’ve been wanting to tour cross Canada for so long! Getting to tour the US for the first time has also been a crazy experience. The south is unreal.

VW: You guys played a show in Knoxville, TN at the beginning of this month. You’ve also openly spoken about your love of Jack White, specifically the Dead Weather. Did Bloody Diamonds get a chance to visit Third Man Records? Did you cut a record in the Third Man Record Booth?

SE: We had a day off after Knoxville and drove three hours out of our way to visit Third Man Records. It was possibly the coolest thing we’ve experienced on the tour so far. We’ve been looking forward to going to there for so long. Unfortunately, the record booth was out of order on the day we went, so we didn’t get to record anything. Seeing the Third Man stage though, where so many incredible musicians have played on, was a bit surreal. The Dead Weather are the band that really brought our vision of Bloody Diamonds together. They’ve always been a huge inspiration. It was definitely a “dream come true” moment.

VW: What are your writing habits on the road? Do you imagine you’ll be writing a lot on this tour and possibly working out some new material live? Or do you think you’ll just want to focus on the tunes you have, since they’re already going to be new to so many ears?

SE: We don’t write very often on tour. There’s never enough time. We’re lucky if we get to sleep a decent amount and have time to eat real food on tour, let alone anything else, haha. Half of the songs we’re playing on this tour are new, so we’ve just been working on developing those songs live.

VW: You said you don’t set out to write dark music – that dark music is just what comes out of you. In addition to the Dead Weather, you’re also big fans of groups like Queens of the Stone Age, Band of Skulls, and Black Sabbath. Where does your gravitation towards the mood that their music sets come from?

SE: I really can’t say how that came about, or why we gravitate towards a darker sound. For me, it’s just what has always felt natural and how we write best. From the beginning our songs have always had a bit of a dark twist to them. I think Band of Skulls is one of the best bands ever. Their music is incredible. So interesting, intense, heavy, and just good. We want to make music that’s interesting, and I guess putting a dark twist on it is how we attempt to do so.

Cover for Bloody Diamonds, Kicked off the Farm, Grizzly Bones, and Elizabeth at the Railway Club on June 22 is $8. Doors open at 7 PM. Music starts at 8 PM. - Vancouver Weekly

Review and Photos by Gideon Greenbaum-Shinder

Bloody Diamonds are an intense blues rock band which tours as a two piece although two other members populate their hometown shows in Halifax. These guys have been around since 2011 and they have clearly been working very hard since then. Throughout their set at The Bovine Sex Club Sara Elizabeth rocked back and forth with rolling wollops and head thrashing that resembled a mix between Janis Joplin and an enraged mental patient. Her vocals where haunting and towering, soaked with the drama of an old bluesmith. She had great energy.

Jake Seaward, however, was essentially stationary throughout the set, not for a lack of energy, but because of a neat percussive innovation whereby he provided a steady and driving back beat on a bass drum which built a powerful foundation for his minimalist, heavy rock style, which resembles something like a mix of Black Sabbath and a hendrixian blues style. Bloody Diamonds are currently on a North American Tour so check up on when they are coming by your area. They are an amazing live act. - Vandala Magazine

Phog Lounge is set to shine bright like a Bloody Diamond.

Halifax rockers Bloody Diamonds are touring North America and will be in Windsor come the end of the month. The band, which is travelling as a compact duo for logistical reasons, will rock Phog Lounge with their powerful music May 24.

Band members Sara Elizabeth and Jake Seaward are engaging fans during a North American tour which has taken them to Canadian Music Week in Toronto for the first time.

“We played at the Bovine Sex Club with a bunch of bands we are friends with, so it was a really cool night,” said singer-guitarist Elizabeth, adding “We love Bovine, it’s the perfect vibe for us.”

The bluesy rock band — inspired by Band of Skulls, The Dead Weather, The Kills and Crosss — entered the music scene in 2012 with the debut album They’ve Got Secrets, followed last year by Monsters EP.

Bloody Diamonds is excited to play Windsor again.

“We love Windsor,” said Elizabeth. “We played there quite a few times now and it’s definitely one of my favourite cities to play because everyone that’s ever come to our shows is just so nice and so welcoming.”

When Bloody Diamonds performed at Milk Coffee Bar last spring, they were taken aback by the city’s chill vibe; they ended up playing at three open mics at the request of their fans.

Touring is Elizabeth’s favourite part of the music making process.

“That’s where you get to enjoy all the hard work you’ve put into your band,” said Elizabeth, describing touring as a lifestyle. “Playing a show and having people get into your music is an amazing feeling, once you fall in love with it, you’re addicted.”

The band has gone to great lengths to embrace their passion- building a bed into the back of their van and spending up to eight hours a day driving.

“After a while the van becomes like home,” said Elizabeth. “That becomes your bed and you don’t get homesick … [maybe] a little bit.”

Following Windsor’s performance next week, the band will tour the United States for the first time, and the duo are nervous.

“You just don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Elizabeth, blaming her fear on culture shock as neither she nor Seaward have ever been stateside.

“We’ve heard good things from other bands that have gone down and we [have] heard bad things, so we’ll see what happens,” she said.

Bloody Diamonds are a fierce new addition to the Canadian music repertoire and a must-hear of the season. Their popularity has grown nationally with the nomination for Loud Recording of the Year at Nova Scotia Music Week in 2013.

Elizabeth’s fiery vocals will surely complement the heat of this coming summer.

Bloody Diamonds perform at Phog Lounge on May 24 at 9 p.m. with locals Menos Mal and Grumpy Monkeys. - The Urbanite

Sometimes the best thing to pair with this moody weather is a moody soundtrack.

Good thing Friday night brings Haligonian band Bloody Diamonds to the stage. While usually a four-piece bluesy-rock band, this weekend’s show will feature a stripped-down sound — focusing on Sara Elizabeth’s intense vocals and Jake Seaward’s crunchy blues riffs — all mixed with ample attitude, of course.

The edgy East Coast group have performed more than 200 shows over the last two years, including sets at Canadian Music Week, NXNE and the Halifax Pop Explosion. Along the way, they’ve released a full-length EP, which kicks off with the can’t-help-but-hook-you single Monsters (“Take me with you / Can we run away.”)

Bloody Diamonds perform at APK Life Friday. Redambergreen, Dennis Pedersen and Still Life will also take the stage, starting at 9 p.m. Cover for this 19+ show is $7. - London Free Press

ALL PHOTOS BY ANGELO MARCHINI

The Bovine Sex Club hosted a solid Canadian Music Week (CMW) 2014 showcase last night, which featured Toronto-based alt rockers Bella Clava, who released their new album, Medicine For Meloncholy, on April 17th, 2014, Detroit-based indie pop-rock band Flint Eastwood, who released their newest EP, Late Nights In Bolo Ties, on August 6th, 2013, Halifax-based hard rock-goth band Bloody Diamonds, who released their new Monsters two-song 7 inch on March 12th, 2014, and Vancouver-based pop-punk band The Deadset, who released their newest self-titled album on March 13th, 2013. - Aesthetic Magazine

Une fois le set de Bella Clava terminé, c’est le duo en tête d’affiche qui s’installe: BLOODY DIAMONDS. La première question que je me pose alors: «Ils ne sont que deux? Comment vont-ils livrer une musique qui ne sonne pas complètement vide?» La question était légitime mais je réalise qu’ils nous présentent un dark blues très intense mais très intime. Très mélancolique et revendicatif mais aussi très sensuel, charnel.

Deux guitares et un bass drum, c’est tout. Mais lorsque Sara Elizabeth, la chanteuse, se lance, tout le monde est alors plongé dans le «mood» que nous propose le duo néo-écossais. Une ambiance lente, sombre, mais très intense. J’ai d’ailleurs été surpris de la prestance sur scène de la petite chanteuse, et agréablement surpris de pouvoir profiter d’une voix soutenue, confiante et assumée.

Maintenant je mentirais en ne soulignant pas le fait que j’aurais aimé entendre des back vocals, pour remplir le son complètement et ajouter des nuances aux mélodies accrocheuses qu’Elizabeth se permet de chanter sur les progressions d’accords complexes de son copain Jake Seaward.

www.bloodydiamonds.com

https://www.facebook.com/bloodydiamondsband - Critique Spectacle Rock

Saturday February 8th, Bloody Diamonds invited me out to check out a rare stripped down version of their set. I wasn't quite sure as to what to expect, but was overwhelmingly suprised!

With both members sporting guitars, Jake kept time with a single kick drum, while Sara belted out tune after tune. The haunting vocals sweeping over the entire room, had no choice but to be hypnotized by their sound.

I captured a few photos and videos of the performance, so check those out below.

- Tiffany Naugler - Noisography

As we head towards the end of 2013 and the beginning of a new year let’s end the 2013 “Meet” series with some kick ass rock ‘n’ roll which seems to be making a comeback in the music of Bloody Diamonds. I’m not a critic by any definition but when I listen to this It reminds me a little of some late 70′s classic rock with a bit more blues thrown in and who doesn’t like a great blues voice with some classic rock guitar riffs ripping it up. These two know how to rock ‘n’ n roll, I like the backbeats and the organ giving that we could just go off on a jam any second vibe. Very cool, so after your finished meeting Bloody Diamonds give a listen, end your 2013 listening to new bands on a high note…..

Hi our name is….

Bloody Diamonds

And our sound might be best described as….

Sara: Some type of rock. Its hard to pinpoint. We’ve heard a lot of different descriptions of our music over the past couple years. Some sort of heavy bluesy rock n’ roll with a hint of goth is kind of what we’ve settled on recently.

We are…

Jake: Jake Seaward (Guitar) & Sara Elizabeth (Vocals). We play live with a variety of different people and sometimes we play as a duo so our band/lineup varies for tour to tour, sometimes from show to show. Kenny Myers has been playing drums for us a lot lately. He was our original drummer who played drums on our all records thus far.

We are originally from…..

Sara: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Thats where the band was formed anyway.

The first time we met was…..

Jake: At Nova Scotia Community College on the first day school. We had both started the music arts program there. I think Sara might have hated me at first. Actually, she definitely hated me at first, but she ended up warming up over time. I got sick of school pretty quick and ended up dropping out. She went on to graduate. Good for her I guess. And that’s that story, not very interesting.

We knew we were going to be a Band when……..

Sara: Well, Jake and I played music for quite a while together before we actually decided to start an “official” band together. It was always a discussion, but for the first year or more that we knew each other we mostly jammed on acoustic guitars, no real plan. Jake was in another band when I met him, and I played mostly solo so that was the way it was. I realized while studying music that I didn’t want to play solo anymore, as my voice grew it became pretty obvious things needed to get heavier, more riffs. That’s where Jake came in. He’s always had the riffs, and I have the voice. We have what the other is lacking musically, so I guess when I realized that we decided to “officially” start the band.

Before starting the band we were employed as…….

Sara: Grocery store clerk (Jake) and waitress (me). We still are, lol. We’ve had to change which grocery store/restaurants a few times due to tour obligations but its always been the same stuff. If nothing goes drastically wrong we should hopefully be done with the non music related day job thing before long.

The first song we wrote was…….

Jake: ‘She Ain’t Pretty’? I’m pretty sure the first one we wrote together was ‘She Ain’t Pretty’. It went on to be our first single/music video and its on our debut album. You can check out the video for it here.

It’s about……

Sara: An ugly person I knew. Not visually, but as a person. It ended up being a lot more exaggerated than my original thought, but that’s usually what happen’s when I write.

What we are currently listening to….

Jake: Mainly bands from the eastern half of Canada like Crosss, The Micronite Filters, A Primitive Evolution, Cousins, and The Motorleague to name a few. A lot of the stuff Third Man puts out is on constant rotation. I’d think our most listened to album for 2013 was ‘Baby Darling Doll Faced Honey’ by Band of Skulls though. That’s a seriously rad album. Band of Skulls is probably one of the best bands going right now.

For fun we like to…..

Jake: Get tattoos and go on tour.

The one thing we want you to remember while your listening to us……

Sara: Whatever the fuck you want, we’re not the thought police. We’ll be happy if you’re listening.

Expect…..

Jake: Touring. We’ve got some serious touring planned that’s going to take up a sizeable chunk of the year. We’ll be covering a lot of new ground as well as visiting all of our old favourite places. There are plans to hit the studio but I can’t spill the beans on that yet. At least one release will be happening. I think it’s going to be our best year yet. Expect a little bit of everything. - 50ThirdAnd3rd

The Bloody Diamonds and Verse The Sun summer tour made its last stop on July 6th at Michael’s Bar and Grill in Halifax. Joining them for the evening were Old Blood and Jessie Brown. It was a great night of music and I will create a post for each act. Lets start with…

Bloody Diamonds
Bloody Diamonds is Sara Elizabeth (Vocals / Organ), Jake Seaward (Guitar), Kristen Wells (Bass / Vocals) and Kyle Smith (Drums). They are a hard rock band from Halifax that have a distinct late 60's / early 70's bluesy metal feel.

This was the last night of their summer tour and they were ready to show their hometown fans a good time. This was also the first tour with new band members Wells and Smith, who fit in nicely with Elizabeth and Seaward.

Bloody Diamonds was the last of the four bands to take the stage and the audience was pumped. Most knew what to expect from this great live band and did not go home disappointed.

Bloody Diamonds opened their set with crowd favourite “She Ain’t Pretty” and many in attendance headed straight to the front of the stage. Knowing how to keep their fans captivated, Bloody Diamonds followed “She Ain’t Pretty” with their latest single “Monsters”.

Next came the unrecorded “Gimme That Gun”, followed by “I’m Not A Machine” and “Monopoly” (both from their excellent debut album They’ve Got Secrets).
One of the striking things about Bloody Diamonds’ songs is the great guitar riffs and guitarist Seaward plays them masterfully.

As a band, Bloody Diamonds shines, but it is impossible to take your eyes off vocalist Sara Elizabeth. Elizabeth is the complete rock star package. Aside from having a fantastic voice, Elizabeth has great stage presence and moves seamlessly from the front of the stage to the keys.

Never was Elizabeth’s mastery of the stage more evident than on the band’s “dance song” – “Baby Don’t Be Nice”.

Bloody Diamonds finished the night with “Nightmare” and “Bright Lights Darling” (watch both videos recorded by AC Scorpio below). Bloody Diamonds is a band on the rise and they put on a great live show. When they head back out on tour be sure to take in a performance.

You can also check out some awesome photos of the show taken by Noisography.

Set List
1. She Ain’t Pretty
2. Monsters
3. Gimme That Gun
4. I’m Not A Machine
5. Monopoly
6. Baby Don’t Be Nice
7. Nightmare
8. Bright Lights Darling - The Halifax Musicphile

Sometimes, the world aligns for the greater good of rock n' roll. Bloody Diamonds is a hard rock band from Halifax, NS, Canada with dirty, heavy riffs and seductively powerful vocals. Their intense, sweaty live performance and raw sound are the result of guitarist Jake Seaward and vocalist Sara Elizabeth, combining Sara's dark, eerie melodies with Jake's crunchy blues riffs.

The band's in-your-f...ace passion for rock n' roll has earned them a nomination for Loud Recording of the Year at Nova Scotia Music Week, and a reputation as a force to be reckoned with. The release of their first record They've Got Secrets in March 2012 was followed by months of extensive touring across Eastern Canada, leaving their spooky rock tunes ringing in everyone's ears. Their most recent record Monsters (March 2013) saw the band back on the road yet again, with a limited edition white 7" vinyl release for Record Store Day 2013. As an independent DIY band, their work ethic and dedicated attitude has earned them a continuously expanding fan base across Eastern Canada.

In the past two years the band has gone through multiple line up changes, with current members Kristen Wells on bass and Kyle Smith on drums. Last spring Bloody Diamonds even became a duo for their month-long Stripped Tour, which took Sara and Jake on an incredibly successful tour as a grungy, bluesy two-piece with Sara on guitar and Jake playing both guitar and bass drum. With multiple Canadian tours set for 2014 and new material in the works, Bloody Diamonds are in it for the kill.

NOV 24 - THE ATRIA , OSHAWA
NOV 26 - SNEAKY DEES , TORONTO - The Rock 94.9FM

On Friday, Novemeber 22, 2013, Halifax’s Bloody Diamonds is rolling into Avant Garde Bar. The band is currently touring Eastern Canada. Their music has earned them a nomination for Loud Recording of the Year at Nova Scotia Music Week.

Joining them for the evening are 3 local acts: Pretty Little Death Machine, Big Moan and The Haig This one promises to be a loud evening of rock and roll.

Tickets are only $5, with the doors at 8:30pm. The music gets underway at 9pm. - Spotlight Ottawa

Band of Skulls, The Dead Weather and Queens of The Stone Age are some of Bloody Diamonds’ musical influences. Therefore, I’m sure you can only imagine how gritty and raw this Halifax, NS based band’s rock ‘n’ roll sounds.

They first hit the music scene with They’ve Got Secrets in March 2012 which was then followed by months of touring. Bloody Diamonds have managed to gain a loyal following in the East Coast and their nomination for Loud Recording of the Year at Nova Scotia Music Week, along with their latest 7” vinyl release Monsters this past March (which produced two singles “Monsters” and “Baby Don’t Be Nice”); probably added fuel to the growing fire.

I recently had the chance to speak to Bloody Diamonds about their November tour, the bands constant line up changes and Halifax Pop Explosion. Also, find out how they prepare for those long weeks on the road and much more!

CONFRONT: The band recently wrapped up a Newfoundland Tour. How was the tour and do you prefer to play shows on the East Coast since the band originates from Halifax?

Sara: Newfoundland was amazing, as always. You have to go there to really understand what it’s like, it’s a totally different way of life. Plus it was our third time touring there, so we had lots of people at all our shows and it made for a really humble experience. A lot of people that saw us the first time we played Newfoundland now keep bringing more and more friends out when we return. The party just keeps getting bigger. Unlimited bar tabs don’t hurt either.

Shows vary all the time… nowhere in particular is our favourite. We’ve had great shows all over Eastern Canada. In fact, we usually play Ontario more than the East Coast. Though, there’s definitely something to be said about the East Coast music scene. Everyone is very supportive here.

CONFRONT: You have tour dates listed for Ontario and Quebec starting November. Are you excited to hit the road again and will there be any dates listed for across Canada or West Coast Canada?

Sara: Touring is by far the best part about being in a band, so yes, we’re very excited to hit the road again. We’d be on tour non stop if it were up to us. We don’t have any dates booked for out West at the moment, but have just begun planning our first trip out there. We’ll be going cross Canada as soon as we can! It’s definitely a priority.

CONFRONT: How does the band prepare for tour? Do you have any rituals?

Sara: Preparing for tour usually means working long hours at our day jobs to save up money (haha). Other than that, we definitely rehearse as much as possible before leaving. We DIY book everything so there is a lot of time spent organizing and planning. As for rituals, we drink quite a bit of beer. You need to prepare yourself for absurd liquor consumption right? Practice makes perfect.

CONFRONT: With your touring experience, what venue is your favorite place to play?

Sara: It’s very, very hard to pick a favourite. Among the top bars would be The White Horse Lounge (Corner Brook, NL), The Levee (St. John’s, NL) The Bovine Sex Club (Toronto), The Red Garnet (Peterborough, ON), The APK (London, ON), and Vinyl Alibi (Bowmanville, ON). All these venues have great staff, wicked vibes and treat us really well. We have some amazing memories from these bars. And we keep going back!

CONFRONT: What is your favorite part about being on the road?

Sara: Doing what we love day in and day out. When we get in the van and leave Halifax, starting a tour, it’s such an amazing feeling. We’re musicians first and foremost, but working day jobs between tours can really get to you. More so feels like a huge waste of time when you’re serving tables and frying chicken instead of practicing your instrument. Traveling and playing shows every night is what we live for. It’s such an amazing lifestyle. We’re very lucky that people are accepting of our music and we’re able to continue touring.

CONFRONT: You recently played Halifax Pop Explosion. Were you more excited or nervous to play the festival?

Sara: We played the festival last weekend and had a great time. Definitely was excited to finally play HPX, though excitement always comes with a bit of nerves for me. It’s inevitable.

CONFRONT: Would you say that the music scene in Halifax is different then Toronto and Montreal or are there some similarities?

Sara: Totally different. Other than the fact that all these cities have bands and bars in them. Halifax is small, everyone knows everyone, and the majority of musicians play in 2-10 different groups and bands. It’s a very diverse city in regards to genres, you can see jazz, rock, indie, metal, and hip hop all in one night in Halifax. I can honestly say I know most of the people in Halifax. Where as in Montreal and Toronto, there are entire other “scenes” that I’ve never even heard of before. Those cities are so huge, we’ve learned to take it bit by bit. Make every show we play in Montreal and Toronto better each tim - Confront Magazine

Bloody Diamonds have the kind of name that seems to be de rigueur in our current digital music age: one that makes me think they must be some Brooklyn or Sweden-based buzz band every time I hear it. That’s not really the fault of this young Halifax foursome, more a product of the endless PR emails one gets when running a fairly well-regarded but largely unknown CDN music website. Luckily the folks from Blood Diamonds caught my attention with a direct email and won me over after I checked out their new 7? Monsters.

Bloody Diamonds is based on a core of guitarist Jake Seaward and vocalist Sara Elizabeth, with a sound that is a result of “combining Sara’s dark, eerie melodies with Jake’s crunchy blues riffs”. That is crystal clear on Monsters’ title track, a rumination on self-doubt that alternates between Elizabeth’s aggressive lilt and slow-burning, trunk rattling riffs. The B-Side, Bright Lights Darling, is more of a straight-ahead garage rocker, but also a great song. These two gems had me checking out the band’s first record They’ve Got Secrets, and I have to say, I like what I hear there so far as well. If you like what you hear, you can catch the band touring the shit out of Eastern Canada during the latter part of November. - Herohill

Bloody Diamonds – Halifax Rockers have announced their 5th Eastern Canadian tour you can find the dates below.

If you enjoy loud, bad-ass rock n roll then Bloody Diamonds is for you. Here’s a quote I found I think you may appreciate. “We’ve lost members, lost our jobs… we almost lose our apartment every month. But it’s all so worth it. We can’t thank our fans enough for their constant support! I don’t think we’ll ever stop touring.” Said Jake Seaward, guitarist. ”

Anyways, check em’ out & find their TOUR dates belowwwwww

10/15 – Stephenville, NL @ Clancy’s Pub
10/16 – Corner Brook, NL @ The White Horse Lounge
10/17 – St. John’s, NL @ The Levee
10/18 – St. John’s, NL @ CBTG’s
10/19 – St. John’s, NL @ Fred’s Records
10/19 – St. John’s, NL @ CBTG’s (All Ages)
10/19 – St. John’s, NL @ CBTG’s
10/25 – Halifax, NS @ Casino Nova Scotia (HPX)
11/21 – Quebec, QC @ Scanner Bistro
11/22 – Ottawa, ON @ Avant-Garde Bar
11/23 – North Bay, ON @ Raven and Republic
11/24 – Oshawa, ON @ The Atria
11/25 – Peterborough, ON @ The Red Garnet
11/26 – Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dee’s
11/27 – Hamilton, ON @ The Doors Pub
11/28 – London, ON @ The APK
11/29 – Windsor, ON @ Villains Beastro
11/30 – Montreal, QC @ Turbo Haus - Daily Consciousness

Halifax’s Bloody Diamonds can’t get enough of the road, and have announced their fifth Eastern Canada Tour set for November 2013. This fall the band will deliver their intense, sweaty, rock n’ roll show throughout the Maritimes, Newfoundland, Quebec and Ontario, including a showcase at Halifax Pop Explosion on October 25th.

Sara Elizabeth, lead vocalist, issued the following statement: “Touring is the best part about being a musician. I even love sleeping in our van. We’ve met so many amazing people on the road… playing shows every night is what we live for. We’re so grateful for everyone who helps make this possible!”

“We’ve lost members, lost our jobs… we almost lose our apartment every month. But it’s all so worth it. We can’t thank our fans enough for their constant support! I don’t think we’ll ever stop touring.” Said Jake Seaward, guitarist.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

10/15 – Stephenville, NL @ Clancy’s Pub
10/16 – Corner Brook, NL @ The White Horse Lounge
10/17 – St. John’s, NL @ The Levee
10/18 – St. John’s, NL @ CBTG’s
10/19 – St. John’s, NL @ Fred’s Records
10/19 – St. John’s, NL @ CBTG’s (All Ages)
10/19 – St. John’s, NL @ CBTG’s
10/25 – Halifax, NS @ Casino Nova Scotia (HPX)
11/21 – Quebec, QC @ Scanner Bistro
11/22 – Ottawa, ON @ Avant-Garde Bar
11/23 – North Bay, ON @ Raven and Republic
11/24 – Oshawa, ON @ The Atria
11/25 – Peterborough, ON @ The Red Garnet
11/26 – Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dee’s
11/27 – Hamilton, ON @ The Doors Pub
11/28 – London, ON @ The APK
11/29 – Windsor, ON @ Villains Beastro
11/30 – Montreal, QC @ Turbo Haus

ABOUT BLOODY DIAMONDS

Sometimes, the world aligns for the greater good of rock n’ roll. Bloody Diamonds is a hard rock band from Halifax with dirty, heavy riffs and seductively powerful vocals. Their intense, sweaty live performance and raw sound are the result of guitarist Jake Seaward and vocalist Sara Elizabeth, combining Sara’s dark, eerie melodies with Jake’s crunchy blues riffs.

The band’s in-your-face passion for rock n’ roll has earned them a nomination for Loud Recording of the Year at Nova Scotia Music Week, and a reputation as a force to be reckoned with. The release of their first record They’ve Got Secrets in March 2012 was followed by months of extensive touring across Eastern Canada, leaving their spooky rock tunes ringing in everyone’s ears. Their most recent record Monsters (March 2013) saw the band back on the road yet again, with a limited edition white 7? vinyl release for Record Store Day 2013. As an independent DIY band, their work ethic and dedicated attitude has earned them a continuously expanding fan base across Eastern Canada.

In the past two years the band has gone through multiple line up changes, with current members Kristen Wells on bass and Kyle Smith on drums. Last spring Bloody Diamonds even became a duo for their month-long Stripped Tour, which took Sara and Jake on an incredibly successful tour as a grungy, bluesy two-piece with Sara on guitar and Jake playing both guitar and bass drum. With multiple Canadian tours set for 2014 and new material in the works, Bloody Diamonds are in it for the kill. - Swomp

At what point would a band say to themselves that they’ve made it? How many albums would they have to sell, or how much money would they need to make? If you are at the point in a career where you’re living in a small apartment, just getting by but playing 200 gigs a year would that qualify more or less than a band playing 50 shows a year and living in bright spacious areas?

We all know that the answer to those questions is one that cannot be answered with fact. Now that’s not saying that one could not argue their point based on some facts, but truthfully the answer is all based on ones train of thought.


Consisting of Jake Seaward (guitars) Sara Elizabeth (vocals/organ) Kristen Wells (vocals/bass) and Kyle Smith (drums) Bloody Diamonds is a four piece band from Halifax, Nova Scotia who seem to have a decent grasp on what it means to make it.

“Being a touring musician full time versus working a day job and only being able to tour a small part of the year is what, in my mind, is really what it means to make it,” Seaward says.

Working jobs that allow for constant flexibility when it comes to scheduling is a must have, not only in the daily lives of Bloody Diamonds, but also in any band that plans to tour. Being able to book a group of gigs on short notice not only allows the band to gain more exposure, but it also helps pay the bills.

“Working in a deli might not be the best job in the world, but if you get a better job you can’t just up and quit to hit the road. I can book off months at a time and still come back to a job, which is rare but cool, ” says Seaward. ”I could get a better job, but waitressing let’s me tour for months at a time and still come back to a job,” agrees Elizabeth. “And if they won’t give you the time off to tour, you can always quit. There is always going to be a call for that kind of work no matter where you go, it’s just cool that what we do now allows for us to take off,” says Seaward.

Beginning on the NSCC campus in 2011, Bloody Diamonds began as an amalgamation between a band which Jake was playing guitar and Saras solo acoustic career.

“I needed a band with riffs and Jake needed to stop singing and find an established singer,” jokes Elizabeth. ”It just worked that we both had what the other was missing musically. It was really what we both wanted to do, so it just kind of happened and we’ve never really stopped since. Some people have come and gone but it was never due to a conflict within the band, but rather a conflict with actual work. With me and Jake we’ve always just kept with the thought that we can just find another job so let’s tour,” Elizabeth says.

By sticking to the brand and the name that is Bloody Diamonds, this foursome has been able to maintain the focus on the task that is in front of them. Branching out into side projects is something that Jake or Sara have no intention of doing. This way of thinking has allowed the group to form a tight knit group who have an idea on the image they wish to portray and the style of music they not only love, but love to create.

“The reception where ever we go has been pretty good when we’re on the road,” Seaward says. ”It seems as though the tougher job has been breaking into the Halifax scene but that’s just how it is. Maybe we’re not part of a certain clique or scene, but we just need to push through. Guys like Josh Hogan (from Red Tentacle) and Neil Spence (from the radio station, Live 105) have been supportive of what we do and that helps, but it’s still not easy at all,” finishes Seaward.

“Starting out, some of our shows on the road have been so tough to play because people didn’t come out, but because we’ve kept going and came back to those same spots we now have a fan base,” replies Elizabeth. ”The problem is that you can’t give in after that first gig because you’ll never play again,” says Jake. ”Our first show in Montreal was terrible, from a fan perspective, but our last show was packed which makes it awesome.”

In this day and age with the ever changing music scene, bands need to become more creative and more hands on with the plans. Managing themselves has allowed Bloody Diamonds complete control over where they play and how often. The last tour, which took them from NFLD to Ontario was driven in a newly acquired van and spread out over 21 dates.

“The shows themselves are only getting better,” chimes in Elizabeth. ”The more we get to play means more people get to hear us, which lets word spread so that we can come back for more.”

With a sound that can be best described as dirty, rock/blues, Bloody Diamonds find themselves in a genre which you won’t find on any top 40 station. Darker tones that you find throughout 70's blues metal are littered all over their first release They’ve Got Secrets and continues over into their newest music which is currently in the works.

“We’re always hesitant with our description because I still don’t really know the best way - Hafilax

Hey guys, today I've got a 2-track single review for you.
The band Bloody Diamonds sent me their tunes a while ago to review them for you.

Bloody Diamonds is a hard rock band from Halifax (Canada) and so far they've released their debut album called 'They've Got Secrets' and their most recent single 'Monsters' which is the one I'm going to talk about today.

The band consists of:
Sara Elizabeth (vocals, organ)
Jake Seaward (guitar)
Kristen Wells (bass, vocals)
Kyle Smith (drums)

'Monsters' is a driven rock song.

What's absolutely fascinating about this track is the way the vocals and instrumentals compliment each other by duetting.
Each element gets enough space in the spotlight and there isn't a specific focus.

The driven e-guitar, the perfectly blended bass and drum beats - everything just works.

Miss Sara who sings the lead vocals definitely knows how to use her voice to transport certain feelings.
Damn that lady can sing!

The single also contains a B-side called 'Bright Lights Darling'
And again the fantastic vocal performance controls the song but does not overload the track at all.

The instrumental of the song would probably already be enough to get you moving. Needless to say the guitar riffs are on fire.
Energetic rock at its' very finest!

To sum it up in one word: brilliance!
If you're a little rock lover like I am - get this stuff! It's hot! - House In The Sand

The Bloody Diamonds are playing at the White Horse on Wednesday, October 16th as a part of their cross-island tour, so I wanted to ask the Halifax-based band a few questions about their music, their plans, and their favourite local beer.

Nigel: What is the dynamic like between the four of you while on the road?

Sara: We’ve been on multiple tours with multiple lineups including many different sub-musicians and crewmembers, so it has varied from tour to tour. Overall, we have a really great time, but that’s not to say that we haven’t blown up at each other a couple times. Extended tours can do a number on your body and on your mind. Staying up till 4 a.m. then getting up at 6 a.m. to drive for 8 hours just to do it again can be exhausting. Good, healthy food isn’t always an option, not being able to shower for days or weeks on end… it all adds up. But at the end of the day the core members of the band’s friendships go deeper than whatever we’re fighting about. I think we’re just thankful that we have the opportunity to do what we love. So yeah, we get along alright.

Nigel: Where does the horror influence come from in your sound and image?

Jake: It’s hard to say specifically. There’s definitely been a horror influence from the get go, but it wasn’t always a planned thing. It was the result of our collective songwriting, so I guess you could say it speaks to our collective personalities. We all have our own personal interests, but I they do tend to dabble into the darker side of human existence. I don’t think it’s horror in the Hollywood sense, reality can be wilder than imagination. The world we live in can be quite dark and frightening sometimes.

Nigel: Who inspired you to start playing?

Sara: As much as we all have our different influences we are also on the same page musically. We have a good grasp of our sound and even though it is a combination of different influences we know what we want to sound like. Everyone grew up listening to different stuff but it’s not hard to see how it evolved to where we’re at now. I grew up listening to powerful singers, Jake was listening to bluesy rock guitar riffs (White Stripes, Hendrix, Zeppelin), Kenny was listening to bands like Sabbath. Do the math, it makes sense.

Nigel: Last, but not least: India or Black Horse?

Jake: We try our best to consume all makes of Newfie beer while on the island. So far I’ve had the pleasures of drinking Dominion, India, Black Horse, Blue Star, Jockey Club, and Quidi Vidi, all of which were great. We even visited Quidi Vidi during one trip to St. John’s. Black Horse just kind of became our poster child for Newfie beer.

Check the band out at their website, Facebook, and Twitter. - CornerBrooker.com

Halifax’s Bloody Diamonds get a lot of ink at The Halifax Musicphile – and for good reason. They are one awesome, hardworking band that put on a hell of a live show. They are also good people with a great attitude toward music and their fans….and they have awesome tour/show posters.

Bloody Diamonds love to tour. Sara Elizabeth (lead vocalist) has said that ”Touring is the best part about being a musician. I even love sleeping in our van. We’ve met so many amazing people on the road… playing shows every night is what we live for. We’re so grateful for everyone who helps make this possible!” , while Jake Seaward (guitarist) stated: “We’ve lost members, lost our jobs… we almost lose our apartment every month. But it’s all so worth it. We can’t thank our fans enough for their constant support! I don’t think we’ll ever stop touring.”

To no one’s surprise, Bloody Diamonds are back on the road. They began their Newfoundland tour on October 15th. They will return to Halifax for a Halifax Pop Explosion showcase on October 25th before heading out to Quebec and Ontario in November (full tour dates below).

The Halifax Musicphile was lucky to get a few minutes of Sara and Jake’s time for “10 Questions with…”

1. For those who are unfamiliar with Bloody Diamonds, tell me a bit about the band.
Jake: Well, we’re from Halifax, NS, Canada and we play heavy bluesy rock n’ roll that’s kind of creepy. Originally the band was conceived by Sara and Jake in earlier 2011, and we played our first show that June. We all knew each other from music school and lived near each other so it worked out pretty well. Our debut album was recorded that fall and released in 2012. Once that was out we began touring pretty relentlessly, spent a few months on the road, a lot of nights sleeping in our van, had ups and downs, some member changes, got nominated for an award and learned a lot. We released a 7? called Monsters this spring, went back on the road, pretty much same story. That bring us to now and we’re gearing up for more touring this fall. I’d say that pretty much sums up what we’ve been up to for the past two years.

2. When did you first decide you wanted to be a musician?
Sara: For me, it wasn’t until I was 15 or 16 that I realized I wanted to be a musician. Jake’s known since his was really, really young.

3. Who are your biggest musical influences?
Sara: We’ve all come from different musical backgrounds. I listened to a lot of powerful rock, country and blues vocalists when I was younger. Jake has also been into riff rock, so.. Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, etc. Kenny’s favourite band is Black Sabbath. Then as a group we’re all really into more modern rock bands like Band of Skulls, Queens of The Stone Age, and The Dead Weather.

4. What is your all-time favourite song/album?
Jake: I don’t think any of us have only one favourite album or song… we get asked this question a lot and can never really answer it.

5. What has been your favourite moment as a member of Bloody Diamonds?
Jake: My favourite moment so far has definitely been when Ian from Billy Talent came to our show at The Bovine in Toronto. It was really cool to see one of my idols from a kid at a gig I was playing.

6. Bloody Diamonds has toured a lot this past year. Have there been any memorable moments?
Sara: Too many really. Our trips to Newfoundland have always been really eventful, especially the first one when we got screeched in. We’ve had a reasonable amount of vehicle problems which makes trips “memorable” but not necessarily in a good way haha. Last June we went to Toronto to play NXNE, that was really rad. We got to go to a few parties and meet some really cool folks, and the whole vibe of the festival was just really lively. Overall, every show we play is memorable in some way though, touring is the best part about being a musician.

7. Is there somewhere you would like to tour that you haven’t been to yet?
Jake: Anywhere we haven’t toured to yet is somewhere we want to tour to in the future. I’m sure there are tons of places I’ve never even heard of that are amazing to play in too. But everyone has there own dream tour destinations. Mine is New Zealand, I love that country. Sara really wants to tour Europe and Brazil. We’ve heard they go crazy for heavy rock bands there.

8. If you could invite two people to sit in with the band, who would they be and why?
Sara: That’s a tough one, but off the top of my head it’d probably be Josh Homme and Jack White.

9. If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing?
Sara: Probably just traveling the world. Not working a day job. Tattoo artists maybe. Haven’t really put much thought into that.

10. Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
Jake: Still touring, no longer working day jobs and hopefully not in debt for our van. I think we’ll have toured over a million kilometres by then.
Sara: Yeah, full-time musicians. Full-time band. That whole “touring the world” dream would ideall - The Halifax Musicphile

Walking past Clancy’s Pub in Stephenville Tuesday, one would hear the thumping drumbeat and strong vocals of Bloody Diamonds.

Clancy’s was Bloody Diamonds’ first stop on a tour across Newfoundland, the third time visiting the town since the band formed. This tour will be the first that was not connected to other tours in mainland provinces.
“We’ve been here a few times before,” said Jake Seaward, guitarist for the band, “and it’s always been really awesome.”

Bloody Diamonds is a hard-rock band comprised of four artists: Sara Elizabeth, lead singer and organ player; Jake Seaward, lead guitarist; Kristin Wells on bass and vocals, and Kenny Myers on drums. With the exception of Grand Falls-Windsor native Wells, the band members all hail from Halifax. They feature heavy bass, hard rock vocals and blues riffs to create their sound.

Their last time visiting Stephenville was this past April. At the end of their last tour’s performance, they asked the audience if anyone knew of or had a good place to stay – and this isn’t anything new for them them or for any other bands just starting out.

The problem is usually resolved by hotels, Wal-Mart parking lots, or good friends with space to spare.
“Our friend in Corner Brook usually lets us stay with her,” said Elizabeth. “We’ve stayed in the Stephenville Hotel twice.”
“The more you tour, the more you have places to crash,” said drummer Myers.

The band agreed that it’s only really bands with money to spare that splurge on hotel rooms and that not crashing at a friends’ house seemed to ‘take away from the experience’ of the tour.
When asked, the band had many stories about interesting places where they have stayed, but the town of North Bay sprung to their minds as the highlight of one tour.

“We’ve stayed in some pretty weird places all over,” said Seaward.
Bloody Diamonds has plans to record some new music in December, according to the band members enough for a few singles or ‘seven-inchers’, small CD-like records. Their N.L. tour will take them to Corner Brook Wednesday night to play at the White Horse Lounge, and into St. John’s from October 17-19 to play at The Levee, CBTG’s and Fred’s Records.
- The Troubador

Walking past Clancy’s Pub in Stephenville Tuesday, one would hear the thumping drumbeat and strong vocals of Bloody Diamonds.

Clancy’s was Bloody Diamonds’ first stop on a tour across Newfoundland, the third time visiting the town since the band formed. This tour will be the first that was not connected to other tours in mainland provinces.
“We’ve been here a few times before,” said Jake Seaward, guitarist for the band, “and it’s always been really awesome.”

Bloody Diamonds is a hard-rock band comprised of four artists: Sara Elizabeth, lead singer and organ player; Jake Seaward, lead guitarist; Kristin Wells on bass and vocals, and Kenny Myers on drums. With the exception of Grand Falls-Windsor native Wells, the band members all hail from Halifax. They feature heavy bass, hard rock vocals and blues riffs to create their sound.

Their last time visiting Stephenville was this past April. At the end of their last tour’s performance, they asked the audience if anyone knew of or had a good place to stay – and this isn’t anything new for them them or for any other bands just starting out.

The problem is usually resolved by hotels, Wal-Mart parking lots, or good friends with space to spare.
“Our friend in Corner Brook usually lets us stay with her,” said Elizabeth. “We’ve stayed in the Stephenville Hotel twice.”
“The more you tour, the more you have places to crash,” said drummer Myers.

The band agreed that it’s only really bands with money to spare that splurge on hotel rooms and that not crashing at a friends’ house seemed to ‘take away from the experience’ of the tour.
When asked, the band had many stories about interesting places where they have stayed, but the town of North Bay sprung to their minds as the highlight of one tour.

“We’ve stayed in some pretty weird places all over,” said Seaward.
Bloody Diamonds has plans to record some new music in December, according to the band members enough for a few singles or ‘seven-inchers’, small CD-like records. Their N.L. tour will take them to Corner Brook Wednesday night to play at the White Horse Lounge, and into St. John’s from October 17-19 to play at The Levee, CBTG’s and Fred’s Records.
- The Troubador

What started out as a garage band in Halifax has become a raging music interest for many listeners across the country. With spine-chilling vocals, harmonizing with hard and edgy guitar riffs, Bloody Diamonds achieve a heavy rock and roll sound which will make the audience’s ears bleed with lust.

Sara Elizabeth’s vocals are comparable with that of Taylor Momsen, singer of The Pretty Wreckless, both maintaining a wide range and angelic sound. Backed by a heavy atmosphere created by guitarist Jake Seaward, bassist Kristen Wells, and drummer Kenny Myers, Bloody Diamonds music has been described as astounding and stunningly dark.

The band’s latest vinyl, Monsters, was released in March of this year, and the band is hoping for a follow up record to be released in spring 2014. However, for the next few months Bloody Diamonds will be focusing their energy on touring across the country, giving fans a chance to experience the raw form of their music.

Bloody Diamonds will begin their tour in Newfoundland, but take a short break in late October as they will be performing at the 2013 Halifax Pop Explosion on October 25. They will continue their tour in November, heading to multiple cities in Quebec and Ontario.

“We definitely try to make it back to each city at least twice a year,” exclaimed Elizabeth, “we’ve had such good shows in Newfoundland. Everyone always seems so stoked to see us play.”

The band touched down in Newfoundland on October 15, playing in Stephenville, and then continuing to Corner Brook and more recently St. John’s. Bloody Diamonds rocked out at The Levee this past Thursday, and will be taking the stage at CBTG’s Friday and Saturday with Ontario-based band, Wild Domestic.

To accommodate their entire fan base, Bloody Diamonds will be playing two all ages shows on Saturday, October 19. An acoustic set will take place in Fred’s records around 2pm, followed by a heavier set in CBTG’s around 5pm before their 19+ show later in the evening.

This is one rock band that fans won’t want to miss. Be prepared for a real rock and roll experience and check them this weekend! Fans can also find them at www.bloodydiamonds.com or like them on Facebook. - The Muse

Halifax rock metal band Bloody Diamonds head back to Newfoundland for six shows in five days this October, making stops in Stephenville, Corner Brook and St. John’s (including an in-store performance at Fred’s Records).

The band also has some Maritime dates lined up for fans in Sackville (Oct. 4), Charlottetown (Oct. 5), Halifax (Oct. 25) and Saint John (Nov. 2). Check the bands “tour dates” page for a complete listing.

Before heading out, you can read my review of a recent Bloody Diamonds show, or just check out the videos below: - The Halifax Musicphile

Diversity is one of the cornerstones to good reviewing and is something that we take much pride in here at Rock n Reel Reviews. There really isn’t anything that we won’t sit and listen to, if you took the time to send it to us we promise we will take the time to listen to your work and give our honest opinion of it.

‘Bloody Diamonds’ (formerly known as Eliza and the Strange) wouldn’t maybe be exactly what you would think our site would review…I mean its definitely not metal…it’s not punk or even full on rock for that matter…however there is something in this bands music, a mix of dark horror/bluesy rock and distorted bass that has has more than peeked my interest and upon repeat listens has won me over to the point of almost championing this band out to like minded fellows…and the wider Rock n Reels community.

Eliza White (lead vocals and organ), Alex MacAskill (guitar), Ian Bennett (guitar), Jake Seaward (bass), and Kenny Myers (drums) make up this unique quintet from Halifax, Nova Scotia and their quirky combination of alt rock meets horror inspired blues is a triumph, for what could have easily been, style over substance.

I must recommend you take the time to check these guys out and indulge yourself in their recent single “She Ain’t Pretty” which is a really cool little number with driving bass, cowbell and huge guitars setting the background to the powerful and soulful vocals of Eliza White.

“Monopoly” has a ton of swagger with plenty of organs helping the bluesy feel…I imagine 1940's dingy smokey club rooms and an audience in the shadows all toe tapping and swaying shoulders.

“Baby Be Nice” has a creepy fairground style with ‘Horrorpops’ or a less aggressive ‘Stolen Babies’ springing to mind. This would be an excellent follow up single for the band.

My favourite track on the album, and where I believe the band truly shine, is “Twisted” with distorted organs and well crafted cool verses and ultra soulful melodic choruses creating a really full sounding listening experience.

As I said at the start, it wasn’t instant love that this album found from me. However, something compelled me to go back again and again to listen to this album. Its not world changing or life reaffirming but Bloody Diamonds are a band with huge potential and the ability to unify fans of many genres of music. It’s a cool little number and I shall be watching with a keen eye on this groups progress.

By Duncan
- Rock N Reel Reviews

Spooky rockers Bloody Diamonds have released a new video in advance of their mega fall tour taking them from the falafel-laden streets of Windsor, ON to the salty shores of St. John's, NF (please bring back some of that beer with the horse on it). Have a peek and follow them Deadhead style on the tour, why don't you?

September 26th - Windsor, ON @ Coach and Horses
September 27th - London, ON @ The Black Shire Pub
September 28th - Sudbury, ON @ Millard's Garage
September 29th - North Bay, ON @ Bull and Quench Pub
October 2nd - Toronto, ON @ The Horseshoe Tavern
October 3rd - Belleville, ON @ The Studio at 318
October 4th - Peterborough, ON @ The Spill
October 5th - Bowmanville, ON @ Vinyl Alibi
October 5th - Oshawa, ON @ The Diezel Room
October 6th - Ottawa, ON @ House Show
October 7th - Ottawa , ON @ Daily Grind
October 8th - Montreal, QC @ Burritoville
October 9th - Moncton, NB @ Plan B
October 10th - Saint John, NB @ Callahan's Pub
October 11th - Fredericton, NB @ Fusion Nightlife
October 12th - Charlottetown, PEI @ Baba's Lounge
October 13th - Pictou, NS @ The Palace Theatre
October 19th - Dartmouth, NS @ Jacob's Lounge
October 23rd - Stephenville, NFLD @ Clancy's Pub
October 24th - Corner Brook, NFLD @ The White Horse Lounge
October 25th - St. Johns, NFLD @ Distortion
October 26th - St. Johns, NFLD @ CTBG's
October 27th - St. Johns, NFLD @ CTBG's

By Stephanie Johns - The Coast

Halifax, NS – August 21, 2012 - What started as a musical pet project quickly grew into a full-fledged band and after a successful 21 date eastern Canadian tour as well as their debut release on vinyl and CD by Strange Blood Records, Halifax rock-quartet Eliza and the Strange renamed to Bloody Diamonds.

That also resulted in the release of a new music video for their song 'Baby Don't Be Nice' which demonstrates considerable depth in talent with Sara Elizabeth’s edgy vocals.

Jake Seaward on bass, Kenny Myers on drums, and Ian Bennet on guitar, make up the remainder of the group. Their music has been described as “spook rock” and certainly has unique qualities that set them apart from the crowd.

Bloody Diamonds received reviews and air play in the UK Their tour during September and October takes them into all four Atlantic Provinces and Quebec and Ontario. - East Coast Kitchen Party

In this week alone I have reviewed albums from Sweden, Norway, Germany, India, and the United States. I find it very cool to discover music from all over the world, but I also love it when I come across a quality album that blows me away and the band is right in my backyard.

Eliza & The Strange hail from Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada and prove once again that the East Coast of Canada have some of the best Hard Rock and Metal in the world. Dropping on March 16th, the bands self-titled album is going to be accompanied by a huge east coast tour and I encourage you all to check it out.

For a young band there isn’t a lot of bio information on them, but when the record is this good it’s simply better to let the music do the talking. Although the album is a complete piece of work with each song complimenting the other I would like to share a few of my favorites with you:

The opening track “Lady of the Night” features a very dark feel that Eliza’s bluesy voice works with perfectly. The bass work by Jake Seaward is very prominent and displays an acute sense by the band on what their sound is. The statement I just made about “Lady of the Night” could go for each and every song. The fact is, Eliza & The Strange have developed a sound that is unique to them and you know it from the opening track.

A lot of bands tell me they have a “new” or “unique” sound. It’s normally bullshit. Although Eliza doesn’t claim to, their work is the most new and unique I have heard in quite some time.

“Monopoly” has the oddest description in my notes. I called it “crunchy and catchy.” The song is infectious, but not in a mainstream way. When I sat back and listened to what is my favorite track on the album time and time again, I could easily picture Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones adding this to a Them Crooked Vultures set; if they could get that same sound.

A total band effort best describes “Crack.” The diversity that Eliza possesses in her voice is used to compliment some incredible and chaotic instrumentals. The song had a very stoner feel for me, but the pace changes muddy the song up and keep it fresh throughout.

The Strange love their bass and that couldn’t be truer than in the song “They’ve Got Secrets.” I put this song on the description list even though I don’t have an adequate description. After playing the track numerous times I can’t come to conclusion about why it is so good. I’ve narrowed it down to excellent song writing or excellent delivery. In the end it comes down to both!

Eliza & The Strange have come roaring out of the gate with their first album. When something is this different it’s very hard to criticize because I really haven’t heard a young band be this efficient and well defined in their sound. If you’re a metal fan; listen to this! If you’re a hard rock fan; listen to this! If you want to hear the next wave of sound; listen to Eliza & The Strange.

www.elizaandthestrange.com

Metal on,

Martell - We Love Metal

Sometimes it takes a lot of legwork in this business to find the next underground sensation. My discovery of Eliza and The Strange, however, was the happiest of accidents that have turned into an obsessive listening binge that, for the last 72 hours, has nearly kept me from sleeping. Recently, I was intrigued by the new “voodoo-rock” band from Nova Scotia. That intrigue has turned into an obsession and a new favorite band.
Eliza and The Strange are a creepy voodoo-rock five-piece from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, with a dark sound that exudes sexiness. Composed of Eliza White (lead vocals and organ), Alex MacAskill (guitar), Ian Bennett (guitar), Jake Seaward (bass) and Kenny Myers (drums), Eliza and The Strange strangle from their instruments a hair-raising groove that would find home in any Tim Burton film. At just more than 30 minutes long, their self-titled debut release drips in sex, fury, dirt and grit, and oozes from the speakers with the same kind of intoxicating rhythms that made songs like “Queer” and “Vixen” super-sized hits for the band Garbage.
“Lady of the Night” is bass-led by Seaward and showcases White’s voice. The guitar riff and chords laid down by MacAskill are simple and catchy and, set against Myers’ cymbal crashes, perfectly encapsulate the feeling of straight power behind White’s breathy vocals.
My favorite track, from the minute I heard it, is the album’s second track, “She Ain’t Pretty.” From the first sound, MacAskill’s guitar riffs are addictive, and the song’s structure is a beautifully clear and brilliant tribute to the Pixies’ loud-quiet-loud dynamic. The rhythms in the song are contagious. White’s vocals are sultry and seductive during the verses, but blast forward as the chorus comes, and mixed with the organ, gritty guitar chords and minimalist drumming, I’m reminded of a Mudhoney-meets-Garbage mash-up. With a lead-single track like this, it’s no wonder that Eliza and The Strange chose “She Ain’t Pretty” as the song for their first music video, shot in a black, white and washed out purple. Scenes of the band performing intermingle with shots of a girl dancing and walking through a cemetery. White and company revel in the dirt and grit that they pull from their instruments.
Wonderfully creepy, “She Ain’t Pretty” is a five-star track and smash single if there ever were one. Bringing together Dead Weather-style vocals and White Stripes-influenced fretwork, Eliza and The Strange make this song an instant classic. To add fuel to the already blazing fire, MacAskill brings the whole house of cards crashing down at the end, letting loose on a blistering guitar riff and solo that tops out chaos-driven drumming and bombshell-basslines.
To continue their voodoo-rock style, Eliza and The Strange come back a few minutes later with “White Lies,” an unforgettable riff-driven song that builds on itself with effects and rhythm. “White Lies” encapsulates everything that’s great about rock ’n’ roll. MacAskill’s bouncy guitar rhythm is rough around the edges and helped along by Myers’ simplistic yet decisive drumming. White’s organ creeps onto the scene with muddy blues notes, and twinkles dimly over MacAskill’s nimble fretwork. With distortion and feedback enough for 10 guitars, MacAskill sets “White Lies” apart from the rest with a subtle attitude that speaks to the versatility and power behind the track.
The last track on the album, “They’ve Got Secrets,” is also the longest. I love the slow, droning bassline, the laid-back drum beat, and vocal set that reeks of blues-rock heritage and attitude. In the two minutes in which White goes full-throttle on her organ, Seaward and Myers share energy on the rhythm section just below MacAskill’s heavy riffs. Bennett, who makes his recording debut with the band on this track, is quick to keep up with MacAskill, injecting his own brand of adrenaline into the song.
“They’ve Got Secrets” is the best way to close out the album, and certainly a track that leaves me wanting more.
The fact that this is the debut album says something to me about the band. Eliza and The Strange are full-throttle all the way through all 30 minutes of this recording. With these 10 songs under their belts, I have high hopes for their future.
The combination of minimalist rhythms and eerily seductive vocals is a winning idea, and on their self-titled debut, Eliza and The Strange take the idea to its most triumphant heights.
- Adam Marx - The Bradeis Hoot

Spooky Haligonian rockers Bloody Diamonds just issued their They've Got Secrets LP last fall, but the East Coast act are already gearing up for their next psychedelic slab of wax. The troupes two-song "Monsters" 7-inch drops March 12 through Strange Blood Records, and they're now giving us a taste of the mini-release via a new video for its titular track.

The night-vision-assisted clip has singer Sara Elizabeth bluesily crooning the cut in a cave, surrounded by the cloaked-and-masked creepers that fill out the rest of the band. You can check it out down below. The 7-inch flip, meanwhile, hosts new tune "Bright Lights Darling".

In addition to the new 7-inch, Bloody Diamonds take off on a Canadian trek, dubbed the "Stripped Tour", at the end of the month, kicking things off in Montreal before winding through Ontario and back out to the Maritimes. Show specifics for the trip are down below.

Tour dates:

3/29 Montreal, QC – Crobar
?3/30 Ottawa, ON - Avant Garde Bar
?3/31 Kingston, ON - Bar 53
?4/1 Belleville, ON - The City Belle Pub
?4/2 Lindsay, ON - Coach and Horses
?4/3 Peterborough, ON - The Spill
?4/4 Guelph, ON - ANAF Club 344
?4/5 Bowmanville, ON - Vinyl Alibi
?4/5 Oshawa, ON - Reel Music Festival
?4/6 Toronto, ON - The Bovine Sex Club
?4/7 Hamilton, ON - The Doors Pub
?4/8 Brantford, ON - Charlie's
?4/9 Windsor, ON - Milk Coffee Bar
?4/10 London, ON - The APK
?4/11 Ajax, ON - Top Shelf
?4/12 Sudbury, ON - Little Montreal
?4/13 North Bay, ON - TBA
?4/14 Ottawa, ON - The Daily Grind
?4/15 Fredericton, NB - Nirvana
?4/16 Saint John, NB - Callahan's
?4/17 Moncton, NB - Plan B
?4/18 Charlottetown, PEI - Baba's Lounge
?4/19 Sackville, NB - Bridge Street Cafe
?4/22 Stephenville, NL - Clancy's Pub
?4/23 Corner Brook, NL - The White Horse
?4/24 Corner Brook, NL - The White Horse
?4/25 St. John's, NL - The Levee
?4/26 St. John's, NL - Distortion
?4/27 St. John's, NL - CBTG's
?5/1 Halifax, NS - Gus' Pub

-By Gregory Adams - Exclaim.ca

Spooky Haligonian rockers Bloody Diamonds just issued their They've Got Secrets LP last fall, but the East Coast act are already gearing up for their next psychedelic slab of wax. The troupes two-song "Monsters" 7-inch drops March 12 through Strange Blood Records, and they're now giving us a taste of the mini-release via a new video for its titular track.

The night-vision-assisted clip has singer Sara Elizabeth bluesily crooning the cut in a cave, surrounded by the cloaked-and-masked creepers that fill out the rest of the band. You can check it out down below. The 7-inch flip, meanwhile, hosts new tune "Bright Lights Darling".

In addition to the new 7-inch, Bloody Diamonds take off on a Canadian trek, dubbed the "Stripped Tour", at the end of the month, kicking things off in Montreal before winding through Ontario and back out to the Maritimes. Show specifics for the trip are down below.

Tour dates:

3/29 Montreal, QC – Crobar
?3/30 Ottawa, ON - Avant Garde Bar
?3/31 Kingston, ON - Bar 53
?4/1 Belleville, ON - The City Belle Pub
?4/2 Lindsay, ON - Coach and Horses
?4/3 Peterborough, ON - The Spill
?4/4 Guelph, ON - ANAF Club 344
?4/5 Bowmanville, ON - Vinyl Alibi
?4/5 Oshawa, ON - Reel Music Festival
?4/6 Toronto, ON - The Bovine Sex Club
?4/7 Hamilton, ON - The Doors Pub
?4/8 Brantford, ON - Charlie's
?4/9 Windsor, ON - Milk Coffee Bar
?4/10 London, ON - The APK
?4/11 Ajax, ON - Top Shelf
?4/12 Sudbury, ON - Little Montreal
?4/13 North Bay, ON - TBA
?4/14 Ottawa, ON - The Daily Grind
?4/15 Fredericton, NB - Nirvana
?4/16 Saint John, NB - Callahan's
?4/17 Moncton, NB - Plan B
?4/18 Charlottetown, PEI - Baba's Lounge
?4/19 Sackville, NB - Bridge Street Cafe
?4/22 Stephenville, NL - Clancy's Pub
?4/23 Corner Brook, NL - The White Horse
?4/24 Corner Brook, NL - The White Horse
?4/25 St. John's, NL - The Levee
?4/26 St. John's, NL - Distortion
?4/27 St. John's, NL - CBTG's
?5/1 Halifax, NS - Gus' Pub

-By Gregory Adams - Exclaim.ca

Within the past year, Haligonian hard rockers Bloody Diamonds have released their They've Got Secrets full-length and a "Monsters" 7-inch, and now they are preparing to hit the road in Canada's eastern half.

This is the band's fourth tour through the region but their first with their current lineup, which features Sara Elizabeth on vocals and organ, Jake Seaward on guitar, Kristen Wells on bass and Kyle Smith on drums.

They will be joined on the road by Verse the Sun. The trek includes shows in Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. See the itinerary below.

Tour dates:

6/28 Montreal, QC - Crobar
6/29 Bowmanville, ON - Vinyl Alibi
6/29 Peterborough, ON - The Garnet
6/30 Belleville, ON - Proud Canadian Music Fest
7/1 Belleville, ON - The Belle Pub
7/2 Oshawa, ON - The Atria
7/3 Ottawa, ON - The Avant Guarde
7/4 Fredericton, NB - Lava Vodka Bar
7/5 Saint John, NB - Pub Down Under
7/6 Halifax, NS - Michael's Bar and Grill

By Alex Hudson - Exclaim.ca

It’s such a welcome change having all of these East Coast bands once again releasing these classic sounding heavy rock albums; and many with talented female singers. First, we had Tonella who I reviewed a few weeks back, and just recently I was introduced to a great band from Halifax called Bloody Diamonds.


Bloody Diamonds were formerly known as Eliza & the Strange and had one album under their belt with this name. They didn’t feel the name fit as they wanted to be known as a band rather than singer with backing band, so they decided to change their name to Bloody Diamonds and re-released their debut album under this new name with new artwork. They called the re-released album They’ve Got Secrets. I just picked up a copy of this album as well as their new 7” single Monsters. This post will be reviewing both.

The original lineup consisted of Sara Elizabeth on vocals and organ backed by Alex Macaskill on guitar, Jake Seaward on bass and Kenny Myers on drums. Somewhere between their original release and their brand new 7” single, Alex was replaced by Ian Bennet who had played guitar on the trackThey’ve Got Secrets on their initial release. Since this lineup change Ian also left the band along with Kenny. So when all the dust settles we are left with Sara and Jake.

Some bands have guitar as their strongest instruments, some drums. Bloody Diamonds takes a different approach with (believe it or not) the bass as its driving force. Even stranger than that… It works! This slightly distorted lead bass sound by Jake combined with Sara’s vocals give them a sound that can only be called their own. I've never heard anyone else sing like Sara, being able to hit all the challenging notes and still being able to scream like an 80’s hair metal star when she feels fit.
The album opens up with a heavy distorted bass riff beginning “Lady of the Night” followed by simple drums, a snazzy guitar riff and some sexy distorted vocals. Think The Black Keys meet ‘pre Tragic Kingdom’ No Doubt (did anybody else have that album or was it just me?)

The next song that jumped out at me was Twisted. There's loads of guitar throughout the album, but not that many actual solos. That seems to have been a conscious choice, because here Macaskill lets one rip that shows he has the talent and ability. Another notable mention is the track Disease. Sara singing her verses with just the simple drum beat backing her and hitting the chorus backed by the full band gives it a great classic rock sound but just a little heavier.

Now let’s not forget their new single Monsters. It shows their songwriting is improving with time . Sara’s vocals really shine in this single, not being masked with many effects and really letting her voice speak for itself. I have to admit it’s a shame that they lost two of their members as they really sound tight on this new single. Regardless, I have full faith that Bloody Diamonds will prevail with whoever they choose to fill the voids in the band. I posted their new video for Monsters below. That’s right; they even have a great video (actually they have a few and you can find them atwww.bloodydiamonds.com).

Their music is being released on the small indie label Strange Blood Records that just so happens to be owned by the new fabulous duo of Sara Elizabeth and Jake Seaward. This is a totally separate business than Bloody Diamonds. This label deserves credit on its own; having a handful of solid releases, a great website and as far as I’m concerned a great reputation. I’m anxious to see where this label leads. Hopefully I can follow up with an interview regarding the label in a future post.

The CD is lacking a bit on packaging having just a one page cover and no insert, but this is a new band releasing debut material on a small label. They seemed to put their money where it mattered, into the sound and this album sounds great. Let it be known that regardless of there being only minimal packaging on this album, what was included looks great.
Now sure the CD may have been lacking inserts but boy did they make up packaging with their new 7” single. Thick heavy vinyl wrapped in a standard white sleeve housed in a heavy glossy cardboard picture sleeve. All this set in a 3 mil poly sleeve that’s practically a necessity for most collectors before any of their prized vinyl lands on the shelf (it is in mine). They didn't even cheated on the download card, having it look like a rock and roll credit card. This is a fine package that will be a great addition to anyone's collection.
I am anxious to see what Sara and Jake have up their sleeve next. Currently being the only two members of Bloody Diamonds, they are getting ready to tour as a bluesy duo across the Eastern Provinces and in the meantime find replacements to top up their lineup. Part of me is more interested to hear them as a duo.

It will definitely be interesting. I’ll have to wait until they pass through Fr - Maritime Vinyl

This week GUFF writer Anthony Leclair had the pleasure of interviewing Halifax’s Bloody Diamonds. Chatting with the recent two-piece band about their new 7” vinyl album Monsters, upcoming tour and plan for future band mates, the convo went something like this.

GUFF: In what ways will this tour differ from the last with only the two of you (Sara Elizabeth and Jake Seaward) on the road? Are you excited?
B.D.: Definitely! It’s what we live for. We’d never stop touring if that was an option. As for how this tour will differ from others, having less people will mean more room in the van which is nice…. van rides will be a bit quieter, probably less puns. It will also be our most extensive tour to date. We’ve discussed playing as a two piece or doing an acoustic tour before but never had the opportunity until now… so we’re looking at it in a very positive way.

GUFF: Was there enmity between you guys and Kenny/ Ian when they left? Are you still supportive of each other?
B.D.: I’m happy to say it didn’t end in a big fight or something like that. Those guys are awesome musicians and awesome dudes and they needed to move on to what is right for them. Kenny has metal in his heart, he’s a metal head; he loves it. He also happens to play in one of the best metal bands on the east coast, Black Moor. And Ian is a top dog session musician. In the long run it wasn’t in their best interests to be spending time and energy on the road with us. We definitely still support those guys and their projects. I don’t want to speak on anyone’s behalf but I’m pretty sure they don’t hate us. So that’s good.

GUFF: How are you selecting your new band mates, auditions or handpicking? Are you aiming to have new members right after you get back from tour?
B.D.: We’re taking our time, making sure we find the right members who have the same drive and dedication to this that we have. We’ve been talking to some people who were “handpicked” but if someone wanted to audition that’s cool too. Basically whatever we gotta do to make sure we get the right line up together. It’s hard to find people who are willing to spend months on tour; it can be tough out there. Sleeping in the van sounds like a romantic story of a band paying their dues, until you have to do it. It’s not that bad but some people seem appalled by it. So yeah, we’re going to take it slow, keep our eyes and ears peeled and make sure we put together the right line up. Maybe the new duo set will really catch on and we’ll do another duo tour. It’s hard to say for sure, but we’re definitely excited to see what the future holds.

GUFF: Where does a full tour of Eastern Canada take you?
B.D.: From St. John’s, NFLD to Windsor, ON and every city in between. We’re going to announce all the dates soon but we’ll be stopping in about 25 different cities.

GUFF: What was the inspiration for the single “Monsters”?
B.D.: Lyrically, the song is about getting stuck in society’s written ways. The “monsters” in the song represent the monsters of our modern world, the top of the corporations. It’s about wanting to get away from it all. Musically, the verse was written with a heavy monster-like feel, and the chorus riff is just a sick riff. The bridge is one of my favourite parts of any song we’ve written, and is also a sick riff… can’t ever have too many of those.

GUFF: What was the recording process like for this album?
B.D.: We recorded Monsters with Andrew Wiseman in his basement in Toronto on our last tour, mainly in his bedroom actually, which is also where we recorded our first album, at his house (in Dartmouth). It felt different this time because the songs were written differently; these two new songs were written in a short time span whereas our first record was a collection of songs written over a year. We really like working with Andrew; he’s been essential to every recording we’ve made from recording to mixing to more producer-like roles. With Monsters, Nick Jones recorded some organ tracks for us when we were back in Halifax. Really enjoyed working with him, we’re working on something right now that Nick will be recording. Monsters is also the first release where Ian played every song. On our first album he only played slide guitar on the song “They’ve Got Secrets”, that album was recorded before he was in the band.

GUFF: In what way does your new release differ from your previous music?
B.D.: These new songs definitely have a different feel than our first album. We’ve grown a lot as musicians and people. They’re more intense, maybe even a bit edgier. I think this time we knew exactly what we wanted and went right for it.

GUFF: Could you tell us about the new video you have coming out?
B.D.: We have a new music video for our “Monsters” single that will be out in March. It’s pretty DIY with no budget and a bunch of awesome people who helped us make it. That’s all we’ll say for now. Other than that we’re going to lay low until the tour. We have a bunch of new tunes - Guff Magazine

The Bloody Diamonds and Verse The Sun summer tour made its last stop on July 6th at Michael’s Bar and Grill in Halifax. Joining them for the evening were Old Blood and Jessie Brown. It was a great night of music and I will create a post for each act. Lets start with…

Bloody Diamonds
Bloody Diamonds is Sara Elizabeth (Vocals / Organ), Jake Seaward (Guitar), Kristen Wells (Bass / Vocals) and Kyle Smith (Drums). They are a hard rock band from Halifax that have a distinct late 60's / early 70's bluesy metal feel.

This was the last night of their summer tour and they were ready to show their hometown fans a good time. This was also the first tour with new band members Wells and Smith, who fit in nicely with Elizabeth and Seaward.

Bloody Diamonds was the last of the four bands to take the stage and the audience was pumped. Most knew what to expect from this great live band and did not go home disappointed.

Bloody Diamonds opened their set with crowd favourite “She Ain’t Pretty” and many in attendance headed straight to the front of the stage. Knowing how to keep their fans captivated, Bloody Diamonds followed “She Ain’t Pretty” with their latest single “Monsters”.

Next came the unrecorded “Gimme That Gun”, followed by “I’m Not A Machine” and “Monopoly” (both from their excellent debut album They’ve Got Secrets).
One of the striking things about Bloody Diamonds’ songs is the great guitar riffs and guitarist Seaward plays them masterfully.

As a band, Bloody Diamonds shines, but it is impossible to take your eyes off vocalist Sara Elizabeth. Elizabeth is the complete rock star package. Aside from having a fantastic voice, Elizabeth has great stage presence and moves seamlessly from the front of the stage to the keys.

Never was Elizabeth’s mastery of the stage more evident than on the band’s “dance song” – “Baby Don’t Be Nice”.

Bloody Diamonds finished the night with “Nightmare” and “Bright Lights Darling” (watch both videos recorded by AC Scorpio below). Bloody Diamonds is a band on the rise and they put on a great live show. When they head back out on tour be sure to take in a performance.

You can also check out some awesome photos of the show taken by Noisography.

Set List
1. She Ain’t Pretty
2. Monsters
3. Gimme That Gun
4. I’m Not A Machine
5. Monopoly
6. Baby Don’t Be Nice
7. Nightmare
8. Bright Lights Darling
- The Halifax Musicphile

Rhino Rating 4.5/5

Spooky rock. What a cool term bringing visions of 60's Dracula movies or Rob Zombie directed re-makes. The four members of Canadian band Bloody Diamonds have a strangely normal yet evil look about them and lead singer Sara Elizabeth has an enticing yet cold style ready to drag you into an old dark mansion and scare the Christ out of you.

The sound is like Kiss meets White Stripes and i like it! It could easily be the closing credits soundtrack of a b-grade horror movie as the monster comes back from the dead to bludgeon one more stupid teenager. This song is by no means groundbreaking but damn its fun and brings with it an element missing from a lot of todays serious over dramatised offerings.

With its catchy chorus and dangerously sexy lead vocal we have a winner. It's cool without trying too hard and daggy enough to swing a plastic axe to at your next Halloween party. - Review Rhino

Plenty bands would say that they have a signature sound. Few of them do.

Bloody Diamonds sounds like Bloody Diamonds. Upon dissection, I’m sure that you could pick out various influences or make comparisons. I would say that Sara’s vocals remind me of X-Ray Spex at times. I would say that the carnival organ reminds me of Steve Neve from Elvis Costello’s early band The Attractions. I could go on and I’m sure you could too.

Bloody Diamonds understands how to write songs with hooks. In the case of “Monsters”, the first musical hook is that tension building stop/start verse that eventually erupts into this great sing along chorus, “There’s monsterrrrrrrrsssss…” and yet another hook in the tag line, “into my heeeaaad, into my heeeaaad”. The whole song is an exercise in tension/release.

The B-side “Bright Lights Darling” isn’t as strong as “Monsters” or many of the songs on the full album, but it still rocks and has all of the elements that make for a great Bloody Diamonds song.

Even without the handsome white vinyl 7”, what you get is two tunes jammed full of style and charisma and cool vibes.

- Mike Hiltz
- Noisography

Bloody Diamonds - They've Got Secrets

On a Sunday morning in Ottawa, I was scouting the interweb for east coast venues on a bunch of sites and came across BLOODY DIAMONDS. Lucky for me, they happened to be playing in Ottawa that day.

At 5:00pm, I drove down to a little coffee house (The Daily Grind) in Ottawa and bumped into the band: Sara Elizabeth on vocals and organ, Ian Bennett on vocals and guitar, Jake Seaward on bass, and Kenny Myers on the drums. They were playing an acoustic, stripped-down version of many of the songs off their They’ve Got Secrets album.


Recorded in 2011 in what Seaward describes as a “professional basement”, the band’s freshman album has taken them on a great adventure to date. Andrew Wiseman, a friend of the band, first recorded the quartet in Halifax, N.S. using multi-track. Bloody Diamonds was later “super stoked” to be nominated for “Loud Recording of the Year” during Nova Scotia Music Week in Liverpool, NS.

The raw, country sense of the tracks on They’ve Got Secrets really caught my ear. A variety of sounds shows the band’s influences, and their home-style sense of country and pure Canadiana rock really comes out in the album. Track 5, “White Lies”, especially caught my attention during Bloody Diamonds’ live set. I later found out that it is one of Myers’ favorite songs to play.

I was also really impressed to discover how versatile the band is, being able to break down the album into an acoustic set. When I talked to the band about it, they said that they were missing their electric set (another of which would be slated the following evening). Despite the fact, Elizabeth added, “it’s great that we can break it down acoustically.” Seaward agreed, explaining the advantages to it. “It doubles the doors and you can play more gigs. Like, you can play a small coffee house in the afternoon then rock out an electric set at night. It helps when you’re on tour.”

Looking onward and touring is definitely in Bloody Diamonds’ radar scope. The band seems to really enjoy loading up the Ford E250 and leaving Halifax in the mirror for the road.

A follow up 7’ for the band (recorded in Toronto) is slated to be released early next year. You can check out They’ve Got Secrets at Bloody Diamonds’ website.

- Andrew Lacelle - Independent Music News