The song's 1980 debut remains a heavy metal milestone for its unique construction:
: This version features founder Brian Tatler and guitarist Andy Abberley providing a "new razor edge" on guitars, with Karl Wilcox and Dean Ashton on rhythm and Rasmus Bom Andersen on vocals.
The 2021 remaster stands out by offering a pristine look at the track that defined the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). Am I Evil? Remastered
: Guitarist Brian Tatler wrote the main riff with the intent of creating something heavier than Black Sabbath’s "Symptom of the Universe".
: As a "tribute's tribute," this release included a Diamond Head cover of Metallica's "No Remorse," acknowledging the band that famously brought "Am I Evil?" to a global audience. Origins and Impact The song's 1980 debut remains a heavy metal
For fans of the Metallica version—which appears on their Ride The Lightning (Deluxe / Remastered) and Garage Inc. collections—the Diamond Head remasters provide essential context for the song's massive influence on thrash metal.
Alongside the remaster of the original 1980 tapes, Diamond Head also released a fully version for the 2020 edition of the album. : As a "tribute's tribute," this release included
: The original master tapes were restored and digitized under the supervision of current Diamond Head frontman Rasmus "Ras" Bom Andersen . This process uncovered previously "lost" alternative mixes and supplemented the core track with bonus recordings from the 1980s.