This first recording after the Mercyful Fate breakup was an excellent beginning to King's foray into his own personal style. This was my third King Diamond buy, and by that time, I kind of knew what to expect. My favorite song on this LP is "Haunted". The extra chorus on the guitars lends a lot of feeling, although if you are used to listening to King's newest musical offerings, this is very traditional and simplistic. The story starts and then stops, and then finishes up again, which makes you kind of wish that the story could be complete. If you have never listened to King's music before, listen to another first, then buy this one if you like what you hear.
King Diamond-Abigail
This second LP has got to be King's opus. Any true fan of King's will tell you that this LP is THE BEST! There is only one other King Diamond title that has matched the power, the storyline, and the musical excellence (that being "House of God"). I kind of review this CD as part of my "memories", but I cannot say enough that this is a definite must-have! From the opening of "Arrival" to the final track "Black Horsemen", you are immediately sucked into the story of Miriam & Jonathan LaVey, who move into a house that has a bloody history. They are warned upon their arrival to the estate by "O'Brian of the Black Horsemen", that an evil exists within the house, and that it would be best if they would just turn around and leave. But, being the moron's that they are, they tell the horsemen that they aren't afraid of ghosts...O'brian leaves them with the warning that "18 will become 9". They stay in the house, and are not aware that the evil in house is already taking control. I won't ruin the story by telling you the rest, except to say that Andy LaRocque is a GUITAR GOD! My favorite songs on this CD are "7th Day of July 1777", and "Black Horsemen". This is one of the most complex storylines and musical masterpieces within King's repertoire. In case you haven't read between the lines here, I definitely recommend this to any would be fan or existing fan who doesn't have this one.
King Diamond-Them
This was my first experience with King Diamond. As I have said in the page the link to this review was on, I was simply blown away. This is the story (rumors have it that some parts of this story are true, although King won't tell us which,) of King and his evil "Grandma" who comes back home from spending several years in an insane asylum. Instantly, she begins strange rituals, drinking "tea" with "them", evil spirits who inhabit the "House of Amon". It turns out that Grandma is using King & Missy's mother, drawing blood from her arm every night which in turn they use for their "tea". Missy tries to stop Grandma, but is stopped herself. The narrative style of this LP is again, King's trademark style. The guitars are excellent, hard and fast. I recommend this to anyone.
King Diamond-Conspiracy
This continuation of King's evil story of his Grandma was unfortunately not as hard as "Them", as it delved more into how much King loved and missed his sister Missy, and to what lengths he would go to deceive the doctor who committed him at the end of "Them", and to have his sister back, as well as his mother...who unfortunately ends up marrying Doctor Landau...bitch. I liked this LP because it continued the story, and gave a lot more background to this story which had engulfed me. But, others might not like the toned down, softened up sound which prevails. They softened up King's vocals so that they might be more accessible to listeners, but I for one prefer the crisp vocals in "Them", and "Abigail". This album was the first time I ever saw King in concert, and the show was top rate. Standing front and center in Indianapolis' Arlington Theater, the story was brought alive by King's trademark theatrics, and two spectacular moments stick out in my memory. When Andy brought out the acoustic guitar for "Black Horsemen", and the cremation scene at the end of the show, where King is placed inside a coffin...the side opens up for viewing....they close it up, set it on fire...and then they open the side door again, and there lies a burning skeleton! Very excellent! At the end of the song, they blacked out the theater for a few seconds, and then the lights came up, and King was nowhere to be found....
King Diamond-The Eye
This story was about a necklace that when looked into on the 1st day of May, will transport you back into time to experience the Inquisition, and the Burning Times. "Burn" and "The Trial (Chamber Ardente)" are both favorites of mine. Any King collection would be remiss if it did not have this classic within.
King Diamond-Spider's Lullaby
Of all of King's albums, this is one of my least favorite. King struck a chord in my heart, because I HATE SPIDERS! I liked the story because it genuinely struck a little bit of fear in my heart...like reading a good Stephen King novel. Unfortunately, the music seemed rushed....like they had written it in a hurry to fulfill their obligation to Roadrunner Records...(which might be truer than we know...King soon left Roadrunner due to problems with them...) I was genuinely worried for a brief moment that King was getting ready to stop making music. Or worse, mellowing out. I had witnessed the death of great bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Metal Church, etc., and I had no desire to see King follow the same footsteps. Buy this one for your collection, but put it up for a rainy day.
King Diamond-Voodoo
King Diamond must have heard us, because he came back pissed! Voodoo is an album reminiscent of "Abigail". After a hiatus from himself, in which time he recorded with Mercyful Fate again, he brought us the story of some more idiots who don't have a clue. I'm serious! If I moved into a house, and some ghostly fucker told me to get out...It would be assholes and elbows...if I asked the servant in a house in the middle of the Louisiana Bayou if I should get rid of a cemetary located on my land because the voodoo drums were keeping me up at night...and he told me that if I did it would be trouble...I would be wearing earplugs at night! The moral of "Abigail" and "Voodoo" is "DON'T FUCK WITH SHIT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" It's quite funny that in both albums the morons laugh at the warnings...and then either die or go violently insane...(hahaha!)
King Diamond-The Graveyard
This was a very strange album...it tells the story of a man who was wrongly accused of molesting the daughter of a politically influential man and gets thrown into an insane asylum. I liked the lyrics, and I enjoyed the way King really brings the character out for all of us to examine. When this guy escapes, you can really hear the insanity in his voice, and in the words he speaks...he takes the girl he was accused of molesting, hides her out in a graveyard...then phones her father and tells him that if he ever wants to see her alive he needs to get his ass to the graves...it's great action! It has a surprise ending that I'm not going to ruin for you...although it was just like King himself said somewhere...the good don't always suceed. I think the reason I liked this album is because there was a time in my life when I really liked to write stories where the good guy loses. Oops...kinda gave it away, didn't I? Oh, well. I mean, I hate the predictability of most TV shows and movies where you KNOW that no matter what happens, the protagonist always comes out on top...
King Diamond-House of God
BUY THIS ALBUM! I can't say enough how great this CD is! A close tie with "Abigail", and their best work yet! It would be perfect for a first time listener, and long time fans will rejoice! It begins on the premise that Jesus did not die on the cross, but married Mary Magdalene and lived in a church in the wilderness (kinda like "The Last Temptation of Christ") and then moves on to the story of the main character who is travelling through the woods. He gets tired, and he meets this wolf who compels him to follow him to the House of God. When he gets to this church, the wolf sheds its skin, and it turns out to be this really beautiful woman! Well, they fuck all day and all night in all sorts of ways (delicious!) and in every conceivable place, when she tells him her sob story that she has been stuck there waiting for somebody to take her place, or she will die. Well, this guy figures that she is the only woman to ever find a place in his heart that he thought he never had, so he would rather she live...than to die in his arms. So, he takes her place, she leaves him there. Insanity ensues! Check out this album, because you may never again hear such a musical masterpiece....
King Diamond-Abigail II-The Revenge
Sorry it has taken so long for me to get this review up! Anyway, let's get on with it. It seems that King CANNOT create a bad album. (Well, I'm sure he could, but let's hope he never does...) This continuation of the original story of Abigail begins with O'Brien of the Black Horsemen saving Abigail from death. Many secrets of the strange "I'm my own Grandpa" style are revealed in this extension of the original story. This album begins well, and just continues getting better with every song. It is all your ears can do to keep from screaming in orgasmic joy from the excellent guitar work and story-telling power that IS King Diamond's trademark style. "Spirits" is probably my favorite song out of the bunch, although if you take any one song out, you destroy a masterpiece! I loved King's trademark evil laughter in "More Than Pain", and "Sorry Dear" still gets a healthy chuckle from all that hear it, as well as "Mommy". I played it at the club I'm working sound at, and it was received with mixed reviews, but I constantly work hard to convert the MTV slaves to the true-to-yourself ethic that King always injects into his music. Always changing only for the better. Thank You King for never selling out!
King Diamond-The Puppetmaster
I finally received my copy of King's newest album today and immediately put it in my computer and put the headphones on...and all I can say is, "Wow".
This album has something for everyone, old fans and new. From the opening track, "Midnight" to Andy's final plucks on "Living Dead," this album rocks. Touted as more graphic and gory than King's other works, this is the story of an unfortunate man and his true love...and how they fall into a trap of nasty proportions.
Although the story is bloody, I was expecting something more gruesome. Then again, I'm the kind of guy who has seen everything, and is no longer terrified by run-of-the-mill murder or re-animation. However, King tells his story with such conviction that you can see the characters living their parts in the theater of your mind.
My favorite tracks were, "The Puppetmaster," "Blue Eyes," "So Sad," and "Living Dead". These were the strongest songs on the CD, although they all have their qualities and as is the case with most KD albums, if you take one out, you ruin the story.
The music is top-notch, although I noticed that his vocals were quieter in the mix and his high screams seemed to be muted a little...reminiscent of "Conspiracy". From statements made by King himself, this IS part of the design. He performs his parts as they pertain to the story, to give them more true feeling, and it shows in songs such as "So Sad". If, after listening to this song, you don't feel a tightness in your chest and a tear fighting to drip from your eyes; you are not human. "Blood To Walk" is the more commercial song on the CD, and was the single pre-released on the Metal Blade website. I like this song, but I could understand why some would shy away from it's verse-chorus-verse style. Catchy tune, though.
Andy and Mike's leads are executed perfectly, as one would expect, and they trade solo's much like in "Them".
And, I LOVED the "Little Drummer Boy" reference in "Christmas". Livia Zita's vocals really add to the ambience. Most fans were apprehensive when they heard that King would be having another vocalist...something he had previously been very much against, since he has always played all the parts in his stories. Not to worry. Livia's voice adds so much to the part she plays as Victoria, and absolutely does more to give life to the character. This isn't cheesy duets, this is King Diamond, and he doesn't disappoint.
This is a must for any true King Diamond fan. It comes in digipack form with a bonus DVD of King telling the story in full makeup. Very creepy and wonderful all at once. It's why they call him King.