King Diamond
Following the dissolution of Mercyful Fate in 1985, Kim Bendix Petersen, known as King Diamond, established his eponymous band in Copenhagen to pursue his uncompromising vision of theatrical horror metal. With his distinctive falsetto vocals and iconic black-and-white corpse paint, King Diamond became one of extreme heavy metal's most influential figures.
The debut album Fatal Portrait (1986, Roadrunner Records) established new benchmarks for conceptual horror narratives in metal. Produced by Roberto Falcao, the album showcased complex song structures and King Diamond's characteristic vocal techniques, ranging from whispered passages to piercing falsetto screams. The collaboration with guitarist Andy LaRocque, formerly of Swedish Erotica, proved to be a creative symbiosis that fundamentally shaped the band's sound.
Abigail (1987, Roadrunner Records) saw King Diamond perfect the horror concept album format. The tale of the possessed Miriam Natias became a metal opera that merged technical brilliance with narrative depth. LaRocque's neoclassical guitar work and Hal Patino's precise bass playing created the perfect backdrop for King Diamond's vocal characterizations. The album stands today as a milestone of progressive horror metal.
The 1990s brought further conceptual masterpieces with "Them" (1988, Roadrunner Records) and The Eye (1990, Roadrunner Records). The transition to Massacre Records for The Spider's Lullabye (1995) marked a new era where King Diamond further refined his storytelling craft. The collaboration with producer Andy LaRocque, who had also assumed co-production duties, resulted in a denser, more atmospheric sound.
The new millennium found King Diamond at Metal Blade Records, producing albums like The Puppet Master (2003) and Give Me Your Soul... Please (2007). After an extended hiatus, the band returned in 2019 with Masquerade Of Madness EP on Metal Blade Records, proving that King Diamond's horror vision had lost none of its intensity after more than three decades.
Discography
1986 - Fatal Portrait (Roadrunner Records)
1987 - Abigail (Roadrunner Records)
1988 - "Them" (Roadrunner Records)
1990 - The Eye (Roadrunner Records)
1995 - The Spider's Lullabye (Massacre Records)
1996 - The Graveyard (Massacre Records)
1998 - Voodoo (Massacre Records)
2000 - House of God (Massacre Records)
2002 - Abigail II: The Revenge (Massacre Records)
2003 - The Puppet Master (Metal Blade Records)
2007 - Give Me Your Soul... Please (Metal Blade Records)
Important EPs
2019 - Masquerade Of Madness (Metal Blade Records)
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