Tag Archives: michael denner

Metal Blade Records To Release Mercyful Fate Classics In June

mercyful fate logo

The Press Release:
On June 5th, Mercyful Fate will release CD and LP versions of the classic albums “Don’t Break the Oath”, “Melissa”, and “Mercyful Fate” via Metal Blade Records. The vinyl editions feature spined sleeves with an insert and download card; the CDs contain a mini-LP CD-insert with a small fold-out poster.

album covers, mercyful fate, mercyful fate album covers, metal blade records

King Diamond comments, “These are not remasters. These are the albums as they were originally done in the old days from the original production masters. They retain all the original dynamics that were captured at the time. It’s very exciting to present these to fans as they were originally released.”
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Metal Blade Records To Release King Diamond Classics In April

Though the world is getting a little more alarming out there on a daily basis, I’ve got some news to distract you from Metal Blade Records and the legendary King Diamond. Read on.

king diamond logo

The Press Release:
On April 24th, King Diamond will release CD and LP versions of the classic albums Abigail and Fatal Portrait via Metal Blade Records. The vinyl editions feature spined sleeves with an insert and download card; the CDs contain a mini-LP CD-insert with a small fold-out poster.

King Diamond adds, “These are not remasters. These are the albums as they were originally done in the old days from the original production masters. They retain all the original dynamics that were captured at the time. It’s very exciting to present these to fans as they were originally released.”

album covers, king diamond, king diamond album covers, metal blade records
Continue reading Metal Blade Records To Release King Diamond Classics In April

“No Presents For Christmas” (Single) by King Diamond

Artist: King Diamond
Title: “No Presents For Christmas” (Single)
Label: Roadrunner Records
Release Date: 12/25/1985
Genre: Heavy Metal
Rating: 4.5/5

It was about a week ago that I shared my thoughts on the debut single from the upcoming live album by the legendary King Diamond which you can see HERE. Now, in the spirit of Christmas, I’m going to briefly discuss another single by Mr. Bendix and its one that not only came out more than thirty years ago but was also the very first single to introduce his new band to the people. I’m speaking of nothing other than that Heavy Metal holiday ditty “No Presents For Christmas”. If you’re a card-carrying Metalhead with some tenure behind themselves, I’m sure that you’ve heard this track and if not, its surely a bit of an odd treat. Let’s discuss a little bit deeper.
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King Diamond’s “Abigail” Hits Its Thirtieth (1987-2017)

Light the candles in the study as we open the arcane tomes in celebration of King Diamond’s sophomore album as a solo artist with the seminal work “Abigail”. An album that was released thirty years ago on this very day. It was the King’s second outing as I’ve noted but his first full length concept recording. He touched upon his sinister storytelling with “Fatal Portrait” on a few numbers but with “Abigail” a terrible tale was woven across each and every track. You can read more about the whole premise and the finer details down on the official Wikipedia entry as I always include them here.

At the time of the original release I must admit that I was not listening to much that King Diamond was dishing out. I was a very latecomer to Mercyful Fate and while some of their stuff intrigued me back then, I always felt it was a bit much for me and I leaned more towards the building Power Metal genre. It wouldn’t be until King’s “Them” album that I immersed myself more into his work. As I listened to the release once more for its anniversary, it’s amazing to find that it still holds up really well and still sends chills down your spine as the tale plays out. The whole album was written by King but guitarists Andy LaRoque and Michael Denner tossed their talents into a couple of tracks as well. The band was rounded out by bassist Timi Hansen and drummer Mikkey Dee. Andy and Dee would quickly become a lot of aspiring musicians favorites based on their his skillful playing. The King Diamond band was a quick lock for fans of the Mercyful Fate group based on that bands bassist Hansen and guitarist Denner being in the lineup with the King. Let’s take a look at the original track listing and then toss together our favorites.
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King Diamond’s “Fatal Portrait” Still Gazing Intently At Thirty Years (1986-2016)

king diamond logo

The colors on this dark oil painting remain vibrant if it should be observed in the light but that is not always the best setting for the works of the great King Diamond. The malevolence of his creations always seem to come to more sinister life if gazed upon in the shadows and with that being said I must announce that it was thirty years ago today that the world first looked upon the “Fatal Portrait” – the first solo album by King Diamond. Though I remembered seeing it on the shelves of a long shuttered record store named “The Little Record Store”, I didn’t purchase it since this was not really the kind of Metal I was following. Truth be told the King spooked me a little back then along with Fate so I stuck to what I felt was safer stuff like Maiden and Priest. Don’t worry about this admission as I caught on not too long after and made sure I was a quick study. I’ve snagged the albums overall plot from its official Wikipedia entry and it states

“Five songs on this album (first four and “Haunted”) form a short story. Narrator sees a face in “every candle that [he] burns”. This face speaks one word to him: “Jonah”. So he finds an old book, speaks a rhyme and frees the spirit from the candle. It’s the spirit of a little girl named Molly, who tells him her story, that happened seven years before. Mrs. Jane kept her 4-year-old daughter Molly in the attic until she (Molly) died. Before, Mrs. Jane painted Molly’s portrait and put it above the fireplace, so that Molly would become immortal; however, Molly made the portrait speak to her mother, so that Jane would know about Molly’s pain. Mrs. Jane then speaks a rhyme and burns the portrait. A free spirit of Molly returns to haunt her until she goes insane.”

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