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King Diamond
Live in Houston, Texas, October 2024
Review by Greg Olma
King Diamond is back and I could not be happier! It has been quite a while since I saw King Diamond as a solo artist. A couple of years ago I caught the Mercyful Fate show in Dallas but I have been waiting quite a while for a solo outing. This particular tour is being dubbed “Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920,” so you just know what the focus of the stage setup will be. While I have no desire to give away all the secrets of the show, let me be clear, this is one of the most elaborate old-school stage shows I have seen in a long time. There are no annoying video screens, just actual stage sets with staircases and props along with a female actress dancing across the stage. For fans of horror and metal, this is a dream come true.
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| King Diamond has brought a phenomenal band along. Writing partner and guitarist extraordinaire Andy La Rocque and fellow six-stringer Mike Weed made for a stellar guitar duo the whole evening. Pontus Egberg (bass) and Matt Thompson (drums) maintained the solid rhythms throughout the night, and Myrkur added the extra touch of vocals and keyboards needed to fill out the sound. I have seen King Diamond a number of times, and I have to say, this is probably the best lineup the King has assembled. And for the man himself, he sounded fantastic, and his visual performance added drama to every song. Between the band and the stage show, the one word that keeps coming in to my mind is “stunning.” |
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Greg Olma
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Greg Olma |
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Greg Olma
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| As for material, the set list was great, with many records getting the recognition they deserve. The show started with “Arrival” and “A Mansion in Darkness” off the masterpiece Abigail. Quite frankly, once the band launched into this material, there was no way the rabid fans were not going to go crazy. Being that the tour started in October, it was a no-brainer to have “Halloween” in the set. That tune along with “The Candle” from Fatal Portrait gave the fans a look back to where it all started in 1986. On the last tour of the states, when showcasing The Eye record, they performed “Behind These Walls,” but this time they threw in “Eye of the Witch” which I prefer if given the choice. Of course, they still trotted out “Burn,” which is always a great addition to the show. King Diamond also kept “Voodoo” and “Sleepless Nights” as part of the show, which was just fine by me (and the crowd didn’t seem to mind either). |
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Greg Olma
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Greg Olma |
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Greg Olma
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| One of the best parts of the show was that they showcased new material. Just like Mercyful Fate did on the last tour with “The Jackal of Salzburg,” King Diamond gave us not one, but two new pieces. “Spider Lilly” and “Electro Therapy” are awesome additions to the King Diamond catalogue and if they stay in this form, we are all in for a treat when the record comes out. Both have that classic King Diamond sound without repeating what has already been done. I wish more bands would put new material into their shows. I realize that camera phones have ruined that to some degree, but if King Diamond can do it, others can as well. |
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Greg Olma
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Greg Olma |
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Greg Olma
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| I will go on record as saying that this King Diamond Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920 Tour is one of the best concerts I have seen in the last few years. Both visually and musically, this is a stellar performance that entertained ears as well as your eyes. I know it has been about five years since the band toured but I hope that we don’t have to wait that long for another King Diamond tour. |
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Greg Olma
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Greg Olma |
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Greg Olma
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