|
|
|
|
King Diamond - cheeseball or metal genius? I'd opt for the latter, and it only takes a few listens to his classic album, "Abigail", to know why. King's trademark falsetto wail was at its most powerful, Andy LaRocque at his shredding peak, and the story-telling hadn't yet been lost in the confusing muddle of so-so albums to come. Although I am usually wary of singers that sound like their balls are caught in a vice, King Diamond has always impressed me. I must admit that the main reason is that his albums have brilliant, convincing storylines that enhance the experience so much more than if they were just a bunch of songs, and "Abigail" is the work of a storyteller at the height of his skills. No matter how cheesy King's vocals may seem at first, they are often used to add texture to the story, express the thoughts or words of a particular character and so forth. The story itself is a doozy, the chilling tale of Jonathon Lefay and his wife Miriam moving into a haunted mansion and uncovering a dark, morbid secret. It helps that the music itself is possibly the best of King's career; excellent riffs and solos abound, catchy vocal melodies and arrangements are present throughout. Check out the melodies and vocals of "Arrival", the incredible opening riff and mid-song solo of "A Mansion In Darkness", the groove-metal of "Omens", the Egyptian-tinged metal energy of the title track; the album has consistently excellent riffage. There are only a few songs I don't enjoy so much, I never really warmed up to "The Family Ghost", or "Shrine", but they are still good songs. I highly, highly recommend this album solely for its storyline, reading the lyrics to the music is a sheer pleasure, and the strength of the song-writing is why so many consider this the greatest King Diamond album. All you falsetto haters out there, get into the story of "Abigail", a true classic, and find yourself hopelessly converted.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Funeral |
| 2. Arrival |
| 3. A Mansion In Darkness |
| 4. The Family Ghost |
| 5. The 7th Day Of July 1777 |
| 6. Omens |
| 7. The Possession |
| 8. Abigail |
| 9. Black Horsemen |
| Bonus tracks: |
| 10. Shrine |
| 11. A Mansion In Darkness |
| 12. The Family Ghost |
| 13. The Possession |
: 44.40
| Buy other King Diamond albums |
