King Diamond - Conspiracy
King Diamond - Conspiracy
\r\nIn my search of listening something old and classical, with my corner of my eye I saw “Conspiracy” by King Diamond, then I though “ Well, if am I going to listen this one again for 6.666th time, why not upload it as a monument release on metalzone?”
\r\nSo in this monument release I’m about to write the more “theatrical” outfit of the Danish singer Kim Petersen (AKA King Diamond.) and the album “Conspiracy” originally released via Roadrunner Records, back in 1989. The Album “Conspiracy” is the lyrical continuing from The Master Of Horror’s previous concept album, “Them”.These two albums connected with the track “Phone Call” originally released as a B Side on Welcome Home 12’’ (1988) and one year later on the E.P. “Dark Sides”.
\r\nIn this specific track, the main character of the story, King, gets a Phone Call after many years from his grandmother, (King killed her on “Them”) and so he decides to visit again that old mansion of hers (Amon).
\r\nThe story line continues on “Conspiracy” but I’m not willing to reveal it. Musically the album follows the classic musical style of King’s previous works, but with even the first listening; someone realizes that the production is a lot better than the previous albums. The usual suspects Andy La Rocque (Guitars), Pete Black (Guitars), Hal Patino (Bass Guitar) and Mikkey Dee (Drums) made once again an astonishing work with great riffage, perfect solos plus some very atmospheric passages. The playing of Mikkey Dee sounds different than usual. It’s a fact that by the time the album hit the stores Mikkey Dee was already out of the band and he has been replaced by the Swedish Snowy Shaw. The work of Robert Falcao on Keyboards is also great and especially on tracks like “Wedding Dream” and “Victimized”. As for King’s vocals I have nothing to say, just his best performance.
\r\nIn that particular album, I feel like there is not even a track that can be described as a “filler” track. Every track, even the preludes, there are for a reason (Lyrical Theme, of Atmosphere). Another thing that is worthy to mention is that during the bands tour for “Conspiracy” they appeared for the first time in front of the Greek audience, at Rodon Club, and king left the audience speechless with this disappearing at the end of the show using the coffin of the back cover of the album.\r\n
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\r\nDELETED COVER \r\n
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\r\nSince we referred to the artwork, at this point I have to quote that King Diamond suffered many troubles with the album’s cover, because the distributors refused to promote the album due to the front cover. For Example in Korea the album has been released with a different cover (Black cover with pink King Diamond Logo). Also really a bunch of albums have been released with the original front cover, that King asked by Roadrunner to delete. Today only the original front cover costs a hundred of euros. From various sources there is the rumor that the album has never been released with this Cover and the little amount of covers that exist has been taken right out of the factory that made them.
\r\nThe last thing to mention is that there was a promo video for the track “Sleepless Nights” on black and white film. This happened because of the King’s great admiration of the early 60’s horror movies, something that is shown in this clip, borrowing some scenes from Cult 60’s Horror Flicks like “La Maschera del demonio” directed by the master of the Maccabre, Mario Bava , and “Horror Hotel” in which Mr. Christopher Lee owns the main role.\r\n
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\r\nKING DIAMOND - SLEEPLESS NIGHTS - PROMO VIDEO \r\n
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\r\nLampros Tennes
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