Concept albums in the world of Metal have always been a main stay in those more ostentatious of genres. Seeping into various different aesthetics the simple idea of a concept album is huge undertaking in itself. Many moons ago now King Diamond created one of the most archetypal concept records in Heavy Metal history, Abigail. An influence to countless modern bands that have now become a main stay in the world of Metal, King Diamond is known for his sheer all in approach when it comes to alive performance. Resurrecting his beloved Abigail we headed over to The Forum for the ghoulish gates to be opened once again.
[date]21st June 2016[/date]
[venue]The Forum[/venue]
[city]London[/city]
[support_bands]Angel Witch[/support_bands]
Prior to our flamboyant stage set up, throwing back to the year of the seventies the stage is greeted with the Heavy Metal underdogs that are Angel Witch. Bringing their Proto Heavy Metal riffing into the mix, led by Kevin Heybourme the band have had somewhat of a rebirth of late. With bassist Will Palmer joining slowly enlisting Teeth Of The Sea guitarist Jimmy Martin completed by Alan French. Taking this opportunity to truly showcase their aptitude for the classic genre the band rip into the Medusa worshipping “Gorgon” the band fire on all cylinders. Delivering tight musicianship coupled with the excellent showmanship the band have been known for. Whipping out the likes of “White Witch” the band’s classic throwback sound suits this evening’s hall down to a T. Less of a nostalgic look backwards and more of a celebration of classic Heavy Metal as the band launch into finale “Angel Witch“, the packed and ever more fidgety Forum roars with approval proving that despite their 1977 fruition Angel Witch are a force just as deadly as they ever have been.
As the Angel Witch banner is swiftly ripped from the stage were greeted by a dishevelled looking woman in a wheelchair shortly before our compare of the evening King Diamond is “Welcome(d) Home“. Setting the tone for the night, prosthetics on stage give the throwback illusion of being right back into the eighties coupled with the Victorian style extravagant set making for the perfect backdrop. Deciding to turn things on its head thinking we would hear the main act the man instead decides to swap things around including both Mercyful Fate numbers “Come To Sabbath” and “Melissa” hurled out to the audience and met with searing approval . Packed to the rafters here tonight it’s a suitably older crowd witnessing the madness on stage. Kitted out with stairs on either side, adorned with gargoyles and of course our band at the vanguard it simply is a feast for the eyes here tonight.
After the furious end to our first act “Them” comes to a triumphant close, an ominous crack of thunder brings us into the main event, Abigail. Known to be one of the band’s best concept records its infamous popularity is felt throughout the Metal community. As the narrator come demon child slowly leads us to the killing floor in “Funeral” bursting into the classic fist pumping riff, despite having already heard several songs from the band’s catalogue, they pale in comparison to the amount of energy brought together in the “Arrival” of the second track . Mimicking the stories’ chapters whilst Andy LaRocque might be widdling there’s always something to look at. Be it either the fluorescent inverted crosses, temporary appearance of Miriam or appearances of plastic crowd on the ride hand side. Yet the performance wouldn’t be anywhere near as enhanced if the musicianship wasn’t up to scratch. Tonight the sound is pitch perfect, delivering chunky riff after chunky riff our guitarists do the band proud. Following the classic Thrash beats of drummer Matt Thompson Though the most surprising element of the evening is the King himself. Given the fact the man has just turned sixty he can still bellow out his shrill wail just as well as he did back in the day.
Introduced to “The Family Ghost” a brilliant segue into the next chapter of this morbid story before we’re transported back to the year 1777 on “The Seventh Day of July 1777” where atmosphere creeps in coupled with the ominous acoustic before once more being thrown into the cheesily epic Metal sections with easily the best solo delivered from LaRocque note for note. Baring in mind the album’s old status hearing the antiquated tracks burst through fresh speakers resurrects the entire energy of the album giving it a fantastic sense of rejuvenation. The tongue in cheek appearance of a priest during “Possession“, who could well be the band’s tour manager in disguise neatly creates a nostalgic vignette to the classic era. As we near the end of our promenade into the afterlife “Abigail” brings us to the morbid climax as chants of “Miriams’s dead! I am her head!” are heard throughout Kentish Town.
Similar to the classic eighties Horror, King Diamond has brought a throwback genre into the modern day. Celebrating the eponymous album’s release twenty five years on Metal heads will forever be transported into the realm of ghouls and girls, acting like a singalong B Movie tonight’s performance had everyone in The Forum smiling from ear to ear. From the Halloween sale style stage to the corpse painted main man himself everything tonight has been the definition of true entertainment. Breathing life into what could have very well been a stale performance King Diamond and his ghouls have delivered a performance that would last until the afterlife itself.
