King Diamond recently gave an update on the status of the new KING DIAMOND album ans well as MERCYFUL FATE’s next LP
In a recent episode of “The Electric Theater With Clown,” the Internet show hosted by SLIPKNOT’s M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan, the renowned Danish heavy metal icon, King Diamond, made a guest appearance. The complete conversation is now available for listening below.
Speaking about new music that he is working on, King said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “There’s a lot in the works right now. I’m writing with Hank [Shermann, guitar] for MERCYFUL FATE and writing with Andy [La Rocque, guitar] for KING DIAMOND and writing on my own for KING DIAMOND. For KING DIAMOND, it’s an album that’s gonna be called ‘The Institute’, which is part one of two; there’ll be two full albums that will be completing that full story.
“As the title says, it’s gonna be some creepy, weird stuff. And for MERCY, I also have the title, but I’m not giving it out to anybody at the moment. We have the front cover for the new MERCY too. It’s very correct, very right for MERCYFUL FATE. It’s very back to basics.
“For my part with both MERCY and KING DIAMOND — even more KING DIAMOND, I would say — all vocals are gonna be lead vocals again, like they were in the old days for me,” he explained. “It didn’t matter if it was a choir singing on the right or the left side or whatever; they would still go in and pick up parts of the lyrics to progress the story and so on. So it’s gonna be anything goes with the vocals, for sure — back to the old style. And for MERCY too; it’s gonna be very old-fashioned. Hank is writing very much like the old days. And it’s nice to feel that we can capture that again.
“So that’s the two albums that are being worked on, that will be done by the time we go out on tour again, I’m sure.”
On November 16, 2022, MERCYFUL FATE concluded their first North American headlining tour in over two decades with an electrifying show at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia. For these special performances, Becky Baldwin, a talented British musician known for her work with FURY, TRIAXIS, and CONTROL THE STORM, stepped in on bass, filling the role of MERCYFUL FATE‘s regular bassist, Joey Vera. Unfortunately, Joey Vera was unable to join the tour due to a scheduling conflict with his longtime band, ARMORED SAINT.
Back in 2019, it was announced that Joey Vera would replace original MERCYFUL FATE bassist, Timi Hansen, for the band’s scheduled European festival appearances in the summer of 2020, as Timi Hansen was battling cancer. Tragically, Hansen passed away in November 2019, and MERCYFUL FATE‘s 2020 summer festival appearances were subsequently rescheduled for 2021, and later pushed to 2022.
MERCYFUL FATE‘s North American tour featured stellar support from KREATOR and MIDNIGHT, and it followed the band’s headlining performance at the previous year’s edition of Psycho Las Vegas.
MERCYFUL FATE formed in Copenhagen in 1981. The band’s founding members were vocalist King Diamond and guitarist Hank Shermann. They were later joined by guitarist Michael Denner, bassist Timi “Grabber” Hansen, and drummer Kim Ruzz, completing the classic lineup.
In the early days, the band’s unique and theatrical style of heavy metal quickly gained attention. They were known for their occult-themed lyrics, eerie atmospheres, and King Diamond‘s haunting falsetto vocals. In 1982, the band released their self-titled EP, which received critical acclaim and solidified their reputation as pioneers of the black metal and proto-thrash metal genres.
In 1983, MERCYFUL FATE released their debut studio album, “Melissa,” which further established their dark and ominous sound. The album’s occult imagery and storytelling captivated fans, earning them a devoted following in the underground metal scene.
The following year, the band released their second full-length album, “Don’t Break the Oath,” which further solidified their position as a prominent force in the metal world. The album featured iconic tracks like “A Dangerous Meeting” and “Come to the Sabbath.”
Despite their growing success, internal tensions and artistic differences led to the band’s temporary breakup in 1985. During the hiatus, King Diamond pursued a successful solo career, releasing a series of concept albums.
In 1992, MERCYFUL FATE reunited with a new lineup, featuring bassist Sharlee D’Angelo (ex-King Diamond, now in ARCH ENEMY) and drummer Snowy Shaw (ex-KING DIAMOND, ex-DIMMU BORGIR). They released the album “In the Shadows,” which received positive reviews, but the band again went on hiatus after touring.
In 1993, King Diamond decided to focus on his solo career, leading to another temporary disbandment of MERCYFUL FATE. However, the band reunited once more in 1999 and continued to perform sporadically over the years, prior to their formal “reunion” in 2019.
MERCYFUL FATE‘s influence on the metal genre cannot be overstated, and their music continues to inspire bands worldwide. Their iconic lineup has remained a symbol of the band’s legacy, and they are celebrated for their theatrical live performances and enduring contributions to heavy metal history.