[band] King Diamond [headline] Kingdom Come [intro] [$italics]Where were you in 2012 when the dam began

to burst (again)?[italics$] Indeed, it seemed that since the glory days of Sabbath, the NWOBHM and its eclectic offspring, said dam had been re-erected, christened and fortified a thousandfold. Some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend, legend became myth. Yet a small legion of indomitable die-hards still stood their ground, shouting humbug to that!, partying hard and keeping the wax spinning. The death of the first Gods had left them devastated. New deities had arisen, one more crooked than the next. And soon only a infested hotchpotch of hideous metal porridge was left... never sufficiently hot nor cold, just plain [$italics]yuck![italics$] As false prophets wreaked their havoc, only few knew that in the shadows hid hope. So as the young rebels rose to battle, the first Gods could no longer stand idly by. Resurrecting in fullforce to support their minions, they strode to awaken the dormant flame, meeting the posers of the world with a mighty clash. THE HEAVY METAL REPRISAL WAS UPON US (Just in time for ZT #50, too!) Leading the attack, to this day, is a being of impeccable magnitude. The King of kings, every vocalists despair, a master-chronicler, beater of triple bypass heart operations, and a man of flawless character. He may hide behind a layer of achromatic paint, yet his heart and soul are there for all to witness. He is none other than the King of Spades born Kim Bendix Petersen - but universally known as King Diamond.

ZTs Miika Virtanen was granted an audience with the merciful liege lord, just as he prepares for a critical charge. [body] [$bold]This Is A New Age[bold$] Let us define the music of King Diamond, stick it in a box for vanitys sake. This should be easy, its obviously its falsetto-driven, technically marvelous, yet completely mad, though structurally ingenious heavy metal mastery, isnt it? A spellbinding lullabey to the unknown conspiracies of voodoo gods and puppet masters with powers over life and death? The menacing eye of Abigail glances at us in dismay, demanding our very souls for such paltry pettiness. I dont think in those ways, thunders his majesty. Its hard to put a label on King Diamond, as theres just too much going on in our music. In a way, everything goes. You know what youre going to get, but you also know what youre not going get. There wont be a jazz album. (Not that there arent any tremendous musicians playing jazz). Our music comes directly from the heart. There are still plenty of elements within the King Diamond sphere just waiting to be exploited. Its something that happens spontaneously when playing from the heart, he unveils, adding: And you really should know by now how dark our hearts are. Having put our bets on blacker than the blackest charcoal, we turn to the Kings Scandinavian viceroy: Axeman Andy LaRocque of Gothenburgshire, an ally of the monarch since foundation in 1985. With His Diamondness court in Texas, five thousand miles separate them, but the pairs song-writing chemistry tolerates no such puny pretext. Before the writing process can begin, I always tell Andy a short story comprising the albums theme. Its the one thing that we do to sync up before getting to work, giving us that certain mood. Thats the only thing. We never discuss matters such as how many songs should be on the album?, how many with double kicks?, how many should be real heavy and do we need a ballad? We just start writing with an atmosphere established and see what happens in the end. The label never interferes, thats something we made sure of. They dont even come by when were in the studio and if they do, its just to say hi and take us out to dinner. Then well maybe play a few snippets of what weve been up to. A lot of

trust has been put in us and that really is as good as it gets; free artistic hands. With dictatorial authority attained, preliminary measures for the follow-up to 2007s [$italics]Give Me Your Soul... Please[italics$] have already commenced. However, with the records essence still concealed deep within the masterminds imaginationland, song-writing itself is yet to hear the starting gun. Andy has only caught a whiff of what the album will be about. He knows that itll focus on what Ive experienced, being dead and coming back basically. But he hasnt heard a specific story, as Ive not written one yet. There are so many different reaches I can go. Andy told me he has already written riffs for at least four to five songs, regardless. We will see how those fit with the final story. Its something we always make sure of: The story comes first, its essential. Ideas that dont fit may be postponed for use on future albums or binned. [$bold]Achy Breaky Heart[bold$] The aforementioned blackened heart is bound to play a big part in the great narrators next tale after all sporting a pump that thrives on iron and steel. Still in the midst of his recuperation process, our audience with the stoic metal master came only minutes after another strenuous work-out. Yeah, I just got back in and am still sweating; power walking, stuff like that, at least five days a week. Getting and keeping in shape. Ive also stopped smoking and havent had one drag for about 1.5 years. Not one. Just gone cold turkey. I enjoyed smoking when I did, but that chapter is closed now. Dont have any need for it, reveals the singer, who allegedly used to go through up to 50 fags a day. Its remarkable that his pipes survived at all. I never had such a clear voice as now, never such an easy time hitting a note. Its a nice feeling; like having been given a brand new voice. I have never sung as a nonsmoker, until now. Id say its almost like having only ever driven in used cars, and for the first time I was able to get a brand new one, and go whoa, this [$italics]is[italics$] a big difference. New falsetto supremacy is not the only new prop added to the artillery, having journeyed to the land of the dead and back has also changed the legends outlook on life, plus he is now

literally made of metal, too. The [triple bypass] operation usually takes five hours, but took seven in my case for a good portion of it I was dead. They open your chest up like a double door. Afterwards, the nerves just have to find each other again. Its crazy, they tie you back together with this thick metal wire, its almost like my whole chest was braided together with metal inside, right under the skin. After the operation I found myself unable to sleep and for many a night wandered the empty halls of the hospital (reminding me of the lyrics on [$italics]The Graveyard[italics$]). Once I got out, in many ways, I felt like I didnt belong to the world I might just as well have not been a part of this; not seen those birds, looked at those trees, or heard those cars. In that state I often had to ask my wife can you feel it when I touch your shoulder?, can you see this?, can you hear me? I needed that confirmation, that verification that I was alive. Sometimes I also really think I brought something back with me from the other side. [$bold]Return To Steel[bold$] In addition to his wifes, the Queens, continuous support, Margrave Brian Slagel of MetalBladeshire was also on the Kings side. Giving him hope for better days, informing him of the developments on the global metal front, and when the time came, inviting him to join his ranks: Things have come full circle for metal and it seems very much like weve come full circle as a band, as well. Its something Brian kept telling me during the last year and a half of recuperation. Andy LaRocque has already signed the new record deal, and its on its way to me as we speak. A worldwide three-album deal with Metal Blade. Weve also set up a webstore (for the first time) and have more backup than ever before. Its all due to Metal Blade having their best years, which sounds crazy in these difficult times for the music business. Its amazing for them and they keep doing all the right things. Swarms of devoted punters joined King Diamond at his conquest of Sweden Rock and Hellfest, and were rewarded with an memorable extravaganza, as [$italics]Abigail[italics$]s mansion materialised right before their very eyes. In fact, [$italics]it seemed to be alive[italics$]: Thats the point were after.

When you go into one of our shows, you will be involved in a way you rarely have been, and also leave an unforgettable experience richer. When you turn 80, if you get to live that long, you will still be able to say man, you should have seen what I saw, felt what I felt. We always wanted to have that impact and now we do. I would say we have taken several steps up in many ways. Those two were test-shows, to see if I can still do it. But serious tests, not just for fun. We have decided that we only perform with the full production showcased. There wont be a toned down King Diamond gig for the fans. Not anymore. I think thats very positive. [$bold]In The Beginning[$bold] But the climb back up the metal-zenith has been no casual stroll up a semi-steep tourist trail. Talentshow-esque sudden ascent to fame is about as far as one can get from KD. Let us return to the days when metal was young, into [$italics]the beginning[italics$]. What initially conquered the soul of a strapping teenage boy from Hvidovre, Denmark? Im sure youve heard that Uriah Heeps David Byron is my all-time favorite singer. But what first got me into music was Jimmy Pages guitar sound on the first Led Zeppelin album. It got to me as a kid so heavily that I made up my mind right there and then. Whenever I could save up money from my allowance I would gather it for a guitar. I just had to make that sound. A huge inspiration, but then again I never tried to copy any of those Zeppelin songs I wanted to create something of my own. At first it was mostly a fun hobby but serious fun. I started out playing guitar in a band called Brainstorm (back in 76) with a school mate who had a drumkit. Id never played before, but had a homebuilt amp and speaker. We jammed beneath a brand new public library, where they had included rehearsal rooms for bands. I had two buttons on that amp, a red on-off switch (plus of course volume, bass and treble) and a black button my famous button for the distortion, the one that made it sound like Jimmy Page guitar. We were just trying to learn, no one every taught us how to play. Then Black Rose started around 78 and went up to 1980. Influenced by Deep Purple, Rainbow, Kansas those sort of bands; lots of old music, actually. It was then that I started singing

as well. Were talking early days, but with Black Rose things gained in momentum, with great musicians and an interesting live show. Suddenly one day, arriving at rehearsal we realised the keyboarders Hammond organ was gone. He explained, saying: Sorry, we got a new kitchen with my girlfriend, so I had to sell it. A bomb exploded inside me then. What, are you fucking joking?! What the hell!?! Really it was an eye-opener and also when I decided to do something more serious. Around that same time a guy called Ken Anthony, who worked at a record store in Copenhagen, had heard our music and offered his help. He also knew the guys from Brats [including Mercyful Fate guitarist Hank Shermann], who were looking for a lead singer. I had a meeting with them, discussed it and ended up joining. From there on we started playing really heavy stuff, far from the usual punk style of Brats which didnt sit well with the original members. They were thinking what is this? We got a heavy metal singer now? How did that happen? Hank and I really clicked on the heavy side, so we said were playing heavy or were not at all, were not going to play something we dont feel for. That was the end of Brats, so Hank and I started looking for musicians. This was also the time when Michael Denner [second guitarist of Mercyful Fate] had a three-piece with Timmy [Hansen] playing bass and a drummer called Nick [Smith]. He called up Hank and asked if [$italics]his vocalist[italics$] could come and help him with a 5-track demo. I agreed, and ended up clicking so well that we joined forces. And thats how Mercy started, with drummer Kim Ruzz arriving at a later stage. With the black horsemen united, the pivotal moment when a hobby turns into an all consuming cyclone soon came. It was time to choose between the strange and unknown terrain of metal or a fool-proof day-job for life. I had a job when Mercyful Fate started, but ultimately had to drop it. I was also playing soccer a lot in those days, but had to stop that too. I chose the music, even though there wasnt really a career lined up that way. I took a chance and put all my time into music. And then for couple of years, I lived on social security, unable to smoke and eat the same day. So I had to choose if I wanted to

smoke cigarettes or eat food every other day. Or even go a couple of days without cigarettes. It was just the way it was back then, we couldnt afford anything. A very tough time, tough couple of years. Then at some point after the [$italics]Melissa[italics$] album royalties started coming in. Not great amounts, but just enough to get by. So I went to social services and said hey, Ive got a job now, I dont need your help any longer. We definitely paid our dues, as they say. Travelling in vans full of Marshall amps for up to 18 hours. The kind of stuff everybody should go through on their way up, as its pretty healthy too, having experienced all that. At the beginning with Brainstorm we naively thought yeah, were going to be big stars, we gotta have artist names. We were convinced that once we got touring the world, people wouldnt be able to pronounce our Danish names. Thats when I came up with King Diamond (dont ask me how) and it stuck to me for life. But really, with a name like Kim Petersen, they could have pronounced that Im sure. On the brink of success lurked unforeseen challenges, with the sudden doom of MF. Mercyful Fate didnt work out musically, there were just way too many contradicting opinions floating around. I knew I wanted to continue on the same lines, whilst Hank sought the opposite, hoping to incorporate funk elements. I thought it was a joke when he first told us, so we were all shocked when we realised he was for real. He suggested that one side of the vinyl would feature our new style and the old Mercy would be placed on the other. I wouldnt have any of it, saying Id rather not do anything. I didnt want to piss on the fans and its a philosophy weve always stood firmly behind. We always stand a 100% for what we do. So there you have it: A tale of unfaltering belief in metal with a happy [$italics]ending[italics$], very suiting for Zero Tolerance Mags 50th edition. Indeed, if these were movie credits, clips of King Diamond conquering the stages of the world would float across the screen. The new album may not surface until late 2013, but UK legions will gather in thousands at Bloodstock 2013 in Derbyshire to witness his excellence. What massively anticipated good craic it shall be. As we say our farewells to the King (leaving him to a well-deserved shower) he tests our

loyalty one more time: Alright then, see you at Bloodstock, its going to be an awesome show. Youre coming, right? We most certainly are. origin denmark formed 1985 current lineup king diamond [vocals] andy larocque [guitar] mike wead [guitar] hal patino [bass] matt thompson [drums] current label metal blade band url kingdiamondcoven.com label url metalblade.com discography give me your soul... please [metal blade 2007] the puppet master [metal blade 2003] abigail ii: the revenge [metal blade 2002] house of god [massacre 2000] voodoo [massacre 1998] graveyard [massacre 1996] the spider's lullabye [metal blade 1995] the eye [roadrunner 1990] conspiracy [roadrunner 1989] them [roadrunner 1988] abigail [roadrunner 1987] fatal portrait [roadrunner 1986]