Released by: Metal Blade Records
Release: 18 November 2015
Genre: Heavy Metal
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Lineup:
King Diamond – Vocals,
Andy LaRocque – Guitar, Keyboards
Herb Simonsen – Guitar
Chris Estes- Bass Guitar
Darrin Anthony – Drums
Track Listing:
DISC 1
01. From the Other Side
02. Killer
03. The Poltergeist
04. Dreams
05. Moonlight
06. Six Feet Under
07. The Spider’s Lullaby
08. Eastmann’s Cure
09. Room 17
10. To the Morgue
DISC 2
01. Moonlight (Demo)
02. From the Other Side (Demo)
03. The Spider’s Lullabye (Demo)
04. Dreams (Demo)
In this latest release from King Diamond, we see the reissue of the classic album “The Spider’s Lullabye”. This is the sixth release by the band. Included with the deluxe version is a special bonus CD of four demo tracks. What makes this release exciting is tracks such as; “Moonlight”, “The Spider’s Lullabye”, “From The Other Side” and “Dreams” were originally recorded in 1992 as a four track demo. The deluxe version features the reissued album and the demo as a set. It is known that King Diamond himself played the original rhythm guitars, keyboard and programmed the drum machine on his cassette recorder.
This album has quality material throughout which isn’t surprising from a band that has such a cult following. “Moonlight” is undoubtedly one of the strongest tracks on the album. It has a great keyboard melody that adds to the King’s shrieking vocals for the chorus “In the moonlight, not a bird is singing lullabies, in the moonlight; I hear a church bell ring its evil song”.
“From The Other Side” is the second demo track which has a great raw texture to it with the NWOBHM feel. The galloping guitar riffs from Andy LaRocque and Herb Simonsen will transport you back 20 years. There is that classic guitar tones feel to this track. The heavy keyboard sections sound great and really let you hear King Diamond in their original form.
The third demo track “The Spider’s Lullabye”, is very well recorded for a demo. However there are still a difference in the vocals and keyboards. I prefer this version to the studio one with its raw sound. The keyboards sound slightly slower and play at a different pitch. It gives that great B-movie horror build up for which King Diamond is renowned for. I found the vocals to be particularly clearer to make out than compared with the studio release. The noticeable drum machine beat at the beginning of this track adds to the homemade sensibility.
“Dreams” is the fourth demo track and it kicks off with Andy LaRocque performing a fast solo. The work from Chris Estes on bass and Herb Simonsen on rhythm guitar takes the form of a chugging pivotal riff. Darrin Anthony, the drummer on the album, adds fast fills with sharp and tight rhythms alongside the rest of the band.
Overall, I would recommend this release to all King Diamond and Mercyful Fate fans. I can see fans wanting to have this in their collection. For the extra content it is worth-the-while.
Written by David Bell
Ratings: David 8/10
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