King Diamond Eye of the Witch is a concept album released by the Danish heavy metal band King Diamond in 1996. The album tells a dark and eerie story that revolves around the character of King Diamond, a former high-ranking member of a secret society known as "The Eye." The story takes place in the 18th century and is set in a small village in Denmark. The album begins with a prologue, where King Diamond reflects on his past as a member of The Eye and how he ended up being marked for death by the witches. The storyline progresses through the songs, each unraveling a part of the intricate plot. The plot centers around an evil witch named Abigail LaFey, who was burned at the stake by the villagers of the small Danish village.
[La Reymie:]
Jeanne D'basson, you stand accused before the burning court for practising witchcraft. Do you confess? We have ways to make you talk. How do you plead?
And to make matters even worse, there s still a rumor out there that Snowy Shaw never actually recorded his drums, and what you hear is a drum machine. Madeleine and the other nuns They hold the infant up to the cross As father Picard and the priests Approach with hammers and nails There s no more to tell.
The plot centers around an evil witch named Abigail LaFey, who was burned at the stake by the villagers of the small Danish village. Before her execution, Abigail curses the village and the man responsible for her death, an ancestor of King Diamond. This curse results in the resurrection of the vengeful witch's spirit and her quest to seek revenge on the villagers.
Yer Metal Is Olde: King Diamond – The Eye
Every longtime band has one of those albums that fans can’t help but speak about as “the end of an era.” Some are due to founding members walking (or passing) away or the band making a drastic change in sound. 1 After the passing of Cliff Burton, Metallica’s first three albums became the single greatest era in the band’s history. Vader losing Doc in 2005 and Decapitated losing Vitek in 2007 are a couple more examples of deaths ending eras. Then there’re examples like Fast Eddie Clarke walking away from Motörhead and the canning of Ozzy Osbourne by Black Sabbath. Anthrax, Exodus, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest lost their vocalists, who psyched everyone out and returned later anyway. In some cases, end-of-era albums are more like transition pieces—bridging the gap between the band of old and the band of new. Arguably Metallica’s …And Justice For All fits the bill. It was clear that Justice was different, but it wasn’t until Metallica arrived that everyone saw what Justice really was. King Diamond’s The Eye is also such an album.
Though Pete Blakk wasn’t a longtime member, he recorded guitars alongside Andy LaRocque on the band’s pinnacled duo “Them” and Conspiracy. And, as far as anyone was concerned, he wasn’t going anywhere. Timi Hansen had been gone for a while, and Hal Patino was a more-than-capable bass player for the band. Another that looked like he would stay for some time. But, if these two weren’t King Diamond originals, Mikkey Dee was. From the time King professed there were “No Presents for Christmas,” Dee (and his unmistakable cymbal taps and bass-drum beat) was with him. That’s until he left for good following Conspiracy. 2 This seemed a devastating blow for the band. But The Eye was in the capable hands of the absurdly-talented Snowy Shaw. Like the four full-lengths before it, it didn’t miss a beat—even with the band’s battery mate gone to join Lemmy as an official Motörhead.
But trouble was brewing. After The Eye, Snowy jumped across the gangplank to play for King’s other band, and Pete Blakk and Hal Patino walked. This was the end of the band’s five-year deal with Roadrunner Records, and the label chose not to support The Eye with a tour. And the production and songwriting dropped on King’s follow-up record, The Spider’s Lullabye. Not to mention, Lullabye is the first album since Fatal Portrait that’s not a full-concept release. King’s voice would also worsen with each release as he labored under the weight of King Diamond and Mercyful Fate touring schedules. But, at the time, no one knew things would change so much. Nor did anyone know that The Eye would be the swansong of the old King Diamond sound.
For The Eye, King delved into the Satanic, anti-Christian themes he was famous for in Mercyful Fate. Using the infamous Louviers Possessions as the basis for The Eye, he graces us with nuns that really don’t have fun. Drugged, sexually assaulted, and forced to perform unspeakable rituals and tortures to children, Louviers’ nuns became witches against their will. Witching concepts are nothing new to King as he covered plenty in old Mercyful Fate songs. Neither are stories involving children—as we know from older King releases and ones yet to come. And, of course, God-hating is a staple to the man and will come again in 2000’s House of God. But The Eye has it all. First, we’re introduced to a mysterious necklace called the Eye of the Witch in the opening track of the same name. Through its eye, we hear Jeanne Dibasson fry in the fiddling “Burn” and watch Madeleine Bavent seek revenge against Father David on “Into the Covent.” We also witness the death of two children in the creepy, harpsichord-driven “Two Little Girls” and bear witness to the fall of the Louviers convent in “1642 Imprisonment.”
Throughout the album, we hear things from King Diamond; past and present. The snarling voice he uses on “Father Picard” comes from Conspiracy and will be used again from The Spider’s Lullabye to Voodoo. Gorgeous instrumentals like “Insanity” will find themselves closing albums like House of God and The Puppetmaster. Even the whipping harpsichord of the catchy “Behind the Walls” is familiar to anyone that’s heard Conspiracy’s “Cremation.” And, like previous releases, The Eye is full of riffs and impressive guitar shredding. Even the bass is audible in the mix—finding some standout moments on “Insanity.” Sadly, Mikkey Dee is sorely missed. While I wouldn’t say Shaw’s performance is lackluster, it is rather bland. I’m convinced if the drumming was stronger, The Eye would be one of my top two favorite Diamond releases. And to make matters even worse, there’s still a rumor out there that Snowy Shaw never actually recorded his drums, and what you hear is a drum machine…
That said, The Eye was one of more a band effort that many previous releases. Even Blakk and Shaw have writing credits for the album—”Father Picard” for the former and “Into the Convent” for the latter. Both songs being just as good as the others on this solidly-constructed disc. But, as I said, The Eye marked the end of an era. And every time I hear it, I’m reminded of that. King Diamond was never the same after The Eye, and, like many old bands, fans remember the early era as the only era of the band. 3 But The Eye did a damn fine job transitioning King to a new lineup and sound. The band even took many of this album’s elements on to hone and perfect on later albums. Released on All Hallow’s Eve Eve in 1990, may The Eye keep Halloween going into the new year.
- Looking at you, Opeth. ↩
- Actually, he left after “Them” but returned to the studio to record drums for Conspiracy. ↩
- Looking at you, Steel . ↩
A new chaplain has arrived
Madeleine and a few other nuns
At the convent will meet him tonight
As the story unfolds, King Diamond finds himself tormented by visions of the witch and her minions. He becomes entangled in a web of dark magic and supernatural events, trying to break free from the curse and protect his loved ones. The album showcases his struggle against the forces of evil and his ultimate confrontation with Abigail. Musically, the album features King Diamond's signature high-pitched vocals and the band's heavy metal sound, with elements of progressive rock. It is known for its haunting melodies, intricate guitar work, and atmospheric keyboard arrangements, which add to the album's eerie atmosphere. King Diamond Eye of the Witch received critical acclaim upon its release and is considered one of the band's most iconic and influential works. Its elaborate storytelling, theatrical elements, and dark themes have made it a favorite among fans of concept albums and heavy metal. In conclusion, King Diamond Eye of the Witch is a captivating concept album that tells a chilling story of witchcraft, curses, and vengeance. Its dark and atmospheric music, combined with the intricate plot, make it a memorable and haunting listening experience for fans of heavy metal and conceptual storytelling..
Reviews for "King Diamond's "Eye of the Witch": An Ode to Classic Horror Movies"
1. Jenny - 1/5 stars: I thought "King diamond eye of the witch" was extremely disappointing. The plot was confusing and all over the place, making it difficult to follow along. The characters were poorly developed and lacked depth, which made it hard to connect with them. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, which made the interactions between the characters feel awkward and unconvincing. Overall, I found this book to be a complete letdown and would not recommend it to others.
2. Michael - 2/5 stars: I wanted to like "King diamond eye of the witch," but unfortunately, I couldn't. The story had potential, but it was executed poorly. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. The writing style felt amateurish, with repetitive descriptions and cliché phrases. Moreover, the ending was unsatisfying and left too many loose ends. While the concept was intriguing, the execution prevented me from fully enjoying this book.
3. Sarah - 1/5 stars: I found "King diamond eye of the witch" to be a complete waste of time. The story lacked originality and felt like a rehashing of other fantasy novels. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real growth throughout the book. Additionally, the dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, making it hard to engage with the story. Overall, I was extremely disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating read.
4. Ryan - 2/5 stars: "King diamond eye of the witch" had potential, but it fell short for me. The pacing was slow, and the plot was predictable, leaving little room for suspense or surprises. The writing style felt overly descriptive and bogged down the story, making it hard to stay engaged. Furthermore, the characters lacked complexity and felt like stereotypes. While there were some compelling moments, they were not enough to redeem the overall mediocrity of this book.