King Diamond
Voodoo
(c)(p)1998 Metal Blade Records
Review by Neil St.Laurent
King Diamond is back again with yet another installment of fantastic
tales and supernatural imagery, this time given the title "Voodoo".
King Diamond is one of those artists that is standing the test of
time.
The style of King Diamond is one that may only be shared with
Mercyful Fate, a similarity that is too be expected as King Diamond
in general tends to front that other band as well. The goal of every
recording from King Diamond is to produce an eerie tale of the
supernatural; the albums unfold strange tales, typically set in some
mansion. This time around it is the story of the Lafayettes, who
inhabit a haunted house, whom their butler Salem knows the secrets
of. I won't give away all the details, as they are part of what make
"Voodoo" an album that is much more than just background music while working.
That music is a high paced melange of medley and mystique. The guitar
fare speeds along against a standard drum backing (i.e. drums without
any particular original flare of their own) and is periodically
broken with a short melodic riff. The structure of the music is one
of anticipiation and result: the music runs very quickly along, as
though something is about to happen, and then it quickly switches to
a more complex slow segment that offers some resolve to the music
(and to the story). Although very predicable, it is a very tried and
true form of music that is unlikely to scare anybody away. This
isn't to say that the music is strictly held to that form. Indeed
there are often guitar solos set against a different backing sound,
or sections of noises and keyboard layers producing that truly eerie
aspect to the music.
The significant detractor, or attractor depending on where you stand,
are the vocals of King Diamond. Nobody will disagree that his lower
pitch approach fits with the music and provides the perfect medium to
deliver the strange story of the lyrics. But the higher pitch
segments, of which is the majority, is enough to drive many people
away. It is either a school boy soprano or just a high pitch
whining, that while lends to the mystery, will detract from the
overall sound for many people. It is something that can grow on you
however -- unless you're one of the unforunate ones that were
assaulted by the vocals of Confessor long ago...
It is often tempting to end on a negative for well established bands,
and ever since the entirely disappointing Iron Maiden release, one
can't help but approach the well established with a bit of
skepticism. But you can't do that with King Diamond, the music is
the same as it generally always was, and that is what people have
come to enjoy. It is excellently produced and only a matter of taste
would turn somebody away. Every metal fan will have at least one
King Diamond, or Mercyful Fate, album in their collection, and if you
don't, you should go out and buy "Voodoo".
King Diamond is:
King Diamond - Vocals, Keyboard
Andy La Rocque - Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboard
Chris Estes - Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboard
John Luke Hébert - Drums
Herm Simonsen - Guitar
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