Metal Music For Beginners Series - Volume IX
(The audience returns reluctantly, proceeding with extra caution, especially after the previous night with the night ending with blood raining down from the sky, seemingly by the will of the usual hooded host. As the doors close, the lights dim almost as if like clockwork, with the final group of people making their way to their seats. Suddenly, the hooded man strides onto the stage, but something is different.... a couple of things are, in fact.
For one, his hood is not over his head, allowing exposure of his head, including his face. But it is all too unclear to make out the exact details.... his face is completely covered in what appears to be face paint.... a white background, and in the foreground his face is riddled with a plethora of black crosses, from forehead to chin. Secondly, as he makes his way to center stage, the audience notices he is not alone. Beside him there strides, in the same manner he does, a little girl in seemingly older attire, perhaps a colonial-era white dress with vine-patterned trim. They both share a characteristic, long blonde hair, but hers being much brighter than his. He has his hand on her shoulder as he brings her to a halt alongside him on center stage. He no longer wears his denim vest, but rather a long, flowing, black leather trench coat. He opens his mouth to speak....)
"Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you sincerely for joining me on this crisp, beautiful autumn evening. Pay no mind to my face, I must admit I have recently decided to shake things up a bit tonight and try something new. And as for the girl beside me? Folks, I want you to meet Abigail La'Fey. She is but a girl.... however, do not underestimate what she is capable of. So long as you show no fear, she will remain calm, and you need not worry. Shall we begin?
Tonight I wish to take you on a journey. A journey that may scare some of you, and intrigue others of you. Regardless, this journey is ours, and we shall embrace it. Tonight's volume is about an album very near and dear to my heart, both in its musicianship and its lyrical content. Abigail, could you be a dear and bring me that enlarged photograph? Thank you sweetie."
(He turns the piece of photo paper around to reveal the cover of the next album in question....)
KING DIAMOND's second album and first concept album, "ABIGAIL".
In 1987, King Diamond released his heavily-anticipated second album. Fans knew to expect a masterpiece, but they never could have guessed that he was going to weave them a tale whilst entertaining them with the beautifully dark metal that they have come to know and love from him. And then came "Abigail". Telling a tragic story of the spirit of a stillborn child hellbent on being reborn through a descendant of her family, the La'Fey's, it proved to be the one King Diamond album to own for die-hard fans. It was, to many, King's crowning achievement in regard to both musical and lyrical content. There was nothing that could stop this inevitable marriage of metal and a damn good, gripping tale!
In specific, the tale speaks of Abigail's soul possessing the wife, Miriam Natias, of her descending relative, Jonathan La'Fey, in order for Miriam to conceive and give birth to Abigail's reincarnation. The entire album's lyrics follow Jonathan and Miriam's efforts to prevent this abomination from happening, to no avail. But beyond even that, the band's ability to compose metal music that would so fittingly suit Diamond's lyrics is nothing short of masterful and epic. It tells a story that you can grip to because it has the metal intensity courtesy of the bandmates, particularly in lead guitarist Andy LaRocque, within the music, bringing the grim, horrific and tragic tale within the lyrics completely to metaphorical life.
The album was a huge success for King and co., having sold over 175,000 copies in North America alone! Furthermore, in 1989, Capcom released an arcade game known as "Final Fight", featuring the boss in the 5th stage of the game as Abigail, donning a face similar to that of the recognizable face-features of King diamond's live face paint attire he wears for concerts. Additionally, in the liner notes for the album, there is a tribute to King's father, whom he claims to be "the bravest and noblest man" he has ever known. And as if that weren't enough, the music video for the track "The Family Ghost" was featured in the Beavis and Butt-head episode "Bungholio: Lord of the Harvest".
And now, without further ado and anticipation, it is my pleasure to present four tracks from the album, of which I feel were the most impacting on the album. Please enjoy as I have!
"Arrival"
"Omens"
"Abigail"
"Black Horsemen"
(As the lights finally come back up from their darkened slumber, the audience notices the little girl, Abigail, is now the only one on the stage. Without saying a word, she descends to the floor among the audience, revealing her glowing yellow eyes.... then suddenly....
BOOM!!!!
The doors to the theater burst open as seven cloaked men enter the theater and advance toward Abigail. Without a second thought, she screams a high, shrill scream that borderlines the sound of nails on the chalkboard of one's brain. They seize her, the largest of the men carrying her seemingly fragile frame over his broad shoulder. She kicks and screams the entire way out the doors as they all disappear into the darkness of night. Off in the distance, the sound of horses neighing and galloping permeate the fall night air.
Then, almost as if on cue, the hooded host returns from backstage.)
"Ladies and gentlemen, I must apologize for the interrupting nuisance. It appears as if that sweet young girl was far more trouble than first anticipated. She is being taken care of...."
(With his voice fading off into a mumble to himself, he turns and slowly exits the stage without so much as any further word to the audience, leaving them confused, dumbfounded and bewildered at the incident that just took place. They ponder about it as they all exit the theater, knowing that they likely will never fully know what happened, or why................)
P.S.: If you have found yourself behind in this series, fear not! All eight previous volumes can be found on my Steemit page! Simply click on the link below, and you can freely indulge in this series, "Metal Music For Beginners", as well as many other music- and non-music related posts! Till next time, I bid you all a good night. Stay Metal. \m/