Tag Archives: matt thompson

Watching King Diamond’s “Songs For The Dead Live” @ Saint Vitus Bar (2/6/2019)

king diamond logo

Last night, Metal Blade Records and Metal Injection hosted a screening party at the famed Saint Vitus Bar where those in attendance would be able to enjoy the brand-new King Diamond video release “Songs For The Dead Live”. The event was open to the general public and featured plenty of fans and assorted press and media entities.

posters, king diamond, king diamond posters, metal blade records artists

After some quick welcomes by Injection’s Frank Godla, the attendees got to meet Denise Korycki who shot, directed and produced the live release. This must have been some undertaking because the King show is not just him standing in front of you, and instead he is everywhere on this elaborate and very visual setting. Denise lined out a few of the details about such an effort and she was joined by “Abigail” herself. When she is offstage she goes by Jodi Cachia. Saint Vitus Bar is pretty dark and I just snapped this shot with my mobile to have a moment of them talking to the audience.
Continue reading Watching King Diamond’s “Songs For The Dead Live” @ Saint Vitus Bar (2/6/2019)

“Sleepless Nights” (Live At The Fillmore) (Single) by King Diamond

Artist: King Diamond
Title: “Sleepless Nights” (Live At The Fillmore) (Single)
Label: Metal Blade Records
Release Date: 12/6/2018
Genre: Heavy Metal
Rating:

The mighty King Diamond sure has been keeping busy once he was given the clean bill of health by the doctors and fans worldwide were able to celebrate his return to the live stage in droves after what I think amounted to a nine-year absence from doing so. When he brought the BIG stage to our regional shows, the fans clamored for a live concert release and in early 2019 we are going to get one as The King calls us to indulge in the album and video “Songs For The Dead: Live At The Fillmore In Philadelphia”. Just the other day we got our first taste of the upcoming release with “Sleepless Nights” which originally hailed from the “Conspiracy” album. Here are some quick thoughts about the tune in this presentation.
Continue reading “Sleepless Nights” (Live At The Fillmore) (Single) by King Diamond

“The Puppet Master” by King Diamond

Artist: King Diamond
Title: “The Puppet Master”
Label: Metal Blade Records
Release Date: 10/21/2003
Genre: Heavy Metal
Rating: 8/10

It only took me a couple of listens to King Diamond’s “The Puppet Master” to convince me of his being the Stephen King of Heavy Metal music. King is not only fearsome in his appearance but also with the stories he weaves from deep within his dark mind. For years he has given us tales of horror and villainy and with “The Puppet Master” we find him telling perhaps the scariest tale of them all. To sum up the story this time around King sings to us about an insidious Puppeteer who along with his wife uses real people as puppets to entertain audiences and make their money. King is the central character in this “play” that falls prey to the evil couple. One surely needs to read the lyric book along with this piece for it is very well thought out and delivered from beginning to end. Joining the King as his lineup for the recording are Mike Wead (Guitar), Matt Thompson (drums), Hal Patino (bass), and Andy LaRoque (guitar). Livia Zita joins in on background vocals and she adds a wonderful aspect to the music. I feel this is the strongest lineup that he has assembled in many years and this is also the second full recording that this same lineup has worked on.
Continue reading “The Puppet Master” by King Diamond