Black Metal History Month- Diamond in the Rough, King Diamond's "Abigail"

A lot was going on when this album was released in 1987. Thrash was kicking things up big time and they had to step up their game here and get heavier to stay current which they did with profound grace on songs like "A Mansion in the Darkness" which is a ripper. This album marks King's committing albums to a full conceptual story arc. LaRocque was writing more marking a new technical sense to the arrangements, not making them complex just to be complex or getting caught up in the math, but very intricate yet organic shifts. King's singing also reaches new heights. His highs are higher and lows are more of a demonic growl. All of this and there is a more aggressive darkness that gives this album an untouchable vibe. 

"The Family Ghost" was oddly one of the singles from this album, despite the title track being the show stealer. This song is still great, there is just nothing as iconic as the song 'Abigail' though it's all far beyond what anyone else in metal could do at the time. The guitar that leads into "The 7th Day of July 1777" is stellar, this is one of the album's stronger songs. The storytelling really unfolds on this one but it never feels lyrically cumbersome. Nor does this album feel dated to me when I listen back to it. That says a lot as I bought this album when it came out 38 years ago and keep returning to it. 

"Omens" is really well written and, in some ways perhaps the most accessible song on the album as the guitar playing is more melodic than aggressive. The tense palm-muted bridge groove creates urgency. When it comes to the most underrated King Diamond songs' "the Possession" should be at the top of the list. The riffing is killer, and the vocals fit like a glove over them. The chords that are picked out leading into the solo section are just great songwriting. "Abigail" should be in the top 10 metal songs of all time. The arrangements are heading in a more progressive direction on this album and the last song is proof of that fact. In some ways, it is like Judas Priest but more nuanced guitar playing. This album is one of the rare legendary occasions where I go beyond the bounds of how I normally rate albums to give the elusive 11. It goes all the way up.

pst64