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

When this album was released I did not like it as I wanted to stand up against "Abigail", so giving it a listen now to see if my expectations and the subsequent letdown were justified. The opening track kicks it a little harder than I remember. This is the first album to find Mike Wead join the fold, this album also features Matt Thompson, so it's pretty much the current band but Hal Patino rejoined them for this album on bass. It does match up close to an album like "Give Me Your Soul Please"  sonically. The production feels like it has not changed much in this era. Crazy this was 25 years ago. The chorus of "Mansion in Sorrow" is too rock n roll and the drumming contributes to this. Not as bad as I remembered, but not his best song either. I can hear that I wanted this album to be darker than it was when I first heard it. 

"Miriam" is an improvement over "Mansion in Sorrow" The riff grooves more and his voice sounds great. But I get what spurned my initial judgment of this album. I would have dialed it in with more reverb like the original album. "Little One" is more of a ballad. I can appreciate this is more melodic than the original album, the syncopation with closer to where mainstream than what is on brand for these guys aside from King's vocals. The guitar solos are totally dialed in on this album, but there is some weird Led Zeppelin-like groove on this album that is the first time I have perceived their influence on him I just do not think it should be as apparent, as what their strength has been up to this point is doing their own thing. Granted this is 10 albums into his solo career and not many metal bands who are not Iron Maiden can boast of having 9 great albums. The riff that switches the groove midway into this song is pretty killer. 

"Slippery Stairs" works better for me, as it feels more like what I expect from a King Diamond album. "the Crypt" sounds musically like more what you expect from a solo Ozzy album. Granted King's voice keeps things more in their wheelhouse. I think the vocals are pretty well produced on this album. Surprisingly this album is not as theatrical as what you might expect from a sequel. "Broken Glass" is a much better song than I remember. I bought this the day it came out, but was so disappointed I think I have listened to this album maybe twice before. Not sure what is going on with "More Than Pain" I'll just write it off as an interlude gone wrong. Things get darker for "The Wheelchair" Aside from the hint of Judas Preist in the riff it's what I want from him.

This trend continues on "Spirits" which rips pretty well. I wonder if I made it through this album, despite being more into hardcore in 2002 I think I was stilling to more Opeth and Meshuggah during this period."Mommy" closes the album and is more theatrical. It is also more deliberate in its tempo which is more of a post-"the Eye" thing for him. It works well enough for what he was going for at this phase of his career. I'll give this album a 9.5, which is not as stellar as "Abigail" but I was a harsher critic in my youth I now have the perspective to understand why this album is what it is. which is still better than what most metal bands can do in terms of songwriting, it's not the heaviest thing ever, but it tells a story in a catchy enough manner with out being too grandiose.  

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