My esteemed colleague Jack Traveller and I are currently in the process of nailing together a more focussed preview article for this year’s Hellfest, in which we’ll be feverishly trying to convince you all of the merits of some of the other bands on the bill and talking about some of the other things that will be happening, but last night’s announcement that King Diamond would be joining the lineup warrants somewhat of a more in-depth appraisal…
I’m going to go ahead and assume that you all know OF The King – he’s been a huge part of the metal landscape for thirty years, both with his eponymous band and previously the almighty Mercyful Fate, after all. He and members of his bands have worked with some of the biggest names in all areas of hard rock and metal – lead guitarist Andy LaRocque played on Death‘s Individual Thought Patterns and contributed solos to At The Gates, Melechesh and Witchery among others, as well as being a prolific producer in his own right, whilst Mikkey Dee replaced Philthy ‘Animal’ Taylor on the Motörhead drum throne back in 1992 and has been there ever since. Other King alumni of note include Glen Drover (Megadeth, Testament), Snowy Shaw (Therion, Dream Evil, Dimmu Borgir), and Sharlee D’Angelo (Witchery, Spiritual Beggars, Arch Enemy, Dismember) and Mike Wead (Candlemass, Memento Mori). So, yeah, purely on a musical basis, King Diamond is a pretty big deal.
That’s quite apart from the list of bands that quote Mercyful Fate and King Diamond as an influence, of course – Metallica, most famously, but bands like Megadeth, Pantera and Slayer also claim him as pivotal, and his impact on the then-nascent black metal scene can’t be overstated with bands like Cradle Of Filth, Dimmu Borgir et al drawing from his theatricality (if not his somewhat unique vocal style!). I’d be surprised if The King didn’t appear with another band or have a stream of high-profile guests at Hellfest, such is the huge support for him in the metal community at large – and, quite frankly, what self-respecting metal band WOULDN’T want King Diamond singing with them, at least once? Look, just watch this video for ‘The Family Ghost’ from the Abigail album and commence getting as excited as I am for this momentous occasion…
Hellfest Website: http://www.hellfest.fr
King Diamond Online: http://www.covenworldwide.org/
Source : www.hellfest.fr