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"Them", the third solo work by King Diamond, is undoubtedly one of the most unsettling metal works ever conceived, certainly one of the most complex and ambitious projects by him which unfolds in two parts (the sequel being "Conspiracy"), brilliant in both lyrics and music, a blend of genuine, brilliant classy heavy metal, sinister and catchy, powerful and ominous.
King Diamond, once again accompanied by faithful and always inspired Andy LaRocque and the usual steamroller Mikkey Dee, replaces Timi Hansen from the previous "Abigail" with Hal Patino on bass and Michael Denner with Pete Blakk, forming what is probably one of the most technically proficient line-ups of his solo career.
Once again darkness, mystery, and psychological dramas are the core of the chilling perhaps autobiographical plot that masterfully accompanies the melodic lines of various moments of the record, creating an inseparable unity with a powerful emotional impact and rare charm. Yet another demonstration of his skill in creating masterpieces on all fronts, both compositional and lyrical.
The protagonist of the macabre story around which Them revolves this time is King, a young boy, and the strange events that unfold following the return home of his grandmother, a wicked hag just released from an asylum for unspecified mental issues. The disturbing "Out From The Asylum" in this respect immediately creates a chilling atmosphere made even more somber by the voice of a seemingly possessed King Diamond. Of course, the grandmother's mental issues are far from healed as, once home (the seismic and thunderous "Welcome Home"), she continues to converse with dark and malevolent invisible presences that possess her, guide her, enslave her. "The Invisible Guest", in this regard, with a massive riff, a decidedly jagged groove thanks to its rhythm changes, and the usual clever blend of majestically sinister solos, is a gem of compositional balance and wisdom.
But back to the story. Every evening, to pay homage to them ("Them" being the title of the LP) Grandma prepares them tea by adding human blood, which she draws while the young King and his mother sleep. The malicious "Thea" with its venomous gait, the very intriguing refrain thanks to the falsetto, and the well-rounded central break deliver yet another metal blow to the listener. The reckless ritual must be perpetuated and cannot be stopped, thus relentlessly more innocent blood is spilled. Indeed, Missy, King’s sister, notices the horrific practice and tries to stop it. In vain. The grandmother, possessed by spirits, mercilessly kills her ("Mother’s Getting Weaker" and "Bye Bye Missy"). Luckily, King manages to escape somehow. The sacrificial practice can no longer continue ("A Broken Spell"). King then alerts the police and is taken into custody by a certain Dr. Landau, a psychologist, to whom he narrates the story. "The Accusation Chair" and the subsequent dark instrumental "Them" perfectly frame King's spectral tale and his worst nightmares, his distressing psychodrama that sinuously and inevitably takes shape.
Clearly, Landau does not believe him at all, indeed he seriously thinks King has severe mental problems and decides to commit him to an asylum (the same one where his grandmother had previously been held) where he remains for 9 years (the spectral and distressing "Twilight Symphony"). When he gets out, his brain devastated by medications and such, haunting visions of the past slowly reemerge, taking on increasingly vivid contours over time until, after another 9 years, a phone call from the grandmother he believed dead and deeply hated shocks him, almost paralyzing him. "Phone Call", with Diamond's voice chillingly mimicking the grandmother, is applause-worthy: a cold hand trailing down the spine.
In short, once again King Diamond succeeds in delivering an incredible high-level concept album, tight and without any dips in inspiration - stunning already from the cover - where he transforms all his horror nightmares into music, also thanks to the skill of Pete Blakk and LaRoque, who provide a superb performance and co-write half of the tracks on the record with the singer, and thanks to the usual effective vocal tricks, such as the deftly measured sinister whispering and croaking, now his unmistakable trademark alongside the falsetto. Yet another long journey into the sick mind of a metal songwriter blessed with undoubtedly the most vivid imagination amidst creaking doors, nervously hammered out-of-tune pianos, mysterious gusts of wind, mighty mincemeat-like rhythm sections, voices from beyond that terrorize, and solos like axes lying in wait in the dark for their next victim.
To the next nightmare!
See Ya!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Out From the Asylum (01:44)
Look, the old bitch is back - yeah, finally we'll get some company again the attic room has been locked up for far too long - just like the old bitch herself - she's on time though - why that silly wheelchair? Oh she's pretending as always - but she does make a good cup of tea.
"Oh My God she's here. Missy, listen to what Mother says: Now You be good to Grandma; and remember she's been away on a long
03 The Invisible Guests (05:04)
Late that night I awoke from My sleep
Hearing unknown voices laughing insane
Grandma' was one, Oh it's coming from the room next to mine
It's Grandma' room... the invisible guests
Guitar solo: Pete
As I stood there alone in the dark
Peeking through the keyhole, couldn't believe My eyes
I'd never seen anything like it, only
Grandma' was inside the room
Speaking to no one... the invisible guests
Cups were rising in thin air and then emptied on the floor
Suddenly the door was open and
Grandma' said
"Do come in My little friend"
Guitar solo: Pete
Missy and Mother were sleeping downstairs
If they could see me in Grandmother's chair
Guitar solo: Andy
Grandmother said "look Me deep in the eyes
You will forget what You saw here tonight"
"I will let You in on the secret of this house
The secret of Amon... that's what we call this house
Now I want you to go back to sleep,
now go back to sleep My dear"
The invisible guests
Guitar solo: Andy, Guitar solo: Pete, Guitar solo: Andy, Guitar solo: Pete
Cups were rising in thin air and then emptied on the floor
Suddenly the door was open and
Grandma' said
"Now you must go back to sleep"
"Go to sleep"... "Go to sleep"...
"Go to sleep"...
Missy and Mother were sleeping downstairs
If they could see me in Grandmother's chair
06 Bye, Bye, Missy (05:08)
Tea time Monday night, I was waiting
passing time
Then from the hallway, I saw Mother
in her nightgown
Swaying up the stairs, up the stairs, it
seemed so unreal
I knew Grandma' had sent "THEM"
again, the invisible friends
A little later in the middle of tea we
came close to ecstasy
"THEY" were telling tales from
beyond when Grandma' rose
She opened the door, and there was
Missy
Seeing Mother in Grandmother's
chair, she went into tears
Missy was screaming
"What have You done, what have you
done to My Ma"crying louder now
"We better get rid of her, She's too
young anyway", it was Grandma' who
spoke
"Bye, bye Missy, be gone forever
The beautiful fireplace in the kitchen
will do"
I saw Missy struggling in Grandma'
wrinkled hands
"Oh No, let me be, Oh No Please No
Grandma' Please
Aagh Grandma' You're hurting me.
Don't touch me or I'll break it, I've got
the tea pot, I'll do it anyway"
I saw liquid spreading, the bloody tea
all over the floor
Now I heard "THEIR" voices, some
kind of demon growls
DIE - SHE BROKE AMON - AMON - DIE
"THEY" dropped "THEIR" tea cups,
Grandma' stood still
forced by invisible hands, Missy went
down the stairs
As I waved her goodbye, Missy was
sobbing away
Will I ever see her again, Bye bye
Missy, don't be afraid
08 The Accusation Chair (04:21)
I kind of knew that she would be waiting for me in her room
With a sick smile she told me not to be a fool
Her eyes went hard, staring right into My brain
But I convinced her that I was feeling real fine
Oh, I was lying... seeing the look in her eyes
Clearing My mind was important
She believed everything I said
And then she asked me if I would help to bring her outside
Oh, I was lucky... "let us stay for a while" she said
"Bathing ourselves in the moonlight"
So there she was, unprotected by "THEM"
I grabbed her cane, and tore it out of her hand
"No way, You're not going to escape"
"Now that I've got You... here You will pay for Your deeds
Your sick mind has come to an end now"
"Stop it"
Guitar solo: Andy, Guitar solo: Pete
Nowhere to hide, Grandma' had died
Alone in the night
And "THEY" were waiting for me waiting inside
Hoping that I would come back in
But I just ran away
Into the woods, as far as I could
I saw "THEIR" eyes
And then I fainted again, going insane
Dreaming that I was one of "THEM"...
I hear "THEIR" voices all the time
10 Twilight Symphony (04:08)
Morning came and so did they, flying
questions from the police
I'm waiting here in an ambulance for
Dr. Landau
To return and tell me why they're
taking me so far away
"I did what I did and I'm glad I did,
'cos I could have been the...
I could have been the next in line"
Nobody found a trace of Missy
I'd be the last to tell them anyway
How could I ever ever explain
Now I hear "THEM" again, singing
Twilight symphony, twilight
I hear "THEM" again, singing
Twilight symphony, twilight
Grandma' was dead with an open neck
Blood still running from My open
mouth
I knew they would blame it, they
would blame it all on me
How could I ever ever explain
Now I hear "THEM" again, singing
Twilight symphony, twilight
I hear "THEM" again, singing
Twilight symphony, twilight
Dr. Landau returned, and I told him the
story
"Are You mad or just insane?"
I tried anyway
"You can take him away now, the boy
has lost his mind"
Oh no no
I haven't seen My Mother since they
took me away
And Dr. Landau wouldn't tell me
He wouldn't tell me anything
Oh I'm back on the outside
Time has caught up with me, and I
must leave for the old house
Yes I must leave now
Grandma'... I'm coming
I'm coming home now
I'm coming home now
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