David MoyaThe Long Wait Since 2007
King Diamond hasn’t released a full-length album since Give Me Your Soul… Please in 2007. Some of the delays in releasing new material are due to the following reasons:
Medical condition
On Monday, November 29 2010, King had to be transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance due to medical issues. After several tests were conducted and the EKG machine showed abnormalities, doctors recommended a cardiac catheterisation1. After this procedure, it was determined that King had suffered several heart attacks. Three of his heart’s arteries were found to be clogged: first one completely, the second 90%, and the third 65%.
The only solution was an open-heart triple bypass surgery. King Diamond was in a near-death situation. Recovery takes time, hence the long wait in releasing new material. Fans should remain patient and understanding.
Positive side of that negative event, is that the concept of the future albums will have substance from that terrifying experience.
Relearning to sing
He had to change his singing technique because his lung capacity had increased. He could take much deeper breaths. Something had changed internally due to the surgery and recovery process, which ultimately helped him—along with quitting smoking cold turkey.
King says it now feels better than when he recorded Abigail and Don’t Break the Oath. “The way I was singing them back then—I’m singing them stronger now.”
Birth of his son
In 2017, Livia (King’s wife) gave birth to a son named Byron. This was, of course, a very positive event.
Two New Songs, One Released
The most recent single King Diamond released was Masquerade of Sadness in November 2019. We had been expecting the full album to drop that same year, but its release was postponed to 2025. Could it finally happen this year?
During his last tour, King performed two new songs. One of them, “Spider Lilly”, has been officially released, while the other, “Electro Therapy”, has only been played live so far.
What concerns me about the way these singles are being released is how King Diamond and his band plan to build up the momentum for this new conceptual album.
It’s worth noting that the previous single, “Masquerade of Madness”, was originally intended to be part of The Institute—an album first scheduled for release in 2019. That date was later pushed to 2022, and eventually the concept was overhauled entirely. King later revealed that the project would be a trilogy instead of a two-part album.
I’m not going to compare “Spider Lilly” to Give Me Your Soul… Please, as it’s been 18 years since that album came out—and King Diamond is now 68 years old.
Sound Evolution & Vocal Choices
To give some context, I went back and listened to Masquerade of Madness, which was recorded in 2019—presumably about five years before the most recent release. The two tracks don’t sound like they were recorded during the same sessions at all; the mix and guitar placement are noticeably different.
After several listens to both songs, my conclusion is that “Spider Lilly” stands out from a songwriting perspective. It’s a more nuanced piece, showcasing a wider range of dynamics. The interesting thing is that, while it leans more toward the Puppet Master-era sound and sits more in the middle of the road in terms of composition, King’s vocals actually come across stronger on Masquerade of Madness.
His high notes in that track have a sharper, more piercing edge—reminiscent of his performances on albums like Them and Conspiracy.
Decline or Intentional Shift?
Over the span of five years, if what I’m hearing is indeed a decline in vocal power, it could just be a stylistic choice rather than a limitation. I didn’t see king Diamond live since 2006 in Barcelona where he crushed it, but I saw live videos from 2015 and he is still amazing, you can see the video below, his performance is flawless.
I also checked footage from the November 29, 2024 show — and yes, he still hits the notes in Sleepless Nights. So again, it seems more like a deliberate vocal approach than any real decline.
Final Thoughts
As for releasing three more albums—that feels a bit optimistic, especially with how unpredictable the world is right now. Let alone making it to 71 and still performing at full power. Personally, I’d rather see his legacy preserved than watch him struggle on stage like Rob Halford has at that age.
That said, I’ll hold off on making any final judgments until I hear how this new material fits within the context of a complete album.
- Cardiac catheterisation. Procedure where doctors guide a very thin tube from the leg into the heart, injecting dye into the bloodstream. A camera at the end of the tube then takes detailed images of the heart’s arteries to check for blockages. ↩︎
