From confirmed track titles and production insights to the revelation of a newly renamed concept, “St Lucifer’s Hospital 1920”, fans are finally treated to a glimpse of what’s been brewing behind the scenes. Even more exciting, King reveals that this record will form the first part of a full concept trilogy, further testament to his boundless imagination and gift for elaborate storytelling.
When asked about how he survived through the difficult era of grunge – a time where Metal suffered and was figuratively forced back into the shadows…
“I didn’t care! I don’t want to play something that I don’t feel inside, and if I had to, I would stop”, he says adamantly. “Record labels have approached me in the past and asked me to focus on writing, “radio friendly” songs”, he says with a grin. “That’s actually what happened around the time of ‘Abigale’ (1987). Roadrunner Records, at the time, asked us for four “commercial/radio-friendly” songs and I just told them; “Yes! No problem, that’s the direction we’re going in anyway.” When they finally heard the album, they were on the phone asking; “Where are those songs?”. They eventually let it go”, he says. “Thankfully, they were happy with the album and it was released the way I wanted it. I just don’t want to deal with that kind of stuff. Don’t tell me what I should be doing! If people don’t like it, then they should just go and listen to something else. I don’t really know how we survived the ‘90s, but we did, and that’s all that matters. It was like we were on some back road to a highway, we were still moving, perhaps not as fast, but moving all the same”, he says reflectively.
When asked about his health complications back in 2010…
“Despite his unwavering commitment to heavy metal through the years, life had its own way of forcing King Diamond to slow down. In 2010, he faced a major health scare that would change everything—a triple bypass surgery that left him confronting his own mortality. For someone who had built a career around dark, otherworldly themes, this was a very real brush with the unknown. But rather than breaking him, the experience gave him a new perspective, not just on life, but on his music as well. As he reflects on that chapter, it’s clear that it shaped him in ways no stage performance ever could.”
Drawing a long breath, while deep in thought, he tells me the impact that this period had on his life, “It was certainly a wake up call and I definitely learned a lot about what the body can, and cannot handle. Honestly, I nearly died three times due to a lot of complications. I should not be here”, he says with a serious tone. Taking a moment to pause, he continues, “I was on a ventilator and woke up earlier than expected, and as a result, nearly choked to death. I couldn’t follow the rhythm of the machine-which is extremely dangerous. My wife was by my side sleeping in a chair beside me, and when she woke she saw me trying to pull the tube out of my mouth in desperation, had I done so, my lung would have collapsed“.
When asked about the long-awaited new King Diamond album…
“Well, for starters, the original name that we had picked was, “The Institute”, however that has now changed to, “St Lucifer’s Hospital 1920”, since the start of the US tour”, he says nonchalantly. “There very well may be a track on the album called, “The Institute”. We were supposed to release the album this year, and in fact, the album was supposed to be completely finished prior to the live shows, but I just want to make sure that it’s the best material I’ve ever released. Right now, we are gearing up to film the next video for the single, “Lobotomy”, which will definitely be released later this year”, he confirms.
“Other songs that are completed are an intro track called, “Under the Surface”, “The Institute”, “The Nun”, “Faceless”, and of course, “Spider Lilly”. There’s another track, which I’m not sure is going to be on the album yet, called “Deep In The Darkness 1920”. Andy has been working on at least five tracks, one of which has as monster chorus that we plan to record with a choir”, he says excitedly.
“The plan is that this album will be the first of a trilogy, and I already have all three album titles”, he confirms.
But it doesn’t stop there, King also teases brand new material from Mercyful Fate, offering details on new songs and what lies ahead for the band’s next chapter. This feature is a must-read for any self-respecting metalhead.
Elsewhere in Issue #19, you’ll find features with Ghost, Spiritworld, Black Sabbath, Manowar, Katatonia, At The Gates, Cancer, Machine Head, Epica, and more—making this one of the magazine’s heaviest editions to date.
Want a sneak peek? Check out the Instagram post below for a quick video preview of the full issue.
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Fistful of Metal is available exclusively in print at all good magazine retailers, including WH Smiths (UK), Barnes & Noble (Canada & North America), and selected independent newsagents.
Don’t miss it. The King has returned, and he has plenty to say. Order you copy here.
Oran O’Beirne
www.overdrive.ie 2025