Andy LaRocque shares plan for recording and releasing new King Diamond album

King Diamond’s lead guitarist, Andy La Rocque, recently discussed the band’s upcoming horror trilogy with Finland’s Chaoszine, revealing details about their new album, Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920. The project encountered delays due to unexpected health issues within the group, hampering their plans to begin working on new songs right after completing their U.S. tour. La Rocque stated that despite setbacks, they are laying the groundwork for the album, particularly in terms of lyrics penned by King Diamond himself.

King Diamond has already crafted numerous lyrical ideas for the album, with a plethora of small notes scattered everywhere containing snippets of lyrics. La Rocque mentioned that the whole narrative is well-established, with several songs already in the demo stage. He highlighted that King Diamond also contributes song ideas, creating a collaborative songwriting environment between them. They discuss and provide feedback on each other’s musical contributions, refining and perfecting the songs before recording.

The guitarist also mentioned the duo’s dynamic writing process, indicating that they prefer to write music together extensively before presenting it to each other. The songs may vary in completeness, ranging from mere guitar riffs to more complex compositions that need additional elements like bass and keyboards. La Rocque stressed their mutual openness to suggestions and alterations to enhance the overall song structure and sound aesthetic.

Fans have already been treated to a preview of the album through live performances of tracks like “Electro Therapy” and “Spider Lilly.” La Rocque confirmed that these songs will be included on the album, and fans can enjoy them in a live setting. He emphasized the band’s desire to keep fans engaged by releasing new music periodically rather than waiting for a full album to materialize.

In terms of the album’s sound quality, La Rocque expressed a deliberate shift towards a more natural, less polished approach reminiscent of their early recordings. He highlighted the importance of maintaining an organic sound with minimal editing to capture the essence of their music from the ’80s. The goal is to create a more authentic and raw sound that reflects their musical roots and style.

Regarding a potential release timeline for Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920, La Rocque mentioned plans to have the album recorded before Christmas, aiming for a spring release. He acknowledged that unforeseen circumstances could arise, but the goal is to complete the recording process by the end of the year. Additionally, the band is contemplating a tour in support of the album, with possible plans for late 2025.

The recent commencement of King Diamond’s European tour at the Sweden Rock Festival marks a new chapter in their musical journey, building anticipation for the long-awaited album. Despite delays and challenges, the band remains committed to delivering an exceptional musical experience to their dedicated fan base.