[Dajana] Friday, the 13th.
Could there be a better day to see the King (a)live? The fact that KING DIAMOND will be back on stage at all is a miracle in itself. Well, he was, all the time. Just not in Germany. The last time the King was seen live in Germany was in 2014, but he has played European festivals every year (including W:O:A). In the States, he was even on the road almost regularly. Hm.
And then there's his new album. After 17 long years, The Institute should actually be released in June and the current, rather short tour should provide the appetizer. Additionally, take this illustrious package: PARADISE LOST are supporting KING DIAMOND... It's odd, isn't it?

[BRT] Good line-up, perhaps a little on the safe side. But well, with the relatively large venues, you probably weren't quite sure how big it would end up.

[Dajana] Yeah, something seems to have changed. My (first) info was: Turbinenhalle 2 and sold out. The concert then took place in the larger :: Turbinenhalle ::, which was very pleasantly filled with 1700 fans at 33 °C outside temperature. Well, the ventilation still didn't make it...
There were also a few other confusions and errors again at this location. Unto Others didn't play in Oberhausen and ANGEL WITCH were already on stage 15 minutes before the (announced) time.

:: pics :: ANGEL WITCH ::

[BRT] :: ANGEL WITCH :: kicked-off the show and it took me almost 2 minutes to recognize the song with which they opened the evening. The sound was abysmal and Kevin Heybourne didn't really seem to hear the pitch in which he had to sing his songs. Unfortunately, this didn't improve over the course of the very short half hour.
The band played five songs, all from their 1980 debut Angel Witch, the only record on which ANGEL WITCH's fame is based, to be honest. The songs are all great in their own right, even if Kevin Heybourne was never the outstanding singer and the title anthem should really be labeled “almost dead”. An important record for me, so I'm always happy to see the Brits live.
You wanted to say “nothing can go wrong”, but the absolutely catastrophic sound thwarted your plans. Unfortunately, a common problem in the Turbinenhalle. What a pity.
[Dajana] Yes, unfortunately, you have to say. The sound and lighting were simply awful and Kevin's vocals were so mumbled that you couldn't understand anything. And after 25 minutes the spook was already over. Hm.

Band: Kevin Heybourne (vox, git), Jimmy Martin (git, vox), Will Palmer (bass), Fredrik Jansson (drums)
Setlist: Atlantis, White Witch, Sorceress, Angel Of Death, Angel Witch

:: pics :: PARADISE LOST ::

[BRT] At :: PARADISE LOST :: the sound was a lot better (although it probably depended on where you exactly stood in the hall), the band was in a surprisingly good mood, played a good cross-section of their career over the course of 45 minutes and didn't just rely on the hits from their early days.
[Dajana] However, there wasn't a single new song from the 17th album Ascension, which will be released in September, although the first single, Silence Like The Grave, has already been released.
[BRT] Greg Mackintosh and Aaron Aedy in particular were extremely lively and head-banging like crazy; only Nick Holmes seemed not to be aware that he was on stage too. At least his vocals were really good by now. A good solid gig, nothing more but also nothing less and since I've seen the Brits in completely devastating form many times before, I guess you have to be satisfied with that.
[Dajana] Yes, PARADISE LOST were unexpectedly good and that felt good. I still remember the snoozy gig at Party.San last year. The closing track, Say Just Words, was even so snappy that you could start dancing ;)

Band: Nick Holmes (vox), Greg Mackintosh (git), Aaron Aedy (git), Steve Edmondson (bass), Jeff Singer (drums)
Setlist: Enchantment, The Enemy, Pity The Sadness, No Hope In Sight, Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us, The Last Time, Ghosts, Embers Fire, Say Just Words

:: pics :: KING DIAMOND ::

[BRT] The King is back. After what felt like an eternal absence on German stages and without a current album (the last one was 17 years ago), I was quite skeptical. Is the King fit enough? Can his voice still convey the immense variability? What is there to show? And so on and so forth. But in short, all skepticism was for nothing.
[Dajana] Hahaha... yes, exactly! You shouldn't always assume the worst. Didn’t we have this topic just recently? ;)
But it was strange though that the headliner was already on stage at 9 pm... I had heard rumors that the stage set-up would take a long time and there were two trucks with stage decoration outside, but it was all nonsense...
By the way, I saw KING DIAMOND live for the first time in February 1990 on the Conspiracy tour. Here in Oberhausen, at the Blue Moon... That was a tent just around the corner of this location, wasn't it?
[BRT] I also saw KING DIAMOND live for the first time in February 1990, albeit in Bonn's Biskuithalle. The support act at the time included Savatage, who were playing here in the Turbinenhalle the next day. Funny coincidence.
:: KING DIAMOND :: were in the best of moods, the sound was right and Mr. Petersen himself was in absolutely fantastic vocal shape and loved to talk a lot. The stage show was limited to a few gimmicks for the appropriate songs, like grandma in a wheelchair, for example. However, the stage design and lighting were atmospheric, mostly in blue. In addition to a good cross-section of the albums from Fatal Portrait to Voodoo and the 2019 track Masquerade In Madness. There was also the single from the upcoming album The Institute with Spider Lily.
Of course, the songs by fan favorite Abigail got the strongest reactions from the audience. For me, Welcome Home by Them and The Eye Of The Witch by The Eye in particular gave me goosebumps. But there was something for everyone. As for me, the concert could have gone on a bit longer. So, please, come back much sooner next time, oh, and I wish for a Them/Conspiracy double special with a burning coffin.
[Dajana] Not much to add here, everything’s said. I have to say: Hats off! The King's voice was absolutely fantastic. Remember, the man is 69! I also loved the stage decoration. It all fitted together perfectly. There were different opinions about the sound afterwards. I have to say, there was absolutely nothing to complain about in the front row and at the very back. It may have been different in the middle. It's always a game of chance in this location.
Yes, that was a very nice concert evening! And now I’m looking forward to The Institute.
[BRT] Yes, an absolutely great evening with a king in top form. I'm really looking forward to The Institute. And then, please, release a new Mercyful Fate album, thanks!

Band: King Diamond (vox - Kim Bendix Petersen), Andy LaRocque (git - Anders Lars-Erik Allhage), Mike Wead (git - Per Mickael Vikström), Pontus Egberg (bass - Sven Erik Pontus Egberg), Matt Thompson (drums)
Setlist: Funeral (Intro), Arrival, A Mansion In Darkness, Halloween, Voodoo, "Them", Spider Lilly, Two Little Girls, Sleepless Nights, Out From The Asylum, Welcome Home, The Invisible Guests, The Candle, Masquerade Of Madness, Eye Of The Witch, Burn // Abigail, Insanity