"I have to admit I was rather reluctant to purchase this re-release of Abigail. I already had the LP and the first CD issue. I missed out on the Remastered ones and the double sets Roadrunner has released. But the inclusion of a bonus DVD got the better of my control. But I'm glad I got it. First, the CD sounds great, it doesn't sound like there was any tampering done to the original recordings. Second, the booklet that was included is chock-filled with quotes from the bandmembers from 1987, relating their memories of all aspects of Abigail. And third, I didn't have those rehearsal tracks, nor had I heard them before. I was expecting a little more for King Diamond/Mercyful Fate's first "official musical" release on DVD. But, getting a peep off a bootleg tape from the Abigail tour in Sweden, 1987, is better than I expected. King's vocals are much better here than the Abigail Live release('91, '92?). Plus, having all three of the band's videos is a great addition, too. More than just a re-release."
KING-SIZED BLAST FROM THE PAST
Kevin Dobbs "dragonboots" | Perth Western Australia | 11/08/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Whilst many debate which is the better seller or indeed better album between 'Abigail' and 'Them' you really can't deduct any stars because this is such a nice package and an essential buy for any King Diamond fan. You get the remastered version of the epic saga 'Abigail' which is clear as a bell, (a church bell at midnight)and in fantastic packaging. There is an enclosed booklet that takes various comments from the band that made this classic release come to life way back then, and their memories of each other's contributions. The other thing that makes this worth the dollars is the DVD. Despite being of pirate quality which adds to the underground feel of the eighties before MTV and the like, it is a great collection of songs live in Europe on the Abigail tour. If that is not enough then the official videos for 'The Family Ghost', 'Sleepless Nights' which is fantastic and 'Welcome Home' certainly will please.The only odd thing is how hairband King's band looks around him, somewhat out of step for the kind of music and atmosphere being portrayed. Don't delay in buying this whilst you can and lets hope there is more live video footage sitting in the vaults."
Abigail!
R. Lord | Salem Ma | 09/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This cd is just amazing by itself, but now it comes with a dvd! A live performance from Gothenburg Sweden 1987 is included, plus... the music videos for "The Family Ghost", "Welcome Home", and "Sleepless Nights".
The dvd quality is not the best, but it's still worth a watch, if your a king diamond fan.
Everyone should go out and get this one!"
A Bulky Package That Supplies You With Many Insights
Endless Karma | 12/07/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The King Diamond Band started around the time I was actually born, and it took to about the age of 18 for me to actually discover them. At first I was a little offset on King's vocal style, but have grown to accept and admire his work. With 55 bucks in my pocket and nothing to do, I headed for the music store in search of this album. What I found was Abigail, Them/Conspiracy 2 pack and Puppet Master. I bought all of them without hesitation, left with only 1 dollar to my name. I've heard many songs from the album over the past year, and had them in my computer, but I needed the whole thing to truly appreciate. The price of this package(20 bucks) is highly fair, considering the fact that there is so much included. There are the standard 9 songs of the album, several bonus tracks that include rough mixes, a live video with 7 songs, and three official music videos. The quality of the music tracks are very 1980's feeling-King explains that he wants to keep the original feel of the album without altering the sound in any way whatsoever. It's a breath of fresh air since most classic albums(especially Megadeth) have been changed dramitically. This shows the unwavering demeanor of the King, something that demands respect for. The whole album is melodic yet heavy, and it has some very beautiful guitar solos. The live concert footage is very amateur and low-quality, but it's worth watching. The music videos for "Welcome Home", "Family Ghost" and "Sleepless Nights" is a cool addition, hell, I didn't even know that King Diamond ever had any music videos. The booklet contains many facts about the era, what it was like, and plenty of photos. All in all, as a big time King fan, I would recommend this album to anybody. It's a groundbreaking record from a truly unique artist and his very talented compatriots.