Search - King Diamond :: Black Rose: 20 Years Ago-Night of Rehearsal

Prog Shock from the King

Crypt | Arkham | 01/10/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In the late 70's there appeared a totally bizarre and depraved shock rock band in Denmark. Their frontman was none other than present day Metal icon King Diamond. What this disk contains is what it says. Over an hour of rehearsal time laid down on tape and surprisingly clear and professional sounding. Nothing is edited out here, so you get to hear all the between song antics within the studio. (some of which are pretty funny) Also you'll hear the band mess up and start over. The actual songs themselves are played excellently with hardly any mistakes.
If you like Merciful Fate and King Diamond but have never heard of the King's first band, you may be a bit surprised. The band's style lies somewhere between 70's style Prog rock and Heavy Metal. I hear elements of Early Judas Priest, Kiss, Alice Cooper, Early Genesis, Kansas, Yes, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and Black Sabbath. King's voice hadn't developed into the psychotic animal we know and love today. He sounded more like a a hybrid of Alice Cooper and early Rob Halford.
Also the lyrics, while dark, twisted and quite morbid (try Kill For Fun, or I Need Blood), they didn't touch on satanic themes at all. In the liner notes King talks about some of their on stage theatrics, including pig's eyes, blood, and entrails; stabbing baby dolls, setting off bombs, and other disgusting and loony things. So if you like shock rock, prog, or are a major King Diamond fan, check out Black Rose. You'll be enlightened for sure."

Deep Purple with King Diamond Style Organ-Playing

J.J. Kilroy | Dallas, TX USA | 03/03/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great raw raw recording of a practice session for King's first band in 1980. Expertly remastered to hi-fi! The musicians are very good, and the music is great. Just what I thought it would be. The baroque-esque organ really makes the transition from this band's Deep Purple influences to King Diamond's style.
King's vocals are undeveloped at this point, rarely using his falsetto. Based on musicality, he was probably the weak-link in the band, but that makes the album even more authentic. Great guitar-work.
Great original songs, very catchy. Difficult to make out the lyrics, through heavy Dannish accents, some songs might be in Dannish, so only 4 stars.
Lots of goofing around, and the sound of beer bottles being opened during the songs makes for an environmental listen.
They cover "Radar Love" by Golden Earing, and it sounds pretty sweet!"

"Why don't you kill yourself......."

Huntsmæñus | New Orleans, La | 05/11/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What a surprising release! I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, so if you're a King Diamond buff, you will certainly find something to enjoy. "Black Rose" certainly has many influences, such as the already mentioned Deep Purple, Uriah Deep, Kansas, plus The Doors, Yes, Generation X & the Sex Pistols. It's unlike anything King has ever sung. The recording, is of course, only a rehearsal session, but with the equipment that was provived at the time, it holds up remarkably well. The vocals could have been mixed a little better, but it doesn't distract you from the enjoyment, not many high octaves , either. Love that organ, it certainly gives it a sort of "shagadelic" feel. The band also has an early euro-thrash feel to it, not really heavy or overpowering, but it does sneak in every now and then. A wonderful surprise for Diamond nuts, surely not for fans who just happen to discover the King."