Abigail

Artist: King Diamond
Label: Roadrunner Records
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio Cassette

UPC: 016861962241
EAN: 0016861962241
ASIN: B000000H8K

Release Date: 1991-07-01

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Tracks:

Funeral
Arrival
Mansion in Darkness
Family Ghost
7th Day of July 1777
Omens
Possession
Abigail
Black Horsemen
Shrine [*]
Mansion in Darkness [Rough Mix][*]
Family Ghost [Rough Mix][*]
Possession [Rough Mix][*]

Similar Items:

"Them"
Don't Break the Oath
Abigail II: The Revenge
Melissa
Fatal Portrait

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic second solo album from King Diamond........2007-03-08

Abigail is one of the most significant heavy metal albums of the 80's, even though its not as recognised as Mercyful Fate which was King Diamond's previous band it is still considered to be King Diamond's solo masterpiece. King Diamond's theatrical and over the top image is what helps create a dark theme to this album which tells a story of possession and demonic rebirth his high pitched wailing voice sounds like an evil spirit or something. This album is about Abigail Lafey who is this woman thats supposed to enter a haunted mansion, she then gets possessed and then has an exorcism which I thought was a very interesting concept. The song Funeral starts of with a strange atmospheric synthesizer sound which then continues the rest of the dark theme in the album with the song Arrival which is a heavy/thrash metal song, this song is a great start to the album as both lead guitarists Micheal Denner and Andy La Rocque create some great and swirling guitar riffs, there is also some excellent solos during the next song A mansion in darkness and The family ghost which is the most famous song on this album and also has an amusing music video. The following song The 7th day of july 1777 has some nice and haunting acoustics along with some sound effects, this song is pretty obvious when you hear it you will realise that it influenced bands like Opeth and In Flames with the gothic melodic death music scene. Then you have the two head banging tracks like The possession and the last epic track Black Horsemen and then the album closes of with the bonus track Shrine and a bunch of demo tracks which isn't really anything special since they sound the same as the originals. Anyway this album is very essential to all fans of heavy metal and you need to add this great second album to your collection.

Brilliant and Beautiful are all I have to say.......2007-02-20

This is King Diamond's second solo album "Abigail" which was released in 1987. This was my first KD album I ever bought, and it's my all time favorite album of his. Of course I also own "Fatal Portrait", "Them", "Conspiracy", and "The Puppet Master" which are all great albums, but like I said, "Abigail" is my all time favorite King Diamond album. This is also an incredible and brilliant concept album which tells a great horror story as well. The lyrics on here are just wonderfully written, and of course the musicianship is just incredibly off the hook. Michael Denner (who played in King's other band Mercyful Fate) and Andy La Rocque are just a wonderful duo on the guitars. These guys unleash a neverending barrage of angry shredding riffs and beautiful blazing dueling leads and solos throughout. Timi Hansen has great bass lines that you can HEAR. Mikkey Dee's drumming is just rock solid, fast, and just flat out unstopple. And of course topping all of that are the ever so incredible soaring vocals of the one and only King Diamond himself.

The Story -

The album begins in the 18th Century in which the body of baby Abigail La'Fey who was born dead on the 7th day of July 1777 is buried and put to rest in gruesome fashion: seven black-clad horsemen secure her to a coffin with seven spikes, including one through her mouth so that she may never rise and cause evil again. Flashing forward to the summer of 1845, the story also tells about a young couple, Miriam Natias and Jonathan La'Fey who move into a mansion that Jonathan inherited. At their arrival they are warned by seven horsemen not to move into the house because if they do "18 will become 9". They do not heed the warning and proceed to move into the mansion which is old, abandoned and dark. During their first night, Jonathan meets with Count La'Fey the Family Ghost, who is a deceased relative. The ghost shows Jonathan a casket in which the corpse of the stillborn child Abigail rests. The ghost then informs him that Miriam is carrying the spirit of Abigail and that the child will soon be reborn. He asks Jonathan to kill his wife to prevent the rebirth. In the meantime, the story unfolds of what happened to the Count and Miriam; she gave birth to Abigail on the 7th Day of July 1777. The Count had thrown her down the stairs causing her neck to break as well as the death of Abigail. The next day, Miriam is clearly pregnant and the fetus develops quickly. Jonathan contemplates throwing her down the stairs, encouraged seemingly by his wife. However Miriam throws him down the stairs killing him instantly and gives birth to Abigail. However Miriam does not survive the birth, and Abigail is left alone. At that moment the seven horsemen arrive again, planning to destroy Abigail once more and succeed.

The songs -

1. Funeral (1:29) - 4/5
2. Arrival (5:26) - 5/5
3. A Mansion in Darkness (4:33) - 5/5
4. The Family Ghost (4:05) - 5/5
5. The 7th Day of July 1777 (4:51) - 5/5
6. Omens (3:56) - 5/5
7. The Possession (3:25) - 5/5
8. Abigail (4:52) - 5/5
9. Black Horsemen (7:39) - 5/5

10. Shrine (Bonus Track) (4:23) - 4/5

Didn't feel like rating the three bonus rough mixes. They're basically the same songs from the album.

I don't normally write long reviews, but since this album is soooooo incredible, I thought I'd give it a long thought out written review. Bottom Line is this masterpiece of an album is just brilliant and beautiful in so many words. Anyways if you're a fan of King Diamond, heavy metal, or just good music in general, by all means, you must and I DO MEAN must add this classic metal album to your collection. Happy Headbanging!!
LONG LIVE KING DIAMOND!!

A classic.......2007-01-15

This is a classic album for any fan of metal. This album has a "heavy metal" style, like Trouble, for example. This is NOT speed metal or death metal. It's just normal heavy metal, but with a pleasantly evil sound. This is the sort of album where you want to listen to the entire thing, rather than just individual songs.

A Metal Masterpiece.......2006-11-14

This is the first KD album I bought, and it remains my favorite. The music in this record surpasses any other KD album, it is better than the overrated THEM and the awesome Conspiracy (which is the other KD masterpiece.) The guitar work is outstanding, especially Andy LaRocque's, the drums are fast and furious, the bass is solid and the King's vocals are truly unique....no other metal frontman has as much versatility as this guy. Gotta love that falsetto!

The story is pretty damn scary, it is even scarier if you listen to the album at night, no lights on and with headphones, so you don't miss any of the sound effects.

Now, the songs:
Funeral: A creepy little intro, featuring King doing some scary voices.

Arrival: A fast opener, with great riffs 10/10

A Mansion in Darkness: one of the greatest songs in the KD catalogue, with a great chorus and guitar work. 10/10

The family Ghost: I won't even mention the riff, because every riff in this album rocks!! They are all memorable. this song is perhaps KD's best vocals in the album. 10/10

The 7th day of July 1,777: long title right? The weakest song in the album, but by no means bad!! Has a great acoustic intro 9/10

Omens: a complex song with the best riff in my opinion... outstanding 10/10

The Possesion: the story really gets going, preparing us for the big finale. A great song. 10/10

Abigail: I don't even know what to say.... another awesome song 10/10

Black Horsemen: The album's epic, has a great acoustic intro and the best solo of the album... magnificent closer 10/10

The bonus track Shrine is also very solid, a 9/10
Get this album whenever you have the chance, you'll be hooked on King diamond! You won't be dissapointed, I guarantee it.

Beautiful album by an underappreciated band.......2006-08-21

King Diamond is undoubtedly one of the most talented yet underrated bands to ever come out of Europe. Granted, KD himself is a very bizarre character, but if you can look over his outlandish imagery and often eye-brow raising lyrics, you will discover a band with a wealth of talent. This is the kind of metal that puts come and go movements like glam, grunge and nu-metal to shame. All of KD's album have top-notch musicianship and production, but I think it's the songwriting itself on Abigail that makes it a standout for most fans. It's also no secret that Andy LaRocque is probably the most underatted European guitarist of all time. This guy is just the epitome of a Malmsteen-like, neo-classical shredder; just listen to his wonderful solo at the end of "Black Horsemen."

As said before, all of KD's work is good, but if your a beginner, then start right here with Abigail. Then check out "Them" and Conspiracy.

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