The Spider's Lullabye

Last updated
The Spider's Lullabye
King Diamond - The Spider's Lullabye.jpg
Studio album by
Released6 June 1995
RecordedSeptember–October 1994
Genre Heavy metal
Length47:19
Label Metal Blade
Producer King Diamond
King Diamond chronology
A Dangerous Meeting
(1992)
The Spider's Lullabye
(1995)
The Graveyard
(1996)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

The Spider's Lullabye is the sixth studio album by Danish heavy metal band King Diamond, released on 6 June 1995. Unlike other King Diamond albums, it is not a full concept album; only half the songs form a single plot.

Contents

The album was recorded after a four-year hiatus [2] and this is the first release to feature guitarist Herb Simonsen, bassist Chris Estes and drummer Darrin Anthony. It is also the band's first release on Metal Blade Records. Guitarist Andy LaRocque said it was the most difficult King Diamond album to record because "we had a new band [and] we had a totally new environment recording in the U.S., with a totally different producer." [2]

The album was remastered by LaRocque and re-released in 2009.

Summary

The first half of the songs on this album are listed as a variety of short stories before the second half form the plot. [3]

"From the Other Side"

Tells about the protagonist's struggle with an out-of-body experience, forcing himself to come back to life before it is too late.

"Killer"

Describes a Richard Ramirez-type serial killer who is being put to death by electric chair.

"The Poltergeist"

Revolves around a ghost hunter who detects a spirit in their home. Fearing the invading ghost is evil, we are left unsure of the ghost's personality. The song ends with the ghost overcoming the hunter, who allows the ghost to "stay forever".

"Dreams"

Is about a man suffering a series of terrifying nightmares and encountering she-demons in the form of little girls who take him to what appeared to be a paradise that existed on the opposite side of waterfalls in which they were swimming in. The sleepers finds out the little girls were not what they appeared to be and screams to escape the nightmare.

"Moonlight"

Tells about a group of cursed children, similar to the 1960 movie Village of the Damned .

"Six Feet Under"

The song tells the story of a person being buried alive in a glass coffin by their family; the story is similar to the ending of Conspiracy .

"The Spider's Lullabye"

Focuses on a reclusive man named Harry who is terrified of spiders and, out of desperation, finds a doctor who can cure his arachnophobia.

"Eastmann's Cure"

Is the continuing plot of Harry answering an ad in the local newspaper about a psychiatric hospital that specializes in curing phobias of all kinds. The second character in the song Dr. Eastmann introduces himself to Harry as a kind, friendly physician who hides his true intentions.

"Room 17"

In "Room 17", a confident Harry awaits Dr. Eastmann and his assistant Nurse Needle Dear to begin his treatment and cure. The so-called "treatment" was nothing more than a torture session when Nurse Needle unleashes a wolf spider from the "Crawly Box". The next day, Harry complains of having a weird feeling on his neck, spider bites and intense pain. Dr. Eastmann dismisses Harry's comments and thinks nothing more of it. The same night, when Harry is discovered by staff, they find him long dead and covered from head to toe in a spider web-like cocoon giving evidence that a series of spiders have wrapped him up like a fly, saving his dead body for consumption. Dr. Eastmann comes to the realization that Harry had clearly died of fright (possibly from the result of a heart attack), when Harry (who is now reduced to bones and skin) is taken.

"To the Morgue"

Along with other patients who have died for reasons unknown, spiders begin making their home in his empty eye sockets.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."From the Other Side"King Diamond3:51
2."Killer"King Diamond, Andy LaRocque4:17
3."The Poltergeist"King Diamond4:29
4."Dreams"King Diamond4:39
5."Moonlight"King Diamond4:32
6."Six Feet Under"King Diamond, Andy LaRocque4:02
7."The Spider's Lullabye"King Diamond3:39
8."Eastmann's Cure"King Diamond4:32
9."Room 17"King Diamond8:17
10."To the Morgue"King Diamond, Andy LaRocque4:57

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Diamond</span> Danish musician

Kim Bendix Petersen, better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Danish rock musician. As a vocalist, he is known for his powerful and wide-ranging countertenor singing voice, in particular his far-reaching falsetto screams. He is the lead vocalist and lyricist for both Mercyful Fate and the eponymous King Diamond. He also plays keyboards and guitars on studio recordings but uses live shows to focus solely on his vocal performance. Diamond is renowned for his dark lyrical content and his story concepts. He is also known for his distinctive shock stage persona. He has been an influence for other rock and metal artists, including Metallica, Slayer and Cradle of Filth.

<i>Conspiracy</i> (King Diamond album) 1989 studio album by King Diamond

Conspiracy is the fourth studio album by Danish heavy metal band King Diamond, and the second part of a story that began on the album Them. Conspiracy was released on 21 August 1989 through Roadrunner Records, and is the last album to feature drummer Mikkey Dee who left the group but recorded the album as a session member.

<i>Voodoo</i> (King Diamond album) 1998 studio album by King Diamond

Voodoo is the eighth studio album by Danish heavy metal band King Diamond, released on 24 February 1998. It is the first album to feature drummer John Luke Hébert and the last one to feature guitarist Herb Simonsen and bassist Chris Estes. The album cover was drawn by Kristian Wåhlin.

<i>Fatal Portrait</i> 1986 studio album by King Diamond

Fatal Portrait is the debut album by Danish heavy metal band King Diamond. It was produced by Rune Hoyer and released on 14 March 1986 through Roadrunner Records. Guitarist Andy LaRocque joined the album recording sessions at the last minute, as the band's second guitarist at the time "wasn't working out" in the studio. As a result, it is the only King Diamond album which does not feature any writing credits from LaRocque. Recording a solo for "Dressed in White" functioned as his audition for joining the band. Along with The Spider's Lullabye, it is one of the band's only albums which is not a whole concept album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy LaRocque</span> Swedish guitarist and record producer

Andy LaRocque is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of the heavy metal band King Diamond since 1985.

<i>The Graveyard</i> (album) 1996 studio album by King Diamond

The Graveyard is the seventh studio album by Danish heavy metal band King Diamond, released on 1 October 1996. It was the first album by King Diamond on the Massacre Records label and the last to feature drummer Darrin Anthony. The Graveyard is one of the most successful King Diamond's albums, peaking at No. 23 in the Finnish Charts and remaining for two weeks in the Top 40.

<i>Abigail</i> (album) 1987 studio album by King Diamond

Abigail is the second album by Danish heavy metal band King Diamond, and the band's first concept album. It was released on 15 June 1987 through Roadrunner Records. There were several re-releases, first in 1997 with four bonus tracks, and then a 25th anniversary edition in 2005 with a bonus DVD. Abigail is the last album to feature guitarist Michael Denner and bassist Timi Hansen.

<i>Individual Thought Patterns</i> 1993 studio album by Death

Individual Thought Patterns is the fifth studio album by American death metal band Death, released on June 22, 1993, by Relativity Records. It is the only album by the band to feature guitarist Andy LaRocque, the first to feature drummer Gene Hoglan and the second and last to feature bassist Steve DiGiorgio. Manager Eric Greif described the album as "an angry record, angry lyrically", attributing it to his conflict with Chuck Schuldiner at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Diamond (band)</span> Danish heavy metal band

King Diamond is a Danish heavy metal band formed in 1985 by vocalist King Diamond, guitarists Andy LaRocque and Michael Denner, bassist Timi Hansen and drummer Mikkey Dee. King, Denner and Hansen had recently departed the group Mercyful Fate, and decided to form a new band under the King Diamond moniker, as it was already known from the Mercyful Fate days. Since the band's inception, there have been over fifteen musicians in and out of King Diamond, with the only two mainstays being Diamond and LaRocque. Their current lineup consists of King, LaRocque, guitarist Mike Wead, drummer Matt Thompson, and bassist Pontus Egberg.

<i>Abigail II: The Revenge</i> 2002 studio album by King Diamond

Abigail II: The Revenge is the tenth studio album by Danish heavy metal band King Diamond, released on 29 January 2002, and is plotwise a successor to the 1987 album Abigail. Abigail II: The Revenge is the first album to feature guitarist Mike Wead, drummer Matt Thompson, and the first to feature bassist Hal Patino since The Eye.

<i>In Concert 1987: Abigail</i> 1991 live album by King Diamond

In Concert 1987: Abigail is a live album by Danish heavy metal band King Diamond which was recorded in 1987, but released in 1991 through Roadrunner Records.

<i>Deadly Lullabyes</i> 2004 live album by King Diamond

Deadly Lullabyes Live is the second live album by Danish heavy metal band King Diamond, released on 21 September 2004 through Massacre Records. It was recorded during The Puppet Master promotion tour. It spans two discs. The album features only recordings from the United States part of the tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Diamond discography</span>

The discography of King Diamond, a Danish heavy metal band, consists of twelve studio releases, three live albums, five compilations, six singles, and four music videos. King Diamond was formed in 1985, after the dissolution of the group Mercyful Fate, by vocalist King Diamond, guitarists Andy LaRocque and Michael Denner, bassist Timi Hansen, and drummer Mikkey Dee. The following year, the band released their debut album Fatal Portrait on 14 March 1986 which charted at number 33 in Sweden. King Diamond's second studio album, Abigail, was released on 15 June 1987 and reached number 123 in the US, number 39 in Sweden and number 68 in the Netherlands. Following some line-up changes, the group released the album "Them" on 20 June 1988, which peaked at number 38 in Sweden, number 65 in the Netherlands, and at number 89 in the US, making "Them" King Diamond's highest-charting album in North America. The following year, the band released the follow-up album Conspiracy, which charted at number 111 in North America, number 41 in Sweden and at number 64 in the Netherlands. In 1990, after more line-up changes, King Diamond released the album The Eye, which only charted at number 179 in the US, which makes The Eye King Diamond's lowest-charting album in North America.

<i>Nightmare in the Nineties</i> 2001 compilation album by King Diamond

Nightmares in the Nineties is a compilation album by the heavy metal band King Diamond. It was released on 6 March 2001 through Massacre Records only in Germany.

<i>Collectors Item</i> (EP) 1999 EP by King Diamond

Collector's Item is an EP by the heavy metal band King Diamond. It is a collector's item shaped in a form of a head. It was released in 1999 through Massacre Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Estes</span> Musical artist

Christopher Douglas Estes is a former King Diamond bass player (1994-1999). Originally from Dodge City, Kansas, Estes moved to Denton, Texas in 1991 to attend the University of North Texas as a Jazz Studies major. During his time at UNT he met Darrin Anthony Stull and joined his unsigned Dallas band Mindstorm. During the next three years Mindstorm played the Dallas club scene and eventually caught the attention of Danish singer King Diamond, who had recently moved to the DFW area and was looking for new members for his solo act. In early 1994 three members of Mindstorm were officially asked to join King Diamond. During his tenure with King Diamond, Estes recorded three albums and took part in three tours, in addition earning writing credits on the album Voodoo. Returning to college in 1997 and attending classes between studio sessions and tour, Estes eventually earned a degree in Computer Science. In the summer of 1999, Estes received word that the studio session for House of God had been postponed. Burdened by immediate financial needs, Estes reluctantly resigned his position in King Diamond. Estes lives and works in Richardson, Texas as a computer programmer. Estes continues to write and perform music as a hobby in his free time.

Sandalinas is a Spanish/Swedish progressive metal band founded in 2001 by guitarist Jordi Sandalinas, featuring Rick Altzi on vocals. Apollo Papathanasio, ex-Firewind and Spiritual Beggars sang on the band's debut album called Living on the Edge. Their first album, Living on the Edge, was produced by Andy LaRocque and released in 2005.

<i>Give Me Your Soul...Please</i> 2007 studio album by King Diamond

Give Me Your Soul...Please is the twelfth studio album by Danish heavy metal band King Diamond, released on 26 June 2007. The album's concept and cover art are both based on a painting titled "My Mother's Eyes". The black cat featured in the album is based on King's own cat, Magic. This was the last album to feature bassist Hal Patino, who was fired from the band in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deathriders</span> Musical artist

DeathRiders is an American heavy metal band based in Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in 2001 to support lead vocalist Neil Turbin's solo album Threatcon Delta and is named after Neil's song lyric "Deathrider" which was the first song on the album 'Fistful of Metal' which Turbin wrote in his time as the lead singer of Anthrax.

References

  1. "The Spider's Lullabye - King Diamond". Allmusic.
  2. 1 2 Andy LaRocque Talks About King Diamond, Death and His Work As A Producer, archived from the original on 2021-12-12, retrieved 2021-09-07
  3. "King Diamond: The Spider's Lullabye | Metal Invader".