This is a great return! After eleven years of absence from the discography, King Diamond reminds us of his presence in the most emphatic way. “Songs For The Dead – Live” presents King Diamond of our days in two live shows, one on June 17, 2016 at the Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium and the other on November 25, 2015 in Philadelphia, USA.
In the album we have two identical sets but also two exactly the same performances with every difference that a big festival of many thousands of people with a closed venue like Fillmore, may have. The set is the best could anyone ask, consisting of the best moments of both King Diamond and Mercyful Fate. The setting is really fascinating, both with the scene that has been set on the stage and with the presence of King Diamond and his collaborators, including the actors. King Diamond is in a perfect condition with his well-known, deep-down from Hades voice, in combination with his stunning presence on stage, and the one of Andy LaRocque, his almost permanent guitarist, over the years.
It is an adequate performance in which everyone would like to be present, an appearance that gives the impression that the 62-year old Danish has still a lot to give and makes you wait for his next step. As for the camera shots they are decent enough, on a blue background and some of them are from a camera on the back of the stage with the audience as a background.
I add on the setlist in order to motivate you to buy the album as there is no way to regret it at any moment: Out Of The Asylum, Welcome Home, Sleepless Nights, Halloween, Eye Of The Witch, Melissa, Come To The Sabbath, Them, Funeral, Arrival, The Mansion In Darkness, The Family Ghost, The 7th Day Of July 1777, Omens , The Possession, Abigail, Black Horsemen, Insanity
