King Diamond // Paradise Lost // Unto Others // Live Review // Camden Roundhouse // London
The first week in July is a big, busy one for heavy metal in England. Saturday the 5th will see Ozzy Osbourne play his last concert with Black Sabbath in Birmingham and on the following day, Slayer will make it rain blood in Finsbury Park. Before all of that, living legend King Diamond kicked off the month by taking his iconic live show to the Roundhouse in Camden, London.
For the first time ever in Europe, KD gold- and silver-tiered meet and greet packages were available for die-hard fans. This offered them a chance to enjoy various perks such as meeting band members for a photo opportunity, having personal items signed and a commemorative box of custom guitar plectrums.
Arriving fashionably late, Unto Others were the opening act all the way from Portland, Oregon. Known as Idle Hands until late 2020, the foursome were last in London back in February. Last year’s Never, Neverland dominated their set, ‘Butterfly’ leading the way and sending gothic flutters from the stage.
Strength’s ‘Heroin’ injected a heavy dose of metal, with its racing riffs and roaring vocals that got the crowd moving and shaking. Every body was compelled to ‘Give Me to the Night’ for one last rocking song from the Americans, resulting in a hearty round of applause as the vocalist promised, “We’ll see you next time!” Hopefully their cover of The Ramones’ ‘Pet Sematary’ will be included on the set list when they return.
A high-energy half an hour from the Oregonians.
Unto Others set list:
1. Butterfly
2. Momma Likes the Door Closed
3. Suicide Today
4. It Doesn’t Really Matter
5. Can You Hear the Rain
6. Heroin
7. When Will God’s Work Be Done
8. Give Me to the Night
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Photography by Artur Tarczewski
Review by Kira Levine
Just before eight o’clock, Paradise Lost’s keyboard intro to ‘Enchantment’ could be heard. Drummer Jeff Singer was first on stage, welcomed back to the band with enthusiastic cheers as he returned to the doom-death ensemble after a four-year absence.
Affectionately referred to as “Londonshire” by frontman Nick Holmes, people sang the lyrics word for word, clearly very fond of Draconian Times. Addressing them for the first time, he let the audience know PL is “from a Northern town called Halifax, which is about two hundred miles up the M1” and asked: “How are you doing? It’s a pleasure to be here once again!” The singer was cheered after each one of those sentences.
“Nice and cheerful” number ‘No Hope in Sight’ saw Nick alternate between clean singing and harsh growls effortlessly, even getting a little creative with a line of the final pre-chorus.
Torches from “various mobile devices” were raised for ‘Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us’, shining like stars as the slow, ballad-like song filled the venue with themes that rivalled the heaviness of the music. Aaron Andy was all smiles as usual as he delivered riffs that contrasted his sunny disposition.
Returning to their thirty-year-old record for ‘The Last Time’, the musicians took fans back in time to a period when the lads wore their hair long and “tight leather plants”. Holmes acknowledged he no longer had his lengthy tresses before announcing a killer solo by lead guitarist Greg Mackintosh that got “hearts beating”.
‘Ghosts’ off of Obsidian (2020) was the newest piece of music played by the Northerners, boasting a dramatic rhythm section intro consisting of a pulsing bass line from Steve Edmondson and suspenseful drumming from the band’s newest recruit.
Signing off with a “Hail the king!”, the death/doom pioneers took an opportunity to ‘Just Say Words’ to the metal heads before them.
A moving set from one-third of the Peaceville three that proved them worthy of being direct support. Paradise Lost will revisit London on the seventeenth of October for a headline show after the release of their upcoming album, Ascension, which is due for release in September.
Paradise Lost set list:
1. Enchantment
2. The Enemy
3. No Hope in Sight
4. Pity the Sadness
5. Faith Divides Us – Death Unites
Us
6. The Last Time
7. Ghosts
8. Embers Fire
9. Say Just Words
For more info on Paradise Lost:
http://www.paradiselost.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/paradiselostofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/officialparadiselost/
https://twitter.com/officialpl
https://www.youtube.com/user/paradiselostuk
https://paradiselostofficial.bandcamp.com
Photography by Artur Tarczewski
Review by Kira Levine
Chants of “King” and random shouts of song names could be heard as attendees impatiently waited for the headlining act to take to the stage. After the initial breakup up of Mercyful Fate, Kim Bendix Peterson formed his own metal outfit in 1985, who took on the stage moniker King Diamond, his band of the same name has twelve records under its belt.
Guitarist Mick Box was stage-side watching the show, so it made sense for Uriah Heep’s ‘The Wizard’ to play right before the set.
King stabbed a doll representing Abigail LaFey during ‘Arrival’ but not before he spoke the words of the Abigail opener. The crowd went ballistic as they witnessed the theatrical display, clearly excited for what was yet to come.
Greek musician Hel Pyre was on backing vocal and keyboard duties, having already appeared as a live singer for the band back in 2017. She replaced Myrkur who was announced as the original live backing vocalist and keyboardist for the Euro tour.
‘Halloween’ incited a mass singalong, with many air guitaring as the riffs flowed and trying to hit the high notes in the chorus as Mike Wead shredded away. It is such a fun track that got the crowd going from beginning to end.
Their latest single was brought to life as its accompanying music video reenacted, with KD as The Doctor and the Room Nine patient onstage and the multi-floored stage design featured in the short film as the band played.
The seventh song saw King ‘Welcome Home’ his grandmother and help her “out of the chair” before guitarist Andy LaRocque laid down an epic solo.
‘Sleepless Nights’ demonstrated some deft drumming from stick man Matt Thompson whose drum fills provided a strong backbone for the number that alternated between fast and slower passages.
Many roles including Grandma, Lula “dancing to the voodoo drums”, and ‘Spider Lilly’ were taken on by performance artist Jodi Cachia, who danced and pranced around the stage as King’s falsetto voice rang out.
‘Eye of the Witch’ was chosen by Hel, who fulfilled one of her contractual obligations by doing so and demonstrating her ability to growl ahead of the song.
Cachia went up in smoke for ‘Burn Her’, which left the crowd wanting more as the final hexing chapter of the main set. The sextet gave the Roundhouse an encore in the shape of ‘Abigail’, as chosen by a female front-rower. Everyone was on top form during these final moments, with Pyre’s key melodies adding an especially creepy touch.
A fantastically theatrical display from the Danish main man and the ladies and gentlemen who helped bring his world to life in London!
King Diamond set list:
The Wizard (Uriah Heep song)
Funeral
1. Arrival
2. A Mansion in Darkness
3. Halloween
4. Voodoo
“Them”
5. Spider Lilly
Two Little Girls
6. Sleepless Nights
Out From the Asylum
7. Welcome Home
8. The Invisible Guests
9. The Candle
10. Masquerade of Madness
11. Eye of the Witch
12. Burn
Encore:
13 Abigail
KING DIAMOND: EU Tour 2025
03.7 Ballenstedt, GER – Rockharz Festival
05.7 Dunaujvaros, HUN – Rockmaraton *
06.7 Vienna, AUT – Arena Wien *
08.7 Bucharest, ROM – Arenale Romane *
09.7 Sofia, BUL – Arena Sofia *
10.7 Athens, GRE – Rockwave Fest
13.7 Istanbul, TUR – Zorlu Main Stage
31.7 Bergen, NOR – Beyond The Gates
02.8 Wacken, GER – Wacken Open Air
08.8 Helsinki, FIN – Hellsinki Metal Festival
*cancelled
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Photography by Artur Tarczewski
Review by Kira Levine
