This album is a classic. And if you don't have any King Diamond albums as yet, this is the one to start with.

As before, 'Conspiracy' is a theme album continuing the story from 'Them' (1988, check that one out also). It draws a lot of influences from fifties horror movies, but tells a story that could be from the pen of any modern horror writer: Missy, King's sister that died on the previous album comes to visit King from the dead, but can't stay for long. Using King's longing for his sister, "They" make him an offer. Of course the sister doesn't return and King starts to slip deeper into madness: the story continues further and has a really nice ending. I will not tell it all, but you can get a hint from the song names.

All the songs on the album are great. Even the slow acoustic ones serve their function perfectly. The moods change from beautiful summer days to the chaotic mind and anxiety of the now totally mad King. The sound is heavy metal, with so much versatility, hooks and riffs, that you might think it's bound to fall to pieces. But it doesn't. Andy La Rocque and Pete Blakk play the guitars in perfect unison, Mikkey Dee's on the drums again and Hal Patino on the bass. There are also some synths by Roberto Falcao, which work nicely. King sings well, chancing the voice, as only he can, from high pitched screaming, to "normal" pure singing to deep growling. Just amazing.

My own favorites are opening track 'At the Graves' and the beautiful 'Sleepless Nights', which both have so many tempo changes that it's hard to keep track with them, but it's amazing how well the theme flows thru the whole record. Open your mind and this album will suck you straight into the mouth of madness.

Best served in candlelight with some good whiskey (and not that shit they sell as whiskey in America).

Reviewed by Tommi
01/03/2002 12:56