Revolver magazine (web site) reports that most album art is inspired
by the music on the disc, but KING DIAMOND inverted the process for
his yet-untitled 12th studio record, which is scheduled for a spring
release. When his band's distributor in Denmark stumbled across a
painting called "My Mother's Eyes" while surfing the Net, he e-mail it
to the MERCYFUL FATE frontman and prolific solo artist, who
immediately bought it for his next CD cover. The more Diamond looked
at the image of a battered blond girl with blood covering her white
dress, holding out palms affixed with protruding eyeballs, the more it
captivated and inspired him. "I can feel the energy of the front cover
in all the songs we wrote, and it will definitely affect my lyrics,"
he promises.

Diamond wrote the song from December 2005 through this past February,
then recorded the basic tracks in his basement. Now all that's left to
add are the vocals, which he will complete in the upcoming weeks.

"It classes over anything I've ever done," Diamond beams. "The
arrangements are more intricate, the production is better, and for the
parts where there are violins, it sounds like we hired the Royal
Philharmonic. As long as I don't fuck up the vocals, this should be
our best record."

KING DIAMOND's follow-up to 2003's "The Puppet Master" will contain 13
tracks (including an intro), five of which were written by the band's
guitarist, Andy La Rocque.

KING DIAMOND last year completed a U.S. tour with NILE, BEHEMOTH and
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER. A live CD, "Deadly Lullabyes Live", was
issued in 2004.

KING DIAMOND current lineup:

King Diamond - Vocals
Andy La Rocque - Guitar
Mike Wead - Guitar
Hal Patino - Bass
Matt Thompson - Drums

Sta Heavy!
Phil