King Diamond guitarist Andy La Rocque has given an replace on the band’s long-awaited horror trilogy, talking with “Reckless” Rexx Ruger on the Pod Scum podcast. The primary installment, Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920, stays on observe for a possible 2026 launch — although La Rocque is cautious in regards to the timeline.
“I actually hope so. That is our aim. Now we have many of the songs. I despatched [King Diamond], I feel, eight songs, like, 4 years in the past, and we determined to make use of three of these. And we really performed one dwell from these songs,” La Rocque mentioned (through Blabbermouth)
“As quickly as he is achieved with these things — he is gotta write 5 songs, I consider, and he is acquired numerous the stuff already written down, with the lyrics and every thing. As quickly as that is recorded and organized from his aspect, we will put the fitting guitars on, the fitting drums, bass, and every thing. So I actually hope it will not take very lengthy earlier than we will proceed engaged on that. And if that is the case, we will begin recording quickly, and in the course of the summer season, then we have now an opportunity for it to be launched on the very finish of the yr.”
On how he approaches enjoying new King Diamond materials as a guitarist, La Rocque defined the distinction between writing his personal songs and contributing to King Diamond‘s.
“It relies upon. These days, King normally has a request for me to play the music the best way he would love it to be performed. So I in all probability play my songs slightly bit in a different way than his songs, as a result of I do know that, for instance, he does not like after I play the rhythms with a vibrato form of factor on the finish of a riff or no matter, as a result of that may be interacting together with his vocals that come on later,” he defined.
“However on my songs, I simply do what I really feel is true to do. I imply, if it is good for the music, it is in all probability good. And if it does not match, when he places the vocal on, I alter it. However initially, I simply write what comes out of the guts. I do not actually care what different folks take into consideration the type or no matter. I simply write my stuff, and it is form of based mostly within the ’80s. I imply, customary tuning — we do not tune down with King Diamond, so it is customary tuning, fairly simple. And melodies are tremendous important. I feel it is so vital to have melodies within the songs and create area for melodies, too, for the vocals. That is actually vital.”
La Rocque additionally broke down the band’s songwriting and recording course of intimately, in a separate interview with the Heavy Demons radio present final June.
“Just about an entire demo with a programmed drum observe and a few keyboards on and a few rhythm guitars. And I attempt to make my demos as full as potential with every thing — apart from the vocals, in fact — however generally even with some solos that we will use on the album, even, and the fitting guitar sounds, and hopefully the fitting keyboard sounds too.
“On the subject of King‘s stuff, he is slightly extra fundamental with a couple of of the issues. For instance, the guitars — he lets me re-record the guitars. After which I put solo on, after which Pontus [Egberg], the bass participant, places the bass on and all that stuff. So it is slightly bit totally different, but it surely’s fairly full anyway, from his aspect. You completely perceive what he needs with the texture and the ambiance of the music.
“And as soon as that is achieved, and we’re okay with the association and stuff, we ship that out to the opposite members within the band to allow them to begin recording. For instance, Matt [Thompson, King Diamond drummer] has his personal recording studio in Dallas, the place he lives. So when he will get the demo from us, he simply mutes the drums, places his drums on, and sends it to me so I can repair the drums and arrange a very good sound on every thing. Identical with the bass participant and in addition with Mike [Wead], the opposite guitarist — form of the identical process.
“And as soon as the drums are achieved, and we’re okay with every thing, King is doing the vocals. In order that’s about it. After which, in fact, we will go in and alter a couple of issues too. If one thing must be added or modified — a rhythm half on the guitar or solo, no matter must be modified — we will try this every time. So it is a fairly artistic process.”
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