NOVEMBER 18th, 2024
ST. LUCIFER'S HOSPITAL TOUR
Review by Metallic Barbie
Photos by Peter Ruttan
Photo Gallery: http://www.metaltitans.com/concertpics/saint-lucifers-hospital-1920-tour

Some might question the grouping of relatively new west coasters Night Demon, 1980s east thrash icons Overkill, and Danish horror metal heavies King Diamond, but in reality, they are all incredible storytellers and unwaveringly true to themselves and their brand.

For Jarvis Leatherby (bass/vocals), Armand John Anthony (guitar), and Brian Wilson (drums), this means lurking in the dredges of traditional metal soups of yore and creating their own flavour of progressive, new-wave, storied fusion now spiced with a wider grasp of the band’s direction.  Working from their title track off the 2023 release Outsider, to their namesake closer, the trio gave a performance worthy of the company they kept.

While Night Demon sang of strange realities, Overkill actually transported metalheads back in time, crushing riffs and shattering skins the entirety of the set.  While DD Verni was missed, Christian Olde Wolbers (bass), Dave Linsk (lead guitar), Derek Tailer (rhythm guitar), and Jeramie Kling (drums) destroyed instrumentally, as if they had been churning the thrash cauldron since inception.  Vocalist Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth falsettoed his way from “Scorched” (also the title track of their latest album), through years of faves like “Hello From the Gutter”, and “Ironbound”, daring the crowd to upstage their energy.  Not to disappoint the OGs or deny their roots, Overkill finished with the traditional ditty “Fuck You”, a Subhumans cover fully supported by the riled rabble. 

After a painstaking transition, the King himself finally made an appearance.  Like a painted Jack the Ripper in full support of the Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920 Tour theme, Kim Bendix Petersen (aka King Diamond) crept across the stage, lantern in hand.  Mike Wead (lead guitar), Andy LaRoque (guitar), Pontus Egberg (bass) and Matt Thompson (drums) slowly emerged from the fog, unleashing the first notes of “Arrival” after Diamond gave cause for a “Funeral”.

Set to a ghastly array of their extensive catalogue, the crowd was ushered from 1986 through to 2025, when it is rumoured King Diamond will release their long-awaited forthcoming album titled The Institute.  With costume changes worthy of a horrific Lady Gaga, and theatrics including dropping “Two Little Girls” to their death, locking away a mad lunatic, and beckoning for “The Invisible Guests”, this was an incredible spectacle for the eyes, ears, and deranged mind. Speckled with jokes from the stage in response to requests from the crowd, Diamond led a stellar cast to musical insanity, which also included soloist Myrkur (aka Amelie Bruun) assisting with vocals and keys, adding depth and fullness to the set.  The only way to fully appreciate the grandeur of the performance is to experience it firsthand.

Teasing with two songs from the anticipated 2025 release, but finishing with “Abigail”, we know how this band has commanded the horror concept metal genre with such precision: just ask the frontman himself.  “Fuck King Diamond,” he began, “I’m the doctor.”