The only time I've heard a proper King Diamond imitation was outside of the Burger King on O'Connell Street in Dublin. It was around midnight, and I had just come out of a movie. While walking down the street I heard the falsetto of King Diamond in the distance. Some drunk, washed up idiot was stumbling around the Burger King singing in flawless King Diamond style. I was very impressed! Of course everyone else was angry at him, but Dubliners are angry cunts 24-7, regardless.

Many have tried before to perfect this style, but for the most part, the only time I've heard really decent falsetto like the King was on King Diamond and Mercyful Fate albums (of course), for the five brief seconds we hear them on the newest Impending Doom album, and outside of that Burger King. The falsetto on this album is terrible! It sounds like someone trying to imitate a little girl! Let's ignore that though, and get on with the review.

Some of you might remember the "Sex Magick" demo, and of course Mikael is also in Night Conquers Day, Shadowcaster (yes, I know that's the worst band ever, but don't let that turn you off here), and was in Buried Beneath at one point. This is great, pure metal despite the King Diamond vocal butchery though. There's loads of modern black metal riffs, Voivod and Mercyful Fate style guitar playing, and some decent drumming bits. Mikael does everything by himself too here, so thumbs up for that - and the Fate influence translates nicely MUSICALLY.

Morals of the story: Don't try to sing like King Diamond, and there's too many people in Dublin with something stuck up their rears.

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