Abigail (album)

Infobox Album | Name = Abigail
Type = studio
Artist = King Diamond


Released = June 1987
Recorded = Sound Track Studio, Copenhagen, December 1986 to February 1987
Genre = Heavy metal
Black metal
Length = 40:16
Label = Roadrunner Records
Producer = King Diamond
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:lecibks96akx link]
Last album = "Fatal Portrait"
(1986)
This album = "Abigail"
(1987)
Next album = "Them"
(1988)

"Abigail" is the second King Diamond album and their first concept album. It was released in 1987 on Roadrunner Records. There were several re-releases, first in 1997 with 3 bonus tracks, and then a 25th Anniversary edition in 2005 with a bonus DVD.

Plot

"Abigail" tells the story about a young couple, Miriam Natias and Jonathan La'Fey, who move into an old mansion that La'Fey inherited. It takes place in the summer of 1845. At their arrival they are warned by seven horsemen not to move into the house because if they do "18 will become 9." They do not heed the warning and proceed to move into the mansion. During their first night, Jonathan meets with Count La'Fey, the Family Ghost, who is a deceased relative. The ghost shows him a casket in which a corpse of a stillborn child, Abigail, rests. The ghost informs him that Miriam is carrying the spirit of Abigail and that the child will soon be reborn. He asks Jonathan to kill his wife to prevent the rebirth. In the meantime, the story unfolds of what happened to the Count and his wife; she gave birth to Abigail on 7 July 1777. The Count had thrown her down the stairs, causing her neck to break as well as the death of Abigail, who was an illegitimate daughter. The next day, Miriam is clearly pregnant and the fetus develops quickly. Jonathan contemplates throwing her down the stairs, encouraged seemingly by his wife. However, Miriam throws him down the stairs and gives birth to Abigail. But Miriam does not survive the birth, and Abigail is left alone. At that moment the seven horsemen arrive again, planning to destroy Abigail once more.

Track listing

All lyrics written by King Diamond. Music written by King Diamond, except where noted.
#"Funeral" – 1:29
#"Arrival" – 5:26
#"A Mansion in Darkness" (LaRocque, Diamond) – 4:33
#"The Family Ghost" – 4:05
#"The 7th Day of July 1777" (LaRocque, Diamond) – 4:51
#"Omens" – 3:56
#"The Possession" (Denner - Diamond) – 3:25
#"Abigail" – 4:52
#"Black Horsemen" – 7:39

Remastered Version Bonus Tracks

#

"Shrine" (1997 remastered edition) (LaRocque - Diamond) – 4:20
#"A Mansion in Darkness" (Rough mix) – 4:35
#"The Family Ghost" (Rough mix) – 4:09
#"The Possession" (Rough mix) – 3:28

25th Anniversary edition DVD track listing

Live In Gothenberg, Sweden, 1987

#"Funeral"
#"Arrival"
#"Come To The Sabbath"
#"The Portrait"
#"The Family Ghost"
#"The 7th day of July 1777"
#"Halloween"

Music Videos

#"The Family Ghost"
#"Welcome Home"
#"Sleepless Nights"

Album Personnel

* King Diamond - vocals, producer
* Andy LaRocque - guitar
* Michael Denner - guitar, assistant producer
* Timi Hansen - bass guitar
* Mikkey Dee - drums, assistant producer
* Roberto Falcao - engineer, keyboards

DVD Personnel

* King Diamond - all vocals
* Andy LaRocque - guitars
* Michael Moon - guitars
* Timi Hansen - bass
* Mikkey Dee - drums

External links

* " [http://www.covenworldwide.org/abigail.php Abigail on Coven Worldwide] "
* " [http://thedarknesscoven.homestead.com/thefamilytreepart1.html The Story of Abigail] "
* " [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000H49 Abigail on Amazon.com] "