The Eye (King Diamond album)

Infobox Album | Name = The Eye
Type = studio
Artist = King Diamond


Released = 1990
Recorded =
Genre = Heavy metal
Black metal
Length = 43:53
Label = Roadrunner Records
Producer = King Diamond
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kwtqoatabijb link]
Last album = "Conspiracy"
(1988)
This album = "The Eye"
(1990)
Next album = ""
(1991)

"The Eye" is a concept album by King Diamond released in 1990. It continues to feature a major storyline such as other King Diamond albums, though it is told differently. It is the only King Diamond album to utilize drum programming.

Earlier concept albums

His past three concept albums have been told from the perspective of the protagonists with this one being told from the view of a narrator. The themes of Christian with the persecution of alleged witches and sexual abuse against nuns are present. The story is almost entirely historically accurate, including the names of the actual characters (Except for the storyline about the "Eye necklace" which is fiction ). The story starts off with an unnamed character finding a necklace called The Eye that allows her to see the events the necklace was witness for in the past. She sees a witch named Jeanne Dibasson being tortured and burned, then witnesses the corruption, sexual abuse, rape and imprisonment of Madeleine Bavent.

The main parts of the stories told on this album are true, and took place during the French Inquisition, 1450-1670. All of the following characters are real and from that period of time:
# Nicholas de la Reymie: Head investigator of the Christian Burning Court (Chambre Ardante), in Paris, France.
# Jeanne Dibasson: Supposed witch
# Madeleine Bavent: 18 year old French nun who entered the convent at Louviers in 1625, after having been seduced by a priest. Died in 1647 in prison.
# Father Pierre David: Chaplain of the convent at Louviers till his death in 1628
# Father Mathurin Picard: Chaplain of the convent at Louviers from 1628 to his death in 1642. Among his deeds he managed to rape Madeleine Bavent. [ See also Louviers possessions.]

This marked the first King Diamond album without Mikkey Dee recording the drums. The drummer on this album is Snowy Shaw who performed on an electronic drum kit thus fueling speculation that the album was recorded with a drum machine.

Track listing

Lyrics by King Diamond. Music credits indicated as such.

#"Eye of the Witch" – 3:47 (Diamond)
#"The Trial (Chambre Ardente)" – 5:13 (Diamond)
#"Burn" – 3:42 (Diamond)
#"Two Little Girls" – 2:41 (Diamond)
#"Into the Convent" – 4:47 (LaRocque - Shaw)
#"Father Picard" – 3:19 (Blakk)
#"Behind these Walls" – 3:45 (Diamond)
#"The Meetings" – 4:31 (LaRocque)
#"Insanity" – 3:00 (LaRocque)
#"1642 Imprisonment" – 3:31 (LaRocque)
#"The Curse" – 5:42 (Diamond)

Credits

* King Diamond - Vocals, keyboards
* Andy LaRocque - Guitars
* Pete Blakk - Guitars
* Hal Patino - Bass
* Snowy Shaw - Drums
* Roberto Falcao - Keyboards