This is album number two for King Billy after his departure from Mercyful Fate, it was released back in ’87. It is a concept album roughly about the couple Miriam and Jonathan LeFey who inherit an old mansion and are warned not to stay in it. Of course they do, and this tale is about their creepy goings on and it is quite possibly one of metal’s best concept albums.
After the weird spoken intro, the album starts properly with Arrival a kick ass metal romp with King B’s voice covering all the spectrum as he deIves into different characters. Musically, it reminds me a tad of Iron Maiden. A Mansion In The Darkness is my favourite tune as it rips along at a kick ass pace with maximum riffage to go alongside the drama with some epic guitar noodling for added sparkle. The Family Ghost is next up and the feel and riff is a bit NWOBHM with more aggression. Some eerie acoustic noodling opens up Side 1 closer The 7th Day Of July1777, before max riffage and heavy grooves courtesy of Mickey Dee on the pots and pans.
Omens opens up Side 2. I’m a sucker for a killer riff and groove to match, and this hits the spot for me. The Possession has a very simple riff and groove to open things up before the double kicks start blasting away, and the middle eight is super cool. The title track follows and I’m not sure how many personalities are occupying King Billy here, but I guess it’s a few. Some killer guitar playing from Andy La Rocque as well. The album closes out with Black Horseman, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that you had put a Styx album on the deck of doom before insanity ensues and you are brought back to reality. In its own way, it’s just as demonic sounding as early Sabbath.
A very entertaining album.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
