King Diamond has been talking about a new solo album called The Institute (his first since 2007) and a new Mercyful Fate album (their first since 1999) for years now, and we just finally got a new King Diamond song, following 2019’s “Masquerade of Madness.” “Spider Lilly,” which he’s been playing on tour since October, sounds like classic King Diamond and finds the King’s operatic falsetto sounding as great as ever. A press release says it’s from King Diamond’s forthcoming Horror Trilogy, of which part one is titled Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920. (It’s not 100% clear if ‘The Institute’ is the title of the entire trilogy, or part of it, etc, but maybe we’ll learn more soon.)
The album is set at a fictional, haunted hospital called Saint Lucifer’s Hospital, and the video for “Spider Lilly” was filmed at Pennhurst State School and Hospital, the infamous psychiatric hospital that closed in 1987 after years of patient abuse and other controversies. The video features King Diamond and his current live band, including live guest vocalist Myrkur, who also appears on this song. Arthur Rizk mixed/mastered, and the video was directed by David Brodsky. Check it out below.
King Diamond has also been playing another new song called “Electro Therapy” on tour this year. Maybe we’ll hear an official recording of that one soon too.