Heavy metal King offering Halloween weekend treat

Turning both frowns and crucifixes upside down, heavy metal’s most lovable, and beloved, satanist has returned.

King Diamond, he of the falsetto and the face paint, is touring America for first time in nearly a decade.

And the 58-year-old singer with the peerless pipes is bringing his Grand Guignol-worthy stage show with him.

A towering figure in metal, Diamond has been casting dark shadows over the genre for more than 40 years with his inimitable voice, the ongoing gothic narratives of his records, most of them concept albums, and highly theatrical concerts.

He is to heavy metal what Hammer Films is to horror: an enduring brand who symbolizes classic scares, albeit on vinyl as opposed to celluloid.

That he’s in town during Halloween weekend is an added bonus, as his repertoire is truly the sound of the season, the razor blade embedded in your candy apple.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476. Follow on Twitter @JasonBracelin.