Andy Larocque out, Gus G in

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

Gus is probably capable of playing Andy's parts...But he's certainly not capable of writing them.

BAM. Gus couldn't even replace Overweight Drunk Biker (Notorious ODB) Era Zakk!

He's a totally competent professional guitarist, but not a legend tier artist or songwriter. WTF King?

It's time to crank Fate back up anyway!

 

[nightlight]

Money always has a part to play in these kinds of splits. King must have figured a hired gun would cost less than having a founding member on board.

I'd love to hear the album, even if LaRocque isn't on there. To me at least, King Diamond > LaRocque's new project. And for a good reason.

 

[johnny q]

I think Andy got tired of being told year after year the "new album was coming soon" and bolted. Honestly, the new Lex Legion album is so good, I doubt King will top it with whatever he puts together. Gus G is awesome, but he is a bit of a band jumper frankly. Now he is a Greek Satanist

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

Money always has a part to play in these kinds of splits. King must have figured a hired gun would cost less than having a founding member on board.

I'd love to hear the album, even if LaRocque isn't on there. To me at least, King Diamond > LaRocque's new project. And for a good reason.

I don't think it's about money, I think for whatever reason, King doesn't want to move forward with a new album and ultimately, can't blame Andy if he got tired of waiting. No doubt King wants to feel sure it is up to the standard of his legacy, and amazingly, he still has the full glory days voice to make it epic. How many singers with such a style can still pull it off today like they did in the '80s? I hope he releases a few more albums while there's still time, there will be no replacement for King/Fate....

 

[nightlight]

I don't think it's about money, I think for whatever reason, King doesn't want to move forward with a new album and ultimately, can't blame Andy if he got tired of waiting. No doubt King wants to feel sure it is up to the standard of his legacy, and amazingly, he still has the full glory days voice to make it epic. How many singers with such a style can still pull it off today like they did in the '80s? I hope he releases a few more albums while there's still time, there will be no replacement for King/Fate....

I saw on social media that Gus G will be writing new music for King Diamond, so it's clear that he wants to create new material.

 

[Exo-metal]

It's a business and Andy pissed off his longtime partner obviously. Can Gus really fill his shoes, maybe but replace him entirely, no way and I'm sure he knows that. Gus is incredible and we all should wish him the best. I do...

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

It's a business and Andy pissed off his longtime partner obviously. Can Gus really fill his shoes, maybe but replace him entirely, no way and I'm sure he knows that. Gus is incredible and we all should wish him the best. I do...

King apparently plays guitar at a basic level, enough to help with song structures/riffs, and of course he is heavily involved throughout the writing process, but he is losing something for sure without Andy. I hope he still nails it!

 

[thegame]

Hmmm, King had a falling out with Micheal Denner from MF some time ago. He and Hank Shermann (also MF) did a project together outside of MF called Denner/Shermann. Apparently Shermann is still in MF and ok in King’s book but not Denner. Anyway, I don’t know where the issue lies there but this LaRocque spilt makes me think of the Denner/KD situation for some reason.

 

[WizardAmpIphoneClip]

Bros check the writing credits King has always written most of the music

 

[napalmdeath]

Let's be real.. The last 2 King Diamond albums were lame. I'm a diehard King Diamond fan, and mostly because of Andy, Pete Blakk, and even Mike Wead's playing. The production got weak, the guitar tones got weak and much less aggressive, and I wasn't holding my breath for anything groundbreaking to come out. At least he gets a younger guy who's pretty polished as a lead player, and maybe have a more aggressive edge to it since Andy won't likely mix it.

And for Lex Legion, I love Andy, and Pete. But this album was mediocre at best. Nils is a great singer, Mikkey sounded great, but the solos were messy, and sounded rushed. It has some moments, but mostly disappointing. Andy's 63, and he's definitely declined, IMO. Alot of noodling and unstructured solos on it. Were they rushed, or is it father time? Whatever the case, I wasn't impressed.

 

[reignman454]

Kind of odd so late in King's career.
I guess Andy forming that band full of ex King Diamond people did it
Still, half of King's career now has been album- less. At least I got to see them many times back to the 90's.
Never heard Gus G, who knows maybe the album will see the light of day

Talk about a horrible turn of events... Gus G... lol...

 

[Metalhex]

The last KD album I can enjoy as a whole is A Spiders Lullabye, and a few tracks on Voodoo.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

The last KD album I can enjoy as a whole is A Spiders Lullabye, and a few tracks on Voodoo.

I feel like Abigail 2 kicks ass on quite a few tunes but for me it is after Puppet Master that there is a decline.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Let's be real.. The last 2 King Diamond albums were lame. I'm a diehard King Diamond fan, and mostly because of Andy, Pete Blakk, and even Mike Wead's playing. The production got weak, the guitar tones got weak and much less aggressive, and I wasn't holding my breath for anything groundbreaking to come out. At least he gets a younger guy who's pretty polished as a lead player, and maybe have a more aggressive edge to it since Andy won't likely mix it.

And for Lex Legion, I love Andy, and Pete. But this album was mediocre at best. Nils is a great singer, Mikkey sounded great, but the solos were messy, and sounded rushed. It has some moments, but mostly disappointing. Andy's 63, and he's definitely declined, IMO. Alot of noodling and unstructured solos on it. Were they rushed, or is it father time? Whatever the case, I wasn't impressed.

I agree on Lex legion. Some of the lead work was great, the rest seems like quick filler. Didn't really tell me a story like it usually does. Some of the songs are good, others are mediocre as you said. Didn't blow me away and I think they could have spent more time on it and improved it.