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The heavy metal world has been waiting “for ages” for the first installment of King Diamond’s ambitious horror trilogy, and guitarist Andy La Rocque has finally provided a definitive status report. In a new interview with Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation, the legendary axeman confirmed that the band is targeting a late 2026 release for Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920. With most of the instrumental tracks completed and King Diamond currently finalizing vocals for his half of the record, the “Institute” era is officially shifting into high gear as the band prepares to record final takes this summer.

When will Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920 actually be released?

While the project has been in development for years, Andy La Rocque recently clarified the timeline, stating that the current goal is to have the album out by the very end of 2026. The delay stems largely from the meticulous nature of the songwriting; while La Rocque sent eight completed songs to the band four years ago, King Diamond is currently finishing the writing and arranging of the final five or six tracks.

“As soon as that’s recorded and arranged from his side, we can put the right guitars on, the right drums, bass and everything,” La Rocque explained, noting that if the final vocal arrangements are completed by summer, the band can enter the studio immediately to meet the year-end deadline.

We Also Recommend – King Diamond’s ‘The Institute’ Album Faces Delays — But The Story Behind It Just Got Darker

How is the “Organic 80s” sound being achieved for the new album?

Fans of the classic Fatal Portrait and Abigail era have reason to celebrate. La Rocque revealed that the band is intentionally avoiding the “copy-and-paste” perfection of modern digital production. Instead, they are aiming for a loose, organic feel where 99.99% perfection is favored over robotic, triggered sounds.

• Standard Tuning: The band is strictly adhering to standard tuning, avoiding the modern trend of tuning down to keep the ’80s aesthetic intact.
• Melody First: La Rocque emphasized that creating space for King Diamond’s vocal melodies is the “super essential” priority during the riff-writing stage.
• The Falcao Connection: In a nod to the band’s legacy, early collaborator Roberto Falcao contributed keyboards to several of La Rocque’s tracks during the pre-production phase.

What songs have been confirmed for the first part of the trilogy?

The title of the album officially shifted from The Institute to Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920 during the band’s 2024 U.S. tour. King Diamond himself has confirmed a robust tracklist that includes both previously teased singles and brand-new nightmares.

Confirmed Tracks for the Saint Lucifer’s Hospital Trilogy:

• Under The Surface (Intro Track)
• Spider Lilly (Studio version released Dec 2024)
• Lobotomy (Next single/video)
• Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920
• The Nun
• Faceless
• Electro Therapy (Performed Live)

King Diamond also teased a “monster chorus” on one of Andy’s tracks that will feature a full choir, further cementing the cinematic scale of this release.

Check This Out – King Diamond’s Story Is Darker Than Most Fans Realize—These 13 Facts Prove It

Our Strait Up Perspective

The wait for Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920 has felt like an eternity, but Andy La Rocque’s insistence on an “organic” sound is the best news King Diamond fans could hear. In an era where metal production is often polished into a lifeless sheen, hearing that the band is keeping the “loose feel” of the ’80s suggests we aren’t just getting a new album—we’re getting a return to form. The level of creative perfectionism King is applying to these five final songs is exactly why this trilogy will likely stand alongside their classic catalog.

STAY LOUD: Catch the full breakdown of the King Diamond resurgence on the Loaded Radio Podcast, or crank the 2026 industrial hits 24/7 on our digital stream at LoadedRadio.com.

TL;DR

King Diamond guitarist Andy La Rocque has confirmed the band is aiming for a late 2026 release for the first part of their new horror trilogy, Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920. The album features contributions from Roberto Falcao, a “monster” choir chorus, and an organic, ’80s-style production. King Diamond is currently finalizing vocals for the remaining tracks before final recording begins this summer.

The post THE INSTITUTE IS OPEN: Andy La Rocque Confirms KING DIAMOND’S “Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920” Targeting Late 2026 Release appeared first on Loaded Radio.

For months, Action Bronson has been teasing Planet Frog, the followup to his 2024 LP Johann Sebastian Bachlava The Doctor. Now, the Queens rapper officially announced the album via Wheel Of Fortune.

The post <em>Wheel Of Fortune</em> Announces New Action Bronson Album <em>Planet Frog</em> Out Next Week appeared first on Stereogum.

Stream/Download Lament For The Hollow HERE: https://theeternal.rpm.link/lamentPR

With the previously-released Celestial EP laying a powerful foundation, Australian/Finnish dark progressive gothic metal collective THE ETERNAL return with a striking new chapter: an animated lyric video for their brand new single “Lament For The Hollow.” The track offers a first glimpse into their upcoming studio album Obscured Horizons, set for release on September 18th via Reigning Phoenix Music!

Following the widespread acclaim of their 2024 full-length Skinwalker and the evocative successor Celestial earlier this year, which was praised by fans and media alike for its melancholic atmospheres, doom-laden heaviness and progressive depth, the band now pushes forward with a composition that feels both expansive and deeply personal. First album single “Lament For The Hollow” opens with a grand, sweeping guitar harmony, unfolding into goosebump-inducing melodies and deeply moving vocals.

The accompanying cinematic animated video mirrors the song’s emotional intensity. Set against a stormy, restless high sea, it visually captures the track’s dark yet captivating atmosphere, both destructive and mesmerizing.

Mark Kelson (vocals, guitars) reveals: “Lament for the Hollow really come from a place of confronting that moment when everything you thought was solid – your identity, your direction – starts to fracture. I was exploring the idea of stripping away illusion, of recognising the voices and influences around you that aren’t real or honest, and having the strength to cut them off. Time is the ultimate truth-teller, eventually everything false gets washed away, whether you’re ready for it or not. The recurring imagery of waves and erasure ties into that cleansing force, but it’s not gentle, it’s destructive, almost violent. ‘Lament For The Hollow’ is about facing fear, selfdoubt, and betrayal, and what happens when people allow themselves to be consumed by emptiness or led astray. It’s both a warning and a kind of catharsis. In a way ‘Lament For The Hollow’ is an anthem for the disenchanted, disillusioned and disenfranchised.”

Stream/Download “Lament For The Hollow”: 

https://theeternal.rpm.link/lamentPR

Watch the video clip premiering here:

https://youtu.be/cDSLM47s7vY

With Mark Kelson (vocals/guitars) and Richie Poate (guitars) in Melbourne, joined by Niclas Etelävuori (bass, ex-AMORPHIS/FLAT EARTH) and Jan Rechberger (drums, AMORPHIS) in Helsinki, THE ETERNAL have solidified themselves as a truly international collaboration. Their music resonates with fans of acts such as KATATONIA, SWALLOW THE SUN, and ANATHEMA – dark yet luminous, heavy yet emotionally transcendent!

Further album details and new singles will be unveiled in the weeks ahead. The band’s latest EP, Celestial, was released in January through Reigning Phoenix Music and is available digitally and as a limited, eco-friendly recycled vinyl LP edition.

Source: C Squared Music

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The post 10 Best Albums With Rare Songs B-Sides And Unreleased Gems appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

Frontiers Music [Release date : 24.04.26] John Corabi is the ex man…ex Motley Crue, ex Ratt, ex Brides Of Destruction but not yet ex frontman of The Dead Daisies, a band with a greater membership turnover than Deep Purple. There’s … Continue reading →

The post Album review : JOHN CORABI – A New Day appeared first on Get Ready to ROCK!.