King Diamond’s Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920 Tour at Detroit’s Legendary Masonic Temple Cathedral Theatre
Detroit, Michigan (November 4, 2024) – When an artist is well into a five-decade music career, it’s a given that touring has taken a toll both vocally and physically. Yet, some artists have used time as a learning tool, finding ways to adapt their live performance without sacrificing the energy and spectacle. So when King Diamond announced a new studio album was in the works along with the Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920 tour, fans knew the King’s return to Detroit was imminent.
After a powerful opening set by thrash rockers Overkill, the stage was meticuously transformed into a grand, multi-level asylum façade, complete with staircases and eerie details—a perfect setting for King Diamond’s nightmarish theatrics. It’s been five long years since the Institute North America Tour 2019 and fans in the Motor City have waited patiently for this moment.
Kicking off with “Arrival,” King Diamond launched into a 13-song set filled with classics plus a surprise or two. Moving seamlessly into “A Mansion in Darkness” and “Halloween,” the set started fast a furious much to the delight of the age diverse crowd. King Diamonds voice, still piercing as ever, with powerful high notes that seemed untouched by the rigor of decades of live performances. “Halloween,” always a standout at any concert with its haunting melody was perfect for the theatrical Halloween-adjacent setting—even if the date had passed a few days prior, was eerily captured as one might expect from the shock rocker.
The supporting cast on stage only added to the spectacle which was Saint Lucifer Hospital. Andy LaRocque and Mike Wead delivered flawless guitar work as fans reveled in powerful riffs and scintillating solos. LaRocque’s rhythm work anchored the band’s sound, creating a dark, unrelenting tone that matched King Diamond’s vocal range. Wead’s red-hot leads pushed each song into overdrive, his energy a testament to the band’s dedication to their fans and the night’s epic storyline.
Special guest performers also were on hand tonight to add a unique and unforgettable layer to the show. Amalie Bruun (also known as Myrkur) brought her hauntingly beautiful supporting vocals, providing a gothic type feel to each song that intensified the overall soundscape. Meanwhile, Jodi Cachia’s stage presence and precise, expressive dance moves were an added touch the crowd seemed to appreciate based on their shear volume when forefront.
The grandeur of Detroit’s Masonic Cathedral Theatre and haunting history only added to the show’s impact. With elaborate chandeliers and statues casting shadows across the audience, the theater’s architecture felt like a fitting backdrop for the night’s dark spectacle. Speaking of the audience—clad in black garments and leather, true to heavy metal form—filled the historic venue with an energy that mirrored the band’s intensity. There has always been something special about seeing a King Diamond concert, but tonight performance in such an opulent, historic setting, made it feel as if a heavy metal storyline was unfolding in some grand gothic novel!
After a spine-tingling run through “Sleepless Nights,” “The Invisible Guests” and “The Candle,” the set continued to reach new heights with each subsequent song. The night took a darker, more chilling turn with “Voodoo,” drawing fans even further into the twisted tales that define King Diamond’s work. Each cut brought a different level to the storyline, enhanced by carefully timed skits and choreographed movements that gave life to his chilling narratives. The show felt less like a concert and more like a theatrical production, complete with macabre twists and supernatural themes.
For longtime fans, hearing the new song “Spider Lilly” was a highlight. The song blended effortlessly with the older material, proving that King Diamond’s upcoming album should be as dark and potent as ever. Its haunting melody and heavy riffs earned enthusiastic cheers from the crowd, showing that anticipation for the future release is high. As the band moved into “Masquerade of Madness,” it became clear that King Diamond’s creativity has only strengthened over the years, weaving fresh material with classic songs without missing a beat.
As the night moved, it felt like a living anthology of King Diamond’s career, each song carrying a piece of his legacy. By the time they reached “Eye of the Witch” and “Burn,” fans were fully under his spell, moving in unison to each driving beat and chilling scream. Then came the much-anticipated closer, “Abigail.” With fans screaming along, King Diamond delivered the final song with a performance that brought the tale to a fittingly intense end. The night was a full-on experience, showing the unique blend of metal, horror, and theater that only King Diamond can bring.
For fans, this was more than just a concert; it was an immersion into King Diamond’s nightmarish universe, one in which his chilling falsetto and iconic storytelling captivated the crowd from start to finish. Afterward, many fans found their way back through the maze like hallways of the Masonic Temple, still buzzing from the high of the performance, yet eager to share the night’s memories and recount every detail of a show that truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
For those who have yet to see King Diamond live, he remains an artist who defies the passage of time, delivering powerful, theatrical performances that prove his legacy in heavy metal is firmly intact. The Saint Lucifer Hospital 1920 Tour left no doubt: King Diamond is still at the height of his craft, and fans who witness his dark spectacle are bound to leave with memories that will haunt them—in the best possible way—for years to come.
King Diamond Setlist:
Arrival
Mansion in Darkness
Halloween
Voodoo
Spiderlilly
Sleepless Nights
Welcome Home
The Invisible Guests
The Candle
Masquerade of Madness
Eye of the Witch
Burn
Electro Therapy
Abigail
