Nine Circles (both as an entity and collective) and social media aren’t exactly the best of friends. Kneeling before the almighty algorithm in hopes of earning a few extra clicks, likes, or follows isn’t… a thing we’re into. Nor do. But truthfully, speaking personally, beyond inundating everyone’s feeds with photography and Garmin workouts, I do enjoy lurking in the shadows of some of those spaces. At times. For instance, I find the daily memories feature a fun (and often cringey) thing. Especially this time of year when I’m constantly reminded of past adventures – summer travel, epic hikes, festivals, time with friends near and far. All that good stuff. But amidst all of these reminders, coupled with the announcement of the upcoming King Diamond tour, one massive fact dawned on me. My Wacken experience was exactly a decade ago (ok fine, I’m a few days off, but you get the idea… I’m old). ANYWAY. Allow me to take a moment of your Thursday to reflect on the absurdity of that festival experience, specifically the context around the King’s set, as we get amped up for this upcoming tour kicking off in October.

—

Yes, 10 years ago, at the ripe age of 25, my corporate toddler existence managed to squeeze enough pennies together to spend a couple of weeks in Germany, half of those days spent in Munich and the other at the metal festival of all metal festivals. But bear with me, the memories are, um, hazy. For a few reasons, and only one of which is because I drank the beer. How much of the beer? Here’s a clue: it rhymes with “all of it”. Munich was Munich. It’s my favorite city for a reason. No need to go down that road. But Wacken? The festival I promised myself I would get to one day from the first moment I knew of its existence several years prior? Yeah. It lived up to the hype. For the life of me I can’t find the lineup, but for some history here are a bunch of old posters or some shit. Let’s see what I can rattle off… sets that I actually witnessed at least: Emperor, Megadeth, Amon Amarth, Slayer, Carcass, Children of Bodom, Behemoth, Arch Enemy, Devin Townsend, Motörhead, HammerFall, Heaven Shall Burn, Accept… and King Diamond, of course – why we’re here today. The list is seemingly endless, so you get the idea. That plus like 75,000 people… It was overwhelming. I was traveling alone and clung desperately to a couple friends made from Trinidad (shoutout to the Lynchpin dudes). The experience of a lifetime, and I would give anything to make it happen again. Anyway, here are some terrible photos from the beforetimes:

But alright, those stories can be saved for another day. Let’s talk about the King. Smack in the middle of the festival, King Diamond was (to me) a headliner at the end of a very long day and I DID NOT behave appropriately. Being on that field for, what, 12 straight hours? Turning slightly left for one set, then slightly right for next, over and over again… hour after hour. Don’t get me wrong, straight fucking bliss. But by the time the King took the stage (following Slayer, that much I remember), my body was on the brink. Running back-to-back marathons would be less painful (which I can basically confirm). Regardless, god damn was it awesome. Opening with “Welcome Home”, and all the theatrics that dominated that absolutely massive stage (“Grandmaaaaa”), I’ll never forget it – that weird combination of being utterly broken, but also never wanting it to end. Out of the four (five? six?) days on those festival grounds, this was the day I/we went full send. Every band that dominated those massive dueling stages… we were there. And King Diamond was THE final, lasting performance. Long live the King.

So why I am recounting some of these moments now? Well, because of the aforementioned recently announced King Diamond North American tour! That and, you know, the cripplingly depression associated with the passage of time. (Wacken 2039, anyone? Help me ring in 50 the right way?) No matter! I cannot wait for this upcoming run and am fully locked in to attending at least one of these performances. Add in Myrkur for some backing vocals, Night Demon and Overkill in support, and it’s going to be quite the experience.

—

Need more convincing? Here are a few words from King Diamond himself:

This is Saint Lucifer’s Hospital, enter if you dare! We have been busy putting this ever-growing horror story together, and it’s still growing. I know the end of it, but how we will get there will be a long trip. There are so many characters, and so many unexpected things along this journey. It’s a crazy family on another timeline in 1920, where I experienced some hard times, and they have to come to our time to steal from us to survive. This is the most elaborate thing we have ever done, that goes for the stage production as well.

There will be additional backing vocals by Myrkur and she’ll be playing organ for songs that need it. There will be some horrific surprises taking place on stage, but we are not to be held responsible since we are on a whole different timeline in 1920. It was back at the time when medicine was going through a dark period with lots of testing on human beings in order to progress medicine. This is Saint Lucifer’s Hospital, also known as The Institute, enter if you dare!

Needless to say, these shows are going to be incredible. And have I noted the Halloween date in my neck of the woods? Say way, WAY less. The full schedule can be found below, and tickets are on sale now. Grab one here and I’ll see ya out there!

—

—

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb