King Diamond has released his first new single in five years, “Spider Lilly.” The video for the song can be streamed below.
Earlier this year, King Diamond premiered the song live alongside another new cut, “Electro Therapy,” during his eponymous band’s recently-wrapped North American tour.
Clocking in at five minutes in length, “Spider Lilly” is a thrashy number with chugging guitar riffs and a winding arrangement that takes some unexpected melodic turns. King Diamond’s iconic falsetto is in full flight, backed by the vocals of Danish singer/songwriter Myrkur, who reprises her role as backup singer on the aforementioned tour.
It’s the first piece of music from King Diamond’s forthcoming new “Horror Trilogy,” of which part one is titled Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920.
Previously, the metal legend had announced that his forthcoming, long-gestating project would be titled The Institute, though it appears he’s re-titled or expanded the concept, as there’s still numerous references to asylums and mental hospitals — including the video for “Spider Lilly,” shot at the Pennhurst Asylum just outside Philadelphia on a travel day during the recent tour.
“What a dark but great experience,” King said of the video in a press release. “Hopefully that was not the last video we will be able to film there.”
The lineup for the tour and single remains consistent: King Diamond on lead/backing vox, plus the Hammond organ; Andy La Rocque and Mike Wead on guitar; Pontus Egberg on the bass; Matt Thompson on drums; and Myrkur adding backing vocals. The track was mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk.
The new song marks King Diamond’s first single since 2019’s “Masquerade of Madness,” which at the time was his first new music in 12 years.
The end of King Diamond’s press release teases future music from the upcoming trilogy with the following: “There are already several tales waiting to be told about all that has happened before, during, and after the birth of the song ‘Spider Lilly’…”
Stream the video for “Spider Lilly” below.
“Spider Lilly” Artwork: