Them (King Diamond album)

"Them"
Studio album by King Diamond
Released	1988
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	53:29
Label	Roadrunner
Producer	King Diamond, Kenneth Hister
King Diamond chronology
Abigail (1987) "Them" (1988) Conspiracy (1989)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

"Them" is an album by King Diamond released in 1988 on Roadrunner Records.

It is the first of two fictional concept albums about King and his mentally ill grandmother, the second of these being Conspiracy. King falls into a harrowing descent into madness via his grandmother and the voices in the House of Amon, known to the listener only as "Them".

Plot summary

As the album opens, a young King and his mother and sister are welcoming King's grandmother home from a mental asylum. That night, King investigates strange voices and discovers his grandmother having a tea party alone, with the teacups and kettles floating in the air. King is promptly sent back to bed.

On another occasion, Grandma awakens King and tells him that she will teach him about Amon, their house, over a cup of tea. Grandma cuts King's sleeping mother's hand and adds her blood to the teapot. The voices of the house ("Them") begin to affect King with a drug-like effect. King's sister Missy tries to convince King that they should do something to help their mother, who is unconscious under "their" power, but his judgment is clouded due to his altered state. He refuses to call for help and cuts the phone line. At tea, Missy interrupts and furiously expresses concern about her mother's state and breaks the teapot. "They", in response to the breaking of "their" teapot, chop Missy into bits with an axe and throw the remains into the fireplace in the kitchen. King is snapped out of his "spell," and he stumbles outside and pieces together the events that transpired.

After fainting and regaining consciousness, he decides to attack his grandmother. He notices that "their" power is weakened outside of the house, so he lures his grandmother outside and kills her. The voices of Amon continue to haunt the boy as he is questioned by police and incarcerated in an asylum. Years later, he is released and returns home to find his grandmother and the voices of Amon are still very much alive.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Out From the Asylum"	King Diamond	1:44
2.	"Welcome Home"	King Diamond	4:36
3.	"The Invisible Guests"	King Diamond	5:04
4.	"Tea"	King Diamond	5:15
5.	"Mother's Getting Weaker"	King Diamond, Andy LaRocque	4:02
6.	"Bye, Bye Missy"	King Diamond	5:08
7.	"A Broken Spell"	King Diamond, Andy LaRocque	4:08
8.	"The Accusation Chair"	King Diamond	4:21
9.	""Them"" (Instrumental)	King Diamond, Andy LaRocque	1:56
10.	"Twilight Symphony"	King Diamond	4:10
11.	"Coming Home"	King Diamond	1:11

Remaster bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
12.	"Phone Call"	King Diamond	1:39
13.	"The Invisible Guests (Rehearsal)"	King Diamond	5:19
14.	"Bye, Bye Missy (Rehearsal)"	King Diamond	4:51

Personnel

• King Diamond - Vocals, Keyboards
• Andy LaRocque - Guitar
• Pete Blakk - Guitar
• Hal Patino - Bass
• Mikkey Dee - Drums

Rehearsal versions of The Invisible Guests and Bye, Bye Missy featured King and Andy on guitars, Mikkey on drums and Timi Hansen on bass.

In other media

The song "Welcome Home" and lyrics from the song "Invisible Guests" were featured in the movie Clerks II. "Welcome Home" was also featured in the 2009 video game Brütal Legend.

External links

• Official Website
• The Story of Them (Site not found?)

References

1. ^ Them (King Diamond album) at Allmusic