Concert Review: KING DIAMOND at the Playstation Theater in New York City
King Diamond Brings Baby Abigail To Life in New York City
Words by Sebastian Bjorn Benedict | Photos by Anya Svirskaya
King Diamond returned to New York City for three sold-out nights as part of the current “Abigail in Concert 2015” tour. The openers of the event are California’s equally impressive Bay-area thrash legends, Exodus. Shows like this one in New York City are a rare treat, as it isn’t often that you see diverse and legendary bands like these two playing on the same bill. The venue, New York’s Playstation Theater, was host to this concert a week after the Friday the 13th terrorist attacks on France, and security was on high alert. Metalheads stood united, not only to see these two musical giants of metal perform together, but to set the tone right by letting the city know that they will make their unified message of peace and solidarity clear to the world.

What better way to start the evening’s festivities than with Exodus leading the charge? Vocalist Steve Souza, the voice of Exodus, has the most welcoming demeanor of all the thrash vocalists. Their brief set had the audience wanting more. Exodus opened with the song “Derange” from their 1987 sophomore release, Pleasure of the Flesh, which was an interesting choice. Souza took a moment to educate the millennial crowd on the rules of “moshing” – to take care of each other in the pit – before the thrash legends went into the song “Toxic Waltz” from 1989’s Fabulous Disaster, which resulted in the most amazing mosh pit in the history of man. The eight-song set was not enough and the fans in New York City are anticipating their return. Humbly Steve Souza thanked the audience and warmed up the crowd before introducing “Sir King Diamond.”

