King Diamond - The Puppet Master (2003)

Related:
King Diamond - The Eye (1990)
Mercyful Fate - Return of the Vampire (1992)

Probably my favorite late-era King Diamond album -- although I'm still holding out hope for another one. Another delightfully weird tale of supernatural horror told via eerie, ass-kicking heavy metal by one of the greatest talents that metal has ever produced.

Track listing:
1. Midnight
2. The Puppet Master
3. Magic
4. Emerencia
5. Blue Eys
6. The Ritual
7. No More Me
8. Blood to Walk
9. Darkness
10. So Sad
11. Christmas
12. Living Dead

No strings
None of them fall
No strings at all

You should also listen to:

Bill Ward -
Ward One: Along the Way (1990)

Grave Digger -
Heart of Darkness (1995)

Mercyful Fate - Return of the Vampire (1992)

Unless you're either young or not at all into metal, it's safe to say that you love Mercyful Fate's first two albums, Melissa and Don't Break the Oath. If not, you've got problems, son. For the rest of us, here's Return of the Vampire, which collects a bunch of demo recordings, revealing a rawer, unpolished, but still totally awesome version of the band that we know and love. Happy Halloween, nerds!

Track listing:
1. Burning the Cross
2. Curse of the Pharaohs
3. Return of the Vampire
4. On a Night of Full Moon
5. A Corpse Without Soul
6. Death Kiss
7. Leave My Soul Alone
8. M.D.A.
9. You Asked for It

There’s only one way you can stop him
You gotta trace the vampire to his liar, oh yeah
And then you gotta drive the stake
Right through the heart of the living dead, oh yeah

King Diamond - The Eye (1990)

Fourth concept album, and fifth overall, from King Diamond. According to Wikipedia, the story, which deals with the French Inquisition's "persecution of alleged witches and sexual abuse against nuns," is surprisingly historically accurate (except for the whole magical eye necklace that's capable of murder thing - apparently he made that part up.) Musically, as can be expected, we're talking classic heavy metal as fronted by the man whose demonic falsetto made the phrase "it's time for tea" sound foreboding. It's one of his best, for sure.

Track listing:
1. Eye of the Witch
2. The Trial (Chambre Ardente)
3. Burn
4. Two Little Girls
5. Into the Convent
6. Father Picard
7. Behind These Walls
8. The Meetings
9. Insanity
10. 1642 Imprisonment
11. The Curse

The power I get from the chain is mine
Only I can use it