''The Eye'' is the fifth studio album by Danish heavy metal band

King Diamond Kim Bendix Petersen (born 14 June 1956), better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Danish rock musician. As a vocalist, he is known for his powerful and wide-ranging countertenor singing voice, in particular his far-reaching falsetto s ...

, released on 30 October 1990 through Roadrunner Records. It continues to feature a major storyline like other King Diamond albums, though it is told differently. ''The Eye'' is the only album to feature drummer

Snowy Shaw Snowy Shaw (born Tommie Mike Christer Helgesson; 25 July 1968) is a Swedish musician based in the port city of Gothenburg in the west coast of Sweden. He has played with many heavy metal bands, like King Diamond, Dream Evil, Mercyful Fate, Il ...

and the last to feature guitarist Pete Blakk and bassist Hal Patino, until the latter's return on '' Abigail II: The Revenge''.

Plot

His two prior concept albums had been told from the perspective of the protagonists; this one is told from the view of a narrator. The themes of

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

atrocity with the persecution of alleged

witches Witchcraft is the use of magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meaning. According to ''Enc ...

and

sexual abuse Sexual abuse or sex abuse is abusive sexual behavior by one person upon another. It is often perpetrated using physical force, or by taking advantage of another. It often consists of a persistent pattern of sexual assaults. The offender is re ...

against

nun A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service and contemplation, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 5 ...

s are present. The story starts off with an unnamed character finding a necklace called "The Eye", that allows him/her to see the events the necklace was witness for in the past. They see an accused witch named Jeanne Dibasson being tortured and burned at the stake. Next they see two little girls finding the necklace in the ashes at a stake, and what they see when they look in the eye kills them. Finally there is the story of Madeleine Bavent, a nun working in the Louviers convent, who finds the necklace and decides to put it on. After being raped by Father David, she uses the necklace to kill him by making him look into it. Shortly after, the new Chaplain, Father Picard, arrives and starts bringing everyone to communion. He winds up lacing their communion wine with some substance that lets him control their minds, and uses a group of nuns including Madeleine to ritually torture and kill children. In 1642 all are arrested and imprisoned. The main parts of the stories told on this album are true, and took place during the French Inquisition, 1450–1670. All of the following characters are real and from that period of time: # Nicolas de la Reynie (spelled "Nicholas de La Reymie" in the lyrics): Head investigator of the Christian Burning Court (

Chambre Ardente ''La chambre ardente'' was the name given to a special court established for the trial of heretics in France during the reign of Francis I in the 16th century. The name has been translated to mean "the fiery chamber." Institution Special cou ...

), in Paris, France. # Jeanne Dibasson: Supposed witch. # Madeleine Bavent: 18-year-old French nun who entered the convent at Louviers in 1625, after having been seduced by a priest. Died in 1647 in prison. # Father Pierre David: Chaplain of the convent at Louviers till his death in 1628. # Father Mathurin Picard: Chaplain of the convent at Louviers from 1628 to his death in 1642. ee also Louviers possessions.">Louviers_possessions.html" ;"title="ee also Louviers possessions">ee also Louviers possessions.ref>

Track listing

Personnel

* King Diamond - vocals, keyboards * Andy LaRocque - guitars * Pete Blakk - guitars * Hal Patino - bass *

- drums ;Production * King Diamond - production, mixing * Andy LaRocque - production * Roberto Falcao - production, engineering, mixing, keyboards * Flemming Hansson - engineering

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eye, The (King Diamond album) King Diamond albums 1990 albums Roadrunner Records albums Rock operas 1990s concept albums