King Diamond guitarist Andy La Rocque has shared an encouraging update on the band’s long-awaited new studio album. The musical foundations are largely complete, and he expressed hope for a potential release by the end of 2026.
In a recent interview on the Pod Scum podcast, La Rocque explained the current status of the project. “I really hope so. That’s our goal. We have most of the songs,” he stated. “I sent [King Diamond, King Diamond’s namesake frontman], I think, eight songs, like, four years ago, and we decided to use three of those. And we actually played one live from those songs.”
The guitarist outlined the remaining work needed to complete the album. “As soon as he’s done with this stuff — he’s gotta write five songs, I believe, and he’s got a lot of the stuff already written down, with the lyrics and everything. As soon as that’s recorded and arranged from his side, we can put the right guitars on, the right drums, bass and everything,” La Rocque explained.
“So I really hope it won’t take very long before we can continue working on that. And if that’s the case, we can start recording soon, and during the summer, [and] then we have a chance for it to be released at the very end of the year,” he concluded.
La Rocque’s comments represent the most concrete update on King Diamond’s new material in years. The guitarist expressed genuine optimism about the project’s progression. Metal Injection reported that the 2026 release timeline is being described as “our goal.” This indicates that while the band is working toward this deadline, it remains aspirational rather than officially confirmed. The guitarist’s emphasis on the word “hope” throughout his comments underscores the tentative nature of the timeline. However, the progress made on the musical arrangements suggests genuine momentum.
Blabbermouth noted that La Rocque remains optimistic about completing the album within the calendar year. This is contingent on frontman King Diamond finishing his vocal contributions. The guitarist’s detailed breakdown of the remaining work provides fans with a clearer picture of where the project stands. Five songs still require vocal arrangements and lyrics before the development cycle can be completed.
Metal Injection revealed that the long-awaited new album is the first part of a horror trilogy titled “Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920.” This adds significant conceptual weight to the project. The band is not simply recording new songs but crafting a cohesive story-driven experience that will span multiple releases. This ambitious narrative framework explains some of the extended development timeline.
The trilogy concept represents King Diamond’s continued commitment to the theatrical, horror-themed storytelling that has defined much of their career. With most of the musical groundwork already in place and only the vocal arrangements remaining, the band appears positioned to finally deliver this long-promised project to their dedicated fanbase.
