KING DIAMOND RETURNS TO THE SHADOWS: HALLOWEEN REISSUED ON PICTURE DISC

King Diamond – Halloween | October 23, 2026

A legendary chapter from King Diamond’s early career returns this October with new artwork and three essential recordings from the Fatal Portrait era.

Few artists in heavy metal have created a visual and musical identity as immediately recognizable as King Diamond. From his distinctive vocal style and theatrical stage persona to his elaborate horror-inspired storytelling, King Diamond has built a catalogue that has become a defining part of the history of heavy metal.

Now, one of the most atmospheric releases from the beginning of his solo career is returning to vinyl.

On October 23, 2026, Metal Blade Records will release a new worldwide edition of Halloween, the three-track picture disc originally released in 1986. The new edition features completely new artwork by artist Mario Lopez, giving this classic release a fresh visual identity while preserving the original recordings.

From Fatal Portrait to Metal History

King Diamond officially began his solo career in 1986 with the release of Fatal Portrait. The album marked the beginning of a solo discography that would eventually expand into more than ten additional studio albums, including landmark releases such as Abigail, Them, The Graveyard, Voodoo and The Puppet Master.

Fatal Portrait established many of the elements that would become synonymous with King Diamond: heavy guitar work, dramatic vocals, dark atmosphere and storytelling that went far beyond conventional heavy-metal songwriting. The Halloween release belongs directly to this formative period.

The title track “Halloween” and “The Candle” both originate from Fatal Portrait. “The Candle” opens the album, while “Halloween” appears later in the original sequence. “The Lake” was recorded during the same general period and is associated with the Fatal Portrait sessions, although it was not part of the album’s original nine-track configuration.

Three Tracks. One Dark Chapter.

The 2026 picture disc contains:

Side A — Halloween (4:12)

Side B — The Candle (6:38) / The Lake (4:11)

For longtime fans, the appeal is obvious: this is not a new studio album, but a physical reissue of the 1986 three-track picture disc, celebrating material from one of the most important periods in King Diamond’s career.

The release also demonstrates how strongly the imagery surrounding these recordings remains connected to the Halloween season itself. The new picture-disc artwork places King Diamond’s unmistakable imagery within a classic nocturnal horror setting of moonlight, graves, a church and a jack-o’-lantern.

A New Look for a Classic

The 2026 edition features new artwork by Mario Lopez, created specifically for this reissue. The result is a striking picture-disc design that combines King Diamond’s iconic imagery with the visual language of Halloween horror.

The format itself makes this more than a simple digital re-release. The picture disc is designed as a collector-oriented vinyl edition, giving fans an opportunity to own a physical representation of this early chapter in King Diamond’s catalogue.

The Sound of King Diamond’s Early Era

The recordings represented on Halloween come from a period when King Diamond was establishing the foundations of his solo sound.

The production credits for the original material include King Diamond and Rune Höyer, with production assistance from guitarist Michael Denner, while Roberto Falcao handled engineering.

The early lineup associated with the recordings included King Diamond on lead and backing vocals, Andy LaRocque and Michael Denner on lead guitar, Timi Hansen on bass and Mikkey Dee on drums.

Why Halloween Still Matters

What makes this release particularly interesting is its connection to the beginning of King Diamond’s solo legacy. Fatal Portrait introduced audiences to a musical world where heavy metal could function as something more theatrical and narrative-driven. The songs were not simply collections of riffs and choruses; atmosphere, characters and storytelling became central elements of the experience.

The return of Halloween therefore offers more than an opportunity to revisit three recordings. It provides a physical snapshot of the period in which one of heavy metal’s most distinctive solo identities was being established.

Metal Blade and King Diamond

King Diamond’s history is closely connected with Metal Blade Records. The original Fatal Portrait was released in 1986, and the label’s continued relationship with the catalogue makes the 2026 Halloween picture disc a fitting addition to the current Metal Blade release calendar.

For collectors, longtime King Diamond fans and vinyl enthusiasts, the combination of historic recordings, new Mario Lopez artwork and the Halloween-season release date gives this edition a particularly strong identity.

Release Details

Artist: King Diamond. Release: Halloween. Format: 12” Picture Disc. Tracks: 3. Original release: 1986. Worldwide reissue: October 23, 2026. Label: Metal Blade Records. New artwork: Mario Lopez.

Tracklist: A1. Halloween / B1. The Candle / B2. The Lake.

Final Word

Four decades after the original release, Halloween returns in a format that feels perfectly suited to King Diamond’s world: dark, theatrical, collectible and unmistakably heavy metal.

It may contain only three tracks, but those recordings belong to a pivotal chapter in the creation of the King Diamond legacy. The moon is full. The season is approaching. And King Diamond’s Halloween is coming back to vinyl.

Written by Tomi Perrakoski / Metal Madness Weekly.

Artwork by Mario Lopez. Artwork and release materials © Metal Blade Records. All rights reserved.