KING DIAMOND
The Last Crusade of Light
The album tells the story of a lone knight on a doomed crusade to destroy an ancient, living fortress — a grotesque citadel of flesh, stone, and malign intelligence. The knight rides under the banner of a forgotten order, vowing to bring light into the heart of eternal darkness. But as the journey unfolds, light and darkness blur, and the knight discovers the horrifying cost of faith, sacrifice, and eternal struggle.
1. Oath under The Crimson Banner 1:12
A dramatic instrumental with whispered chants introduces the knight, who raises his banner and vows to carry out
the last crusade of light.
2. Rider at the Edge of Night 3:46
The knight departs through misty woods, riding toward a land where the sun no longer shines. The song describes both hope and dread, with galloping riffs echoing the horse’s pace.
3. The Idol with a Thousand Limbs 4:52
The knight beholds the fortress: a pulsating structure of stone and flesh, with a glowing brain and a monstrous eye watching. The creature-fortress is both cathedral and abomination.
4. The Watcher in the Walls 5:28
Inside the fortress, whispers and screams echo. The walls bleed and shift, revealing that every corridor is alive. The knight realizes he is being watched by an intelligence older than mankind.
5. Shadows Feast on Faith 6:41
The knight prays, but the shadows mock him, feeding on his devotion. His light dims — faith itself becomes the banquet of the fortress.
6. The Brain Cathedral 3:39
A twisted hymn to the glowing brain at the heart of the citadel. The knight reaches the inner sanctum and sees the truth: the fortress is a living god, feasting on mortals’ souls for eternity.
7. Oathbound to Darkness 5:05
The knight, realizing he cannot defeat the entity, swears to destroy it even if it damns his soul. The chorus repeats his vow — an oath carved in blood.
8. The Lance of Betrayal 5:58
The knight thrusts his lance into the fortress-brain. A victory? No — the fortress screams, but the lance shatters, releasing a tide of horrors. The knight sees that he has only freed its full power.
9. The Last Crusade of Light 4:47
The title track. The knight fights in vain against endless swarms of twisted guardians. His banner burns. His horse collapses. He is consumed, yet still struggles. The lyrics reveal he will fight forever, trapped in the fortress as part of its endless hunger.
10. Eternal Knight 5:32
A slow, haunting finale song. The knight’s voice fades into whispers as he becomes one of the watchers in the walls. The crusade of light never ends — because it was never meant to be won.
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What an album, I must say. A true masterpiece!
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The presented artwork mashup should be regarded solely as fan fiction. I neither own nor claim any rights to it, nor do I take any credit for its creation. The
Arise portion of the mashup was created by artist Michael Whelan, and all rights remain with him. The ‘Knight on the Horse’ portion is derived from Martin Wiegand’s painting
Parsifal, The Knight of the Holy Grail; rights to this work remain with the rightful holders, whomever they may be.
