Twenty-five years after the release of Abigail—one of the most acclaimed conceptual albums in the history of heavy metal—King Diamond revisited their most famous protagonist for a sequel, Abigail II: The Revenge. Far from being overwhelmed by the original album's looming reputation, the band appear completely re-energized by the return to their classic tale. Abigail II might be the group’s most explosive work since their '80s heyday, as proven by the onslaught of marauding songs that start the album, from “The Storm” to “Slippery Stairs.” As usual, leader King Diamond isn’t concerned with writing simple riffs as much as crafting entire environments. There are moments of atmospheric uncertainty and moments of climactic tumult, but as a whole the album is remarkably unified, with each song connected to those surrounding it. The big payoff comes in “More Than Pain,” in which Abigail enacts revenge on her evil father by putting glass in his food and setting him on fire while he chokes to death. As the band bring the music to a boil, leader King Diamond acts out all the roles with wicked gusto.