King Diamond guitarist, Andy LaRocque, is the special guest on the new episode of The Metal Podcast, available for streaming below.

During the interview, LaRocque offers an update on King Diamond's future plans, including the band's first new album in 17 years, entitled The Institute, and expected in 2024 via Metal Blade.

Says Andy: "The last tour we did was in the US, and we jumped off that tour in December 2019, and that was right before the pandemic broke out. So, since then we haven't been on the road. I mean, not a single show. We've been composing some songs and I've been trying to survive with bands in the studio, because that's what I do. You know, when I'm not out with King Diamond, touring and writing music for King Diamond, I'm a music producer... mostly metal, of course, as you can imagine."

He adds: "I'm constantly working with things, you know, I mean, I'm writing riffs for King Diamond all the time, and what does not fit for a King Diamond song, it ends up like something else, you know, in my library of songs."

Additionally, Andy reveals: "You're probably going to ask me about this, but... we might be able to come out next year for something. I can't really tell you when or where, but we're checking the possibilities to really come out with something next year, definitely."

Asked if he means a release or a tour, Andy answers: "A tour. And with the songs, I mean, we're working on that. We have songs. I sent King  a bunch of songs, like, a year and a half ago, and we started working on them, like arrangement-wise and all that. And then Mercyful Fate came in between kind of -  they did their summer tour in Europe and also a US tour. And then they're gonna record like a single or two, I believe. And as soon as they're done with that, we're gonna go back and pick up where we ended with King Diamond, all the King Diamond songs that we have. And then, of course, King's going to write his share of the songs too, and all the lyrics and stuff. So it's a long procedure. But we have started."