Blazing out of Milan, it's The Headless Ghost with their debut album "King of Pain." "King of Pain" is one of the best debut albums I've heard. The Headless Ghost goes all out, making every element of "King of Pain" as special as possible while perfectly blending it together for a top-notch experience. "King of Pain" perfectly showcases the influences that make up the sound of The Headless Ghost. The overarching horror themes on "King of Pain" bring elements of King Diamond/Mercyful Fate to the party, while Stefano's vocals draw comparisons to Mark Tornillo from Accept and Maxel Black from Purveyor of Chaos. Guitarists Aurielo and Alberto deliver powerful riffs that rival some of the best metal guitarists. Rounding out the low end, Simone's driving bass propels the rhythm section while backed up by Omar's world-class drumming.

"King of Pain" begins with the haunting yet crushing title track "King of Pain." From the beginning, "King of Pain" immediately establishes that The Headless Ghost means business, and they intend to be relentless. What sells the title track for me is the disembodied voice of a little girl at the beginning of the song saying, "King of Pain, it's your name," before fading into an attention-grabbing opening riff that sets the tone for both the song and the album as a whole. "Whisper in the Dark" and "Angel in Flame" both maintain the elements of horror and dread while driving more power and attitude into the music. Stefano's vocals add more layers to the dark atmosphere of "King of Pain" while exerting raw, untamed power and stamina.

Overall, "King of Pain" is a masterpiece and God-Tier debut album that is as enjoyable as it is memorable. "King of Pain" sits firmly in the running for my album of the year and will occupy many playlists, including my Halloween playlists.