Ex-KING DIAMOND Members Explain Why They Reunited As LEX LEGION

Four-fifths of King Diamond‘s classic late-’80s lineup have reunited under a new banner – Lex Legion – and they’re wasting no time proving the chemistry is still very much alive.

The group, featuring bassist Hal Patino, drummer Mikkey Dee, guitarists Andy La Rocque and Pete Blakk alongside vocalist Nils K. Rue, have dropped their debut single “Sleep Eternally,” complete with a cinematic video directed by Patric Ullaeus.

For Patino, the project is more than just another band – it’s a full-circle moment decades in the making: “We’ve been recording this album on and off over the past few years, staying in close contact throughout the entire process.

It’s been 37 years since the four of us last made an album together, Conspiracy, and 38 years since we recorded and toured together on the Them tour in 1988. In fact, it’s exactly 38 years ago that we recorded Them, between March and May of that year.”

Despite the time apart, the reunion appears to have reignited old dynamics almost instantly: “Walking on to the film set for our new video single ‘Sleep Eternally’, which was filmed back in December, was the first time all four of us had been in the same room together since then. And honestly, it felt like no time had passed. The same stupid jokes, the same way of picking on each other… just like back in the day.

“It’s a great feeling, and we’re still the best of friends. The four of us have been through a lot together, and that kind of bond doesn’t break. It really feels like we’re picking up right where we left off, and that same spark is still there – and you can hear it in the music as well.

“It’s fucking awesome being back together again, now with our incredible new voice, Nils K. Rue.”

Originally sparked by long-running conversations between Dee and Blakk, Lex Legion has evolved from a nostalgic idea into a fully-fledged creative outlet – one rooted in legacy, but not bound by it. Their self-titled debut album is set to arrive in June 2026 via MNRK Music Group, with another single expected ahead of its release.

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