Thirty years ago, a progressive rock band called The Yellow Kings began recording what would become their first and final album. Titled “The Final Reconciliation,” the album was expected to usher in a new renaissance of heavy metal, but it was shelved following a tragic concert that left all but one dead.
The sole survivor of that horrific incident was the band’s lead guitarist, Aidan Cross, who’s kept silent about the circumstances leading up to that ill-fated performance—until now.
For the first time since the tragedy, Aidan has granted an exclusive interview to finally put rumors to rest and address a question that has haunted the music industry for decades: What happened to The Yellow Kings?
The answer will terrify you.
THE FINAL RECONCILIATION by Todd Keisling reminded me a bit of Lucifer Sam by Leo Darke, but Keisling's rock horror was published first...so now I'm wondering if The Yellow Kings were inspiration for the band Cat O' Nine Tails. In any case, presenting the story as an interview with Aidan Cross is the perfect format for this occult thriller.
The author reveals just enough about each character to evoke an emotional response from readers whenever Camilla manipulates the band members for her hidden agenda. I clung to the fact Aidan was alive to share the events with the interviewer, but the downward spiral of the band still devastated me. I felt as though I was reading an article in Rolling Stones, and sincerely mourned the fallout from the creation of the album.
Keisling's real skill shows through the clever way he weaves in elements from the various short stories in THE KING IN YELLOW by Robert W. Chambers, while creating an original cosmic horror mixed with intrinsic musical details. The imagery is terrifying and grotesque. By the very end, I found myself screaming as much Aidan.
As always,
AstraDaemon
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