Formed in 1985 in Denmark, King Diamond is a heavy metal band led by "King Diamond," whose actual name is Kim Bendix Petersen. The band originally signed with Roadrunner Records, which was a leading heavy metal label in the 1980s and '90s. In 1987, King Diamond became the first band on the label to land on the Billboard Hot 200 charts with their second album "Abigail" peaking at number 123. Their third album "Them" followed in 1988. It was the only album from King Diamond to break the Top 100, reaching 89. Despite failing to achieve mainstream success in the US, King Diamond remains one of the most influential metal bands to come out of the '80s, embodying the sounds, aesthetics, and beliefs most commonly associated with the heavy metal genre.