Al Koran Magic is a term that refers to a specific style of magic tricks and illusions performed by the British magician Al Koran. Born Edward Doe in 1914, Al Koran became widely renowned for his incredible mentalism and mind-reading abilities. Al Koran Magic tricks often involved feats of mentalism that left audiences astounded. He was known for his uncanny ability to accurately predict and reveal information that seemed impossible for him to know. Whether it was guessing a person's chosen card, solving complex mathematical problems in their head, or describing personal details that should have been unknown to him, Al Koran consistently amazed his audience. One of Al Koran's most famous tricks was the "Koran Medallion.
[La Reymie:]
Jeanne D'basson, you stand accused before the burning court for practising witchcraft. Do you confess? We have ways to make you talk. How do you plead?
And to make matters even worse, there s still a rumor out there that Snowy Shaw never actually recorded his drums, and what you hear is a drum machine. Madeleine and the other nuns They hold the infant up to the cross As father Picard and the priests Approach with hammers and nails There s no more to tell.
One of Al Koran's most famous tricks was the "Koran Medallion." In this trick, he would have an audience member choose a random playing card and then proceed to accurately reveal the chosen card. The trick was even more astonishing because he would do this blindfolded or with his back turned, seemingly using only his mental powers to determine the card.
Yer Metal Is Olde: King Diamond – The Eye
Every longtime band has one of those albums that fans can’t help but speak about as “the end of an era.” Some are due to founding members walking (or passing) away or the band making a drastic change in sound. 1 After the passing of Cliff Burton, Metallica’s first three albums became the single greatest era in the band’s history. Vader losing Doc in 2005 and Decapitated losing Vitek in 2007 are a couple more examples of deaths ending eras. Then there’re examples like Fast Eddie Clarke walking away from Motörhead and the canning of Ozzy Osbourne by Black Sabbath. Anthrax, Exodus, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest lost their vocalists, who psyched everyone out and returned later anyway. In some cases, end-of-era albums are more like transition pieces—bridging the gap between the band of old and the band of new. Arguably Metallica’s …And Justice For All fits the bill. It was clear that Justice was different, but it wasn’t until Metallica arrived that everyone saw what Justice really was. King Diamond’s The Eye is also such an album.
Though Pete Blakk wasn’t a longtime member, he recorded guitars alongside Andy LaRocque on the band’s pinnacled duo “Them” and Conspiracy. And, as far as anyone was concerned, he wasn’t going anywhere. Timi Hansen had been gone for a while, and Hal Patino was a more-than-capable bass player for the band. Another that looked like he would stay for some time. But, if these two weren’t King Diamond originals, Mikkey Dee was. From the time King professed there were “No Presents for Christmas,” Dee (and his unmistakable cymbal taps and bass-drum beat) was with him. That’s until he left for good following Conspiracy. 2 This seemed a devastating blow for the band. But The Eye was in the capable hands of the absurdly-talented Snowy Shaw. Like the four full-lengths before it, it didn’t miss a beat—even with the band’s battery mate gone to join Lemmy as an official Motörhead.
But trouble was brewing. After The Eye, Snowy jumped across the gangplank to play for King’s other band, and Pete Blakk and Hal Patino walked. This was the end of the band’s five-year deal with Roadrunner Records, and the label chose not to support The Eye with a tour. And the production and songwriting dropped on King’s follow-up record, The Spider’s Lullabye. Not to mention, Lullabye is the first album since Fatal Portrait that’s not a full-concept release. King’s voice would also worsen with each release as he labored under the weight of King Diamond and Mercyful Fate touring schedules. But, at the time, no one knew things would change so much. Nor did anyone know that The Eye would be the swansong of the old King Diamond sound.
For The Eye, King delved into the Satanic, anti-Christian themes he was famous for in Mercyful Fate. Using the infamous Louviers Possessions as the basis for The Eye, he graces us with nuns that really don’t have fun. Drugged, sexually assaulted, and forced to perform unspeakable rituals and tortures to children, Louviers’ nuns became witches against their will. Witching concepts are nothing new to King as he covered plenty in old Mercyful Fate songs. Neither are stories involving children—as we know from older King releases and ones yet to come. And, of course, God-hating is a staple to the man and will come again in 2000’s House of God. But The Eye has it all. First, we’re introduced to a mysterious necklace called the Eye of the Witch in the opening track of the same name. Through its eye, we hear Jeanne Dibasson fry in the fiddling “Burn” and watch Madeleine Bavent seek revenge against Father David on “Into the Covent.” We also witness the death of two children in the creepy, harpsichord-driven “Two Little Girls” and bear witness to the fall of the Louviers convent in “1642 Imprisonment.”
Throughout the album, we hear things from King Diamond; past and present. The snarling voice he uses on “Father Picard” comes from Conspiracy and will be used again from The Spider’s Lullabye to Voodoo. Gorgeous instrumentals like “Insanity” will find themselves closing albums like House of God and The Puppetmaster. Even the whipping harpsichord of the catchy “Behind the Walls” is familiar to anyone that’s heard Conspiracy’s “Cremation.” And, like previous releases, The Eye is full of riffs and impressive guitar shredding. Even the bass is audible in the mix—finding some standout moments on “Insanity.” Sadly, Mikkey Dee is sorely missed. While I wouldn’t say Shaw’s performance is lackluster, it is rather bland. I’m convinced if the drumming was stronger, The Eye would be one of my top two favorite Diamond releases. And to make matters even worse, there’s still a rumor out there that Snowy Shaw never actually recorded his drums, and what you hear is a drum machine…
That said, The Eye was one of more a band effort that many previous releases. Even Blakk and Shaw have writing credits for the album—”Father Picard” for the former and “Into the Convent” for the latter. Both songs being just as good as the others on this solidly-constructed disc. But, as I said, The Eye marked the end of an era. And every time I hear it, I’m reminded of that. King Diamond was never the same after The Eye, and, like many old bands, fans remember the early era as the only era of the band. 3 But The Eye did a damn fine job transitioning King to a new lineup and sound. The band even took many of this album’s elements on to hone and perfect on later albums. Released on All Hallow’s Eve Eve in 1990, may The Eye keep Halloween going into the new year.
- Looking at you, Opeth. ↩
- Actually, he left after “Them” but returned to the studio to record drums for Conspiracy. ↩
- Looking at you, Steel . ↩
A new chaplain has arrived
Madeleine and a few other nuns
At the convent will meet him tonight
Another iconic trick from Al Koran's repertoire was the "Gold Medallion." In this trick, he would borrow a ring from an audience member and hold it tightly in his hands. Spectators would then see the ring vanish before their eyes, only to reappear seconds later, securely attached to a chain or medallion around Al Koran's neck. The disappearance and reappearance of the ring were so baffling that it appeared Al Koran possessed otherworldly powers. Al Koran was highly regarded not only for his incredible tricks but also for his showmanship and charisma on stage. He had a natural ability to captivate audiences with his charm and genuine love for magic. His performances were filled with humor, suspense, and moments of sheer amazement. Throughout his career, Al Koran performed on television shows, in theaters, and at prestigious venues around the world. He left a lasting impact on the world of magic and mentalism, inspiring countless magicians to follow in his footsteps. In conclusion, Al Koran Magic refers to the style of magic performed by the master magician Al Koran. His incredible mentalism and mind-reading abilities astounded audiences and left an indelible mark on the world of magic. His tricks, such as the "Koran Medallion" and "Gold Medallion," continue to inspire and captivate audiences to this day..
Reviews for "The Psychic Powers of Al Koran: An Investigative Study"
1. John Smith - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Al Koran Magic". The tricks and illusions were not as mind-blowing or innovative as I had hoped. Many of them seemed outdated and lacked the element of surprise. Additionally, the explanations provided were confusing and poorly written, making it difficult to understand how some of the tricks were performed. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to anyone looking for truly impressive magic tricks.
2. Emily Johnson - 1 star - I cannot understand why "Al Koran Magic" is so highly praised. The tricks outlined in the book were dull and unimpressive. It felt like I had seen them all before, and there was nothing unique or original about them. Furthermore, the instructions provided were convoluted and unclear, making it challenging to replicate the tricks successfully. I was left feeling unsatisfied and let down by this book, and I would advise others to explore alternative resources for learning magic tricks.
3. David Thompson - 2 stars - As an avid fan of magic, I was excited to get my hands on "Al Koran Magic". Unfortunately, it failed to live up to my expectations. The tricks described were not as mind-bending or impressive as I had hoped. Many of them were basic and lacked the wow factor that I look for in magic tricks. Additionally, the explanations provided were lacking in detail, making it difficult to replicate the tricks accurately. Overall, I found this book to be mediocre at best, and I would not recommend it to serious magic enthusiasts.