by Ed RivadaviaFounded in the late '90s by veteran heavy metal drummer turned singer Snowy Shaw (ex-King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Memento Mori, etc.), "erotic-black-horror-gothic- metal" ensemble Notre Dame have made quite a name for themselves with their energetic brand of heavy metal -- as well as a rather kitsch, highly theatrical, even cartoonish image. Clearly taking after his former boss King Diamond for direction, Shaw and his leather-clad, colorfully named comrades, Melissa 'Vampirella' Swan (vocals), Jean Pierre de Sade (guitars/bass), and Mannequin de Sade (drums), made their horror metal debut with the 1998 E.P. Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You!. A full album entitled Le Theatre du Vampire was released, fittingly enough, on Halloween, 1999, and the Nightmare Before Christmas E.P. was also delivered in time for the holidays. But Notre Dame went on an extended break over the next few years, so Shaw could lend his percussive t...