Mercyful Fate - The Review

[phlemmy]

I got into Mercyful Fate after my introduction to King Diamond’s solo work, Abigail specifically. His voice took some getting used to but coupled with the brilliant guitar work by Denner and Shermann, I grew to love them. As most know, Mercyful Fate flaunted the whole Satan worship thing. While that sort of thing never really bothered me, there are a few tracks of theirs here and there that still give me the willies.

Melissa – 1983
What a haunting album. The production is pretty thin but this album is absolutely incredible. The weakest track is Satan’s Fall and only because it’s a tad too lengthy. The title track is so very dark and just oozes evil. My favorites are definitely the title track, Curse of the Pharaohs and Black Funeral.
9/10

Don’t Break the Oath – 1984
Easily one of the most evil album covers ever…at least to me. To be honest, I keep the CD cover facing inwards. Yes, I know, silly. But whatever. This album has some better production than Melissa and while the songs are very string on this one, I generally still listen to the debut first. Standout tracks are certainly Come To the Sabbath, Welcome Princes of Hell (album was misprinted to read Princess of Hell), Night of the Unborn and Desecration of Souls. Gypsy sort of annoys me and The Oath still creeps me out. Mission accomplished, King!
8.5/10

In the Shadows – 1993
This was a reunion album of sorts sans Kim Ruzz on drums. While I like this album a lot, I rarely listen to it. Egypt is a badass tune. There are no real stinkers in the bunch but the new version of Return of the Vampire annoys me, mainly because I detest Lars Ulrich (who played on this track) so much.
6/10

Time – 1994
Enter Sharlee D’Angelo and Snowy Shaw on bass and drums, respectively. Sharlee is a Ric player and even though I wasn’t a Ric fan at the time, I remember him using one on the tour. It was a great show and I got to hang out with Sharlee and Snowy before and after the show. I like this album a tad better than In the Shadows. I love Snowy’s drum style. Nightmare Be Thy Name is a great tune and was the opening video I played when I had my own little local cable access metal show in 98 or 99. One of the ladies I worked with at the time saw the show (late nights) and confronted me at work with, “Are you a Satanist?” I replied with “I don’t know, Marianne, do YOU think I am?” I let off an evil laugh and walked away. She didn’t speak to me again for the new few years she worked there. Hilarious.
6.5/10

Into the Unknown – 1996
Ugh. This album just wasn’t necessary. It’s boring. Under The Spell and Holy Water are pretty decent, but in general the album is weak.
3/10

Dead again – 1998
I’m glad I was working for Metal Blade Records at the time because I got this one for free as a promo. Mike Wead (Candlemass, Hexenhaus, memento Mori etc) was brought on to replace Michael Denner. I really don’t remember much of the album if any at all.
0/10

9 – 1999
This album was a little bit better than Dead Again. I can certainly hear Wead’s guitar influence much more which is a good thing. I saw this tour at the 930 Club in DC with nevermore opening. It was a fun show and I got to spend some time with Mike Wead before and after. Great guy, badass guitarist. Last Rites, Sold My Soul and Kiss the demon are my faves.
3/10

[nattiep]

Ah! Beat me to it! Sorry.
I got into King Diamond from hearing "Welcome Home" from "Them" too many times. I hated his voice. Thne I got used to it and now I know what a badass he is. Then I got Melissa and I went on from there. (I call dibs on the Diamond reviews!)

Mercyful Fate EP - 1982
Only four songs but most are great. Devil Eyes is kinda lame, but the other three are classics. A Corpse Without Soul has kings highest note (as far as I know) even though his voice cracked. Lucky for him it cracked right there.
7.5/10

Melissa - 1983
The first real album. Black Funeral is still funny to me. It's an in joke with my friends. "All hail Satan! YES HAIL SATAN!" Good times. The album is awesome. Evil is.. well evil. Curse of the Pharohs is blah to me but Into The Coven and At The Sound Of The Demon Bell are just sick.
8/10

Don't Break The Oath - 1984
I agree with Sean. Killer cover. Their best album to me too. Not a stinker on here. The Oath is scary, as it was meant to be. Nightmare is just plain crazy (and for people that got my mix cd.. you already know). The production on this record is killer too. It's perfect. Guitars are huge. Drums are great. bass is great. Each of King's "voices" has a different effect on it.
10/10

In The Shadows - 1993
Ah! welcome back guys! Great album. Stacks up with the other two for me. The Old Oak is long but great. And Is That You, Melissa? finishes the Melissa trilogy from the first two, those songs being Melissa (duh) and Come To The Sabbath. And I love the Return Of The Vampire remake. I prefer it to the old one.
9/10

Time - 1994
This one, while good, doesn't do much for me. It's ok, and is NOT better than the previous one (at least to me ) but it's ok. The middle section of The Witches Dance is the best part of that song, and sadly it doesn't stay that way.
6/10

Into The Unknown - 1996
This was ok. For the longest time I thought this was after In The Shadows. Derh. I like it. It's not the best but it's ok.
5/10

Dead Again - 1998
Contains pretty much the exact same cover as Don't Break The Oath (the horned skull pointing) and doesn't deliver that. It's terrible. I started laughing during Sucking Your Blood. The lyrics were terrible.
"Sucking your blood!
Ow Ow Ow!
Sucking your blood!"
Hahahahah!
1/10

9 - 1999
Didn't listen to this one much yet. But from what I've heard.. we get it King, you Sold Your Soul. You don't have to repeat it 50 friggin times. And the whole "I don't believe in heave. I don't believe in hell" thing from Last Rites just goes against everything else he wrote about. You don't believe in hell, but you sing about believing in hell? Wtf?
3/10