I have to say, Mercyful Fate are one band I’ve never given a fair chance to. Mercyful Fate Melissa is their first album released way back in 1983 (though they did manage to put out an EP before that) and as far as why I never gave them a chance it was basically down to the vocals. Some love his vocals, others hate it, and I have to say, it couldn’t get into it. As I get older and more relaxed about what I listen to I find I can really start to appreciate this now.
Mercyful Fate is one of the first bands to do the whole “Satanic Rock” thing behind Venom. Where as Venom were an evil wretched blast of aggression with their first two albums, Mercyful Fate took a more measured approach, with accomplished musicianship, and songwriting. To my ears there’s a lot of classic rock influence in this. The band pumping out far more progressive songs that had some accessibility. King Diamond has long been an advocate for Satanism, using a lot of the imagery in both the stage show and the bands songs. The sound Mercyful Fate create is to some degree otherworldly with singer King Diamonds vocals soaring eerily over the top of proceedings. Depending on how you feel about his vocals it an be an annoying distraction, or it can sound kind of angelic over the top of some some devilish riffs.
As a first full album release from the band this is a very accomplished peice of work. There’s no real shortfalls, the musicianship is impeccable and production is great. I feel like the band as a whole took what Judas Priest were doing and took it to the next level, even with the vocals. The falsetto’s that King Diamond belts out sound like a castrated version of Rob Halford. I’m not really sure how this album sold at first, but it was put out by then new label Roadrunner Records and definitely influenced a whole generation of bands (Like Slayer, Metallica and Death) with its more progressive and technical musicianship.
I have to say with the benefit of hindsight this is one superb album! I only wish I could go back in time and appreciate it for what it was when I first heard it 🙁 . Oh well better late than never!
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