I'm surprised there's never been a proper Mercyful Fate thread before! Having started to delve deeper and deeper into metal over the past year or so, I've come to prize Don't Break the Oath as one of my favorite records in the entire genre. The first time I heard it was a revelation, and I love pretty much everything about it. I can see King Diamond's voice being a deal-breaker for some, but I can get with it--and the playing and the riffs are so flat-out amazing that they totally overcome any reservations I might have about it.
― Clarke B., Wednesday, 13 June 2012 21:55 (five years ago) Permalink
classic tho it took 20 years to get into his voice like it did with Dio
― it looks like something rupert the bear would wear (Algerian Goalkeeper), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 21:58 (five years ago) Permalink
CLASSIC AND I'M FPing ANY FUCKER THAT SAYS OTHERWISE
― Mexès Coleslaw Massacre (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 22:01 (five years ago) Permalink
classic. DON'T BREAK THE OATH
― a dense custard of infinity (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 22:41 (five years ago) Permalink
Absolutely classic for Don't Break the Oath and everything that came before it. (Everything that came after it, not so much...)
I have a special fondness for the first EP (Nuns Have No Fun) and other tracks from that period (conveniently collected on Return of the Vampire. The actual sound of it is so purely haunted and evil.
And King Diamond was on fire back in those days.
― Sebastian (Royal Mermaid Mover), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 23:51 (five years ago) Permalink
A top 5 band for me. I started to write a long graf about how I feel about them but it's like, people would laugh at how highly I esteem this band. I love this fucking band more than all but maybe three other bands ever.
― decrepit but free (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 23:54 (five years ago) Permalink
This isn't true btw. Both In the Shadows and Time are outstanding albums, and their highlights stand alongside the best tracks in the band's catalog: "Shadows," "Angel of Light," "The Bell Witch," "Nightmare Be Thy Name": these are all great songs.
― decrepit but free (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 23:56 (five years ago) Permalink
Sure. But absolutely classic songs? Not so much, imho.
― Sebastian (Royal Mermaid Mover), Thursday, 14 June 2012 00:02 (five years ago) Permalink
those songs stand alongside anything from the first two imo - and the guitar work by that point has, if anything, gotten better. I think the first two benefit from historical perspective - they're acknowledged classics that sort of came out of nowhere, they get the debut-and-followup benefit. Both Time and In the Shadows are great records front to back
― decrepit but free (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Thursday, 14 June 2012 00:04 (five years ago) Permalink
I don't hear it. But I think it is better than King Diamond solo for sure.
― Sebastian (Royal Mermaid Mover), Thursday, 14 June 2012 00:09 (five years ago) Permalink
― it looks like something rupert the bear would wear (Algerian Goalkeeper), Wednesday, June 13, 2012 5:58 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Damn, 20 years! You're a persistent guy... I've had a harder time getting used to the black metal voice than any of the high-voiced dudes.
― Clarke B., Thursday, 14 June 2012 00:42 (five years ago) Permalink
whaaaaaaaat
Fatal Portrait: total, undeniable classicAbigail: DittoConspiracy: just a batwing-hair beneath those two
― decrepit but free (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Thursday, 14 June 2012 01:24 (five years ago) Permalink
Not only are Mercyful Fate undeniably fucking classic, but Force of Evil, the band made up of MF and King Diamond solo-band alumni, made two killer albums in the early 2000s that really deserve a wider hearing.
― 誤訳侮辱, Thursday, 14 June 2012 01:41 (five years ago) Permalink
Fatal Portrait is an interesting transition album, where Diamond and his henchmen are slowly shifting from the layered and mystique Mercyful Fate sound and songs to the more straightforward approach of his future solo output.
― Sebastian (Royal Mermaid Mover), Thursday, 14 June 2012 01:49 (five years ago) Permalink
why didn't anyone ever tell me this band sounded like this
currently listening to Melissa and this is what my face is doing:
o_O O_O ^_^ \m/
(yes, my face went "\m/", I am certain you all know exactly what I mean)
― I see you, Pineapple Teef (DJP), Monday, 9 July 2012 18:51 (five years ago) Permalink
I'm so happy for you!
If you come to visit we can drive the 20 minutes or so to pay homage to King Diamond at his house.
― EZ Snappin, Monday, 9 July 2012 18:52 (five years ago) Permalink
what is this bit in "Evil" that sounds like "Eye of the Tiger"
― I see you, Pineapple Teef (DJP), Monday, 9 July 2012 18:53 (five years ago) Permalink
I'm so glad I contributed to this:
Satan is Alive: A Tribute to Mercyful Fate
― EZ Snappin, Monday, 9 July 2012 18:54 (five years ago) Permalink
"Evil" is like 14 songs mushed together, so I'm not surprised you hear "Eye of the Tiger" in the mix; I haven't heard "Eye of the Tiger" in so long all I can remember is the opening lines.
― EZ Snappin, Monday, 9 July 2012 19:01 (five years ago) Permalink
I think people complaining about dude's voice are the most po-faced people alive
― I see you, Pineapple Teef (DJP), Monday, 9 July 2012 19:11 (five years ago) Permalink
i probably say this on here a lot but KD has one of if not THE greatest Metal voices ever
― coopflaggypost (Noodle Vague), Monday, 9 July 2012 19:33 (five years ago) Permalink
feel like I did a good deed today
:)
― the alternate vision continues his vision quest! (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 9 July 2012 20:14 (five years ago) Permalink
best band
― too many encores (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Tuesday, 4 December 2012 07:39 (four years ago) Permalink
where does one begin w/Mercyful Fate
― crüt, Tuesday, 4 December 2012 07:50 (four years ago) Permalink
DON'T BREAK THE OATH
― boy_slayer, Tuesday, 4 December 2012 07:54 (four years ago) Permalink
Just search "Gypsy" and "Nightmare" from that album.
Also, lol at Liz Frazer appearance on "Nightmare."
― boy_slayer, Tuesday, 4 December 2012 07:57 (four years ago) Permalink
j/k
― boy_slayer, Tuesday, 4 December 2012 08:18 (four years ago) Permalink
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/546886_10152236115395467_367926966_n.jpg
― rocky dennis horror show (Pillbox), Tuesday, 4 December 2012 09:14 (four years ago) Permalink
crut, Don't Break the Oath and Melissa are both awesome, King Diamond's Abigail is great too.
― Neil S, Tuesday, 4 December 2012 09:57 (four years ago) Permalink
I discovered Don't Break the Oath for the first time a couple of months ago. Holy shit, what an amazing record.
― bizarro gazzara, Tuesday, 4 December 2012 11:01 (four years ago) Permalink
those first two Fate albums are basically the bedrock. King's debut Fatal Portrait is great, so's Abigail. Fate reunion albums Time and In the Shadows are also both excellent. Bootlegs from their early years are fucking HOT, they play really well and just burn shit down. (And King's patter is just the sort of dramatic metal stuff that everybody loves.)
― too many encores (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Thursday, 6 December 2012 00:27 (four years ago) Permalink
^^^
― Twerkin in a coal mine (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 6 December 2012 00:30 (four years ago) Permalink
i saw then live in '99, such a great live show
― ❏❐❑❒ (gr8080), Thursday, 6 December 2012 00:56 (four years ago) Permalink
aero, y'all ever check out The Brats...the band that i think maybe 2 or 3 of the Mercyful Fate guys were in before Mercyful Fate? kinda awesome/cute band that i guess could be described as biker metal/new wave/power pop?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKsNfKRwLVM
― the purpose driven trife (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 6 December 2012 00:58 (four years ago) Permalink
By the way, both Melissa and Don't Break the Oath have cover art that's are in the all-time pantheon, too.
― 誤訳侮辱, Thursday, 6 December 2012 01:04 (four years ago) Permalink
yeah the Brats are p. cool. Fun stuff. I'll buy basically anything pre- or ex-Fate, that band is the best
― too many encores (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Thursday, 6 December 2012 02:22 (four years ago) Permalink
The riff-solo combination from 4:18-5:00 in "Satan's Fall" is so perfect.
― lazulum, Thursday, 11 April 2013 02:08 (four years ago) Permalink
:D
― j., Sunday, 13 October 2013 04:32 (three years ago) Permalink
TONIIIIIGHT THE CIRCLE IS MEETING AGAIIIIIN
― Neanderthal, Sunday, 13 October 2013 04:33 (three years ago) Permalink
definitely a MF kind of day, kicking out the jams with Melissa...
― Neil S, Sunday, 13 October 2013 09:34 (three years ago) Permalink
I'M A CORPSEI'M A CORPSEI'M A CORPSE WITHOUT SOUL
― ΙΧΘΥΣ blindness (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Sunday, 13 October 2013 10:18 (three years ago) Permalink
"Satan's Fall" is absolutely fucking epic
― Neil S, Sunday, 13 October 2013 11:49 (three years ago) Permalink
I really wish he'd take MF off of hiatus. I actually liked 9, it was a more modernized, streamlined version of Fate. and maybe he could convince Denner to come back while he's at it.
I'm bummed that I never got to see them. I had a ticket to see Mercyful Fate in 1999 in Atlanta, but at the time I lived in Tallahassee and had no car. The show got cancelled so it became a moot point, and then...hiatusville.
― Neanderthal, Sunday, 13 October 2013 14:23 (three years ago) Permalink
oh and uhm In the Shadows is an underrated Fate album. like "Bell Witch" is in my top ten MF songs of all time.
I AM THE AIR YOU BREATHEEEEEEEEEI AM THE BELL WIIIIIITCH
yeah agreed, I just listened to it and though it doesn't quite hit the operatic heights of the first few albums it's still really good. Those boys could play.
― Neil S, Sunday, 13 October 2013 14:28 (three years ago) Permalink
one of my favorite MF tropes was when King would go into Bee Gees harmony-land.
― Neanderthal, Sunday, 13 October 2013 14:34 (three years ago) Permalink
still the best
― combination hair (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Sunday, 13 October 2013 16:32 (three years ago) Permalink
I'm all about "Black Masses"
― Neanderthal, Sunday, 13 October 2013 16:40 (three years ago) Permalink
MF were like one band that could actually convince me to worship SAtan cuz it just sounds so damn fun
― Neanderthal, Friday, 18 October 2013 02:11 (three years ago) Permalink
God that scream at the end of "A Corpse Without Soul"
SATAN HAS TAKEN HIS TOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
― Neanderthal, Friday, 18 October 2013 02:12 (three years ago) Permalink
My only exposure to the King is one of the videos that got heavily played on Headbanger's Ball at the end of the 80s—don't remember which one—but he's haunted me since (no pun intended).
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 13 August 2014 16:33 (two years ago) Permalink
the key to enjoying King's voice is realizing that it is ok to think it's simultaneously hilarious and also skullfuckingly awesome.
like I giggle when I hear "granddddmAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" but when he sings "I am the Bell WITTTTTTTTTTTTTTCH" man that shit is just the bee's knees
― Neanderthal, Wednesday, 13 August 2014 16:34 (two years ago) Permalink
So great.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Wednesday, 13 August 2014 16:43 (two years ago) Permalink
sasd to see the KD tour pretty much sold out in minutes :(. stubhub I guess.
― Neanderthal, Wednesday, 13 August 2014 16:43 (two years ago) Permalink
it's the next level up from Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford.
Mercyful Fate to me is like, idk, death opera. Those crazy high notes make you feel all the feels and it's exciting as hell and it fucking RULES.
― SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 13 August 2014 16:44 (two years ago) Permalink
I WAS BORN OF THE CEMETERYUNDER THE SIGN OF THE MAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIOOOOOOONNN
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 13 August 2014 16:56 (two years ago) Permalink
otm
― SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 13 August 2014 16:57 (two years ago) Permalink
See? Pure joy. I can't dump all over that.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 13 August 2014 16:58 (two years ago) Permalink
but you so want to
― SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 13 August 2014 16:59 (two years ago) Permalink
the fact that you want to but you don't think you should is bummertown usa
dumping shouldn't even cross your mind
you are in metal heaven
― SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 13 August 2014 17:00 (two years ago) Permalink
I hated King's voice back when Oath came out. Hated it. Riff-wise, though, those records (and Abigail & Them as well) were so tantalizingly up my alley as a kid. Flamboyant, theatrical, all that, but that voice was always the sticking point. It wasn't until the late-'90s that I finally, finally came around. I don't know what won me over, I just bought into King's awesomeness completely.
― A. Begrand, Wednesday, 13 August 2014 19:31 (two years ago) Permalink
The voice was actually part of the initial attraction for me.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Wednesday, 13 August 2014 19:40 (two years ago) Permalink
yeah i don't get the issue, KD's voice is the essence of Metal imo
― The aim of Rooney is spot correct (Daphnis Celesta), Wednesday, 13 August 2014 19:42 (two years ago) Permalink
i mean I can see where the witchy Bee Gees falsetto might be offputting to some (not me of course), but even then people forget that was only part of his bag of tricks. His low vocals were unique and bellowy and served as a great compliment.
― Neanderthal, Wednesday, 13 August 2014 19:47 (two years ago) Permalink
they have this spooky vibe that's more party in the graveyard than burning down churches. guess i had to lighten up a little to appreciate it.― Spectrum, Wednesday, August 13, 2014 4:33 PM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― ODB's missing grammy (bernard snowy), Wednesday, 13 August 2014 20:55 (two years ago) Permalink
yeah I think the key to Mercyful Fate is realizing that it's meant to be fun
― SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 13 August 2014 21:01 (two years ago) Permalink
*mixed-gender D&D (xp)
― ODB's missing grammy (bernard snowy), Wednesday, 13 August 2014 21:05 (two years ago) Permalink
His low vocals were unique and bellowy and served as a great compliment.
Hell yes! I love "A Corpse Without Soul" for the interplay between the two styles:
Now I was walking down among the gravesI heard a CRYYYYYYYYYYMy SHADOWWW WAS GONNNEEEEEmptiness in my body, I felt so aloneSMAAAAALLLLL black wings on my naked BAAAAAAACKKKK
Now guess what I saw on one of the stonesI saw my SSOOUUUULLLL, in a MAAAAGICALLL HAZZEEIt was all dressed upIt was a corpse in a wedding dressSMAAAALLLLLL black wings on my naked BAAAAACCKKKK-AAGH!
The little extra-high shriek at the very end is so great.
― oblique blasphemies (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Thursday, 14 August 2014 02:24 (two years ago) Permalink
80s mercyful fate & king diamond = some of my favorite shit ever, maybe not a template for metal but certainly an ideal. KD's vocals, lyrics and style are a big part of that, though it did take me quite a while to come around. at the time, i couldn't relate at all, so i can understand why JF might recoil on initial exposure. you just gotta come, come to the sabbath, johnny...
― Adding ease. Adding wonder. Adding (contenderizer), Thursday, 14 August 2014 04:38 (two years ago) Permalink
going to put on Melissa in honour of this thread and ROCK OUT
― Barry Gordy (Neil S), Thursday, 14 August 2014 07:48 (two years ago) Permalink
Don't Break the Oath is the absolute best.
― jmm, Monday, 8 September 2014 00:37 (two years ago) Permalink
listening to Oath on headphones for once and boy were Timi Hansen's bass contributions underrated. everybody goes on about Shermann/Denner (rightfully so) but Timi's pretty monstrous on this album himself
― Hammer Smashed Bagels, Wednesday, 1 April 2015 04:47 (two years ago) Permalink
Is there any drawbacks to those Mercyful Fate double packs? They're far cheaper than most of the other options for sure. Not sure why I didn't get the double pack when I went for Don't Break The Oath.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 2 April 2015 10:56 (two years ago) Permalink
The main two problems with those Two From the Vault deals are 1) no rhyme, reason, or indication as to which mastering you get -- and MF/KD have had some remastering catastrophes over the years, esp. Don't Break the Oath and Abigail; and 2) somewhat related, a lack of complete liner notes. In all cases you do still get a full page of the booklet devoted to the original album cover, but that's about it.
I just deleted two paragraphs of my whining about remasterings haha. Since I'm not at the Hoffman Forums, I'll leave it this: YMMV.
― Devilock, Thursday, 2 April 2015 12:23 (two years ago) Permalink
I do have several of those TFTV deals, I should add, just not the MF ones. King Diamond, yes, among a few death metal classics.
― Devilock, Thursday, 2 April 2015 12:25 (two years ago) Permalink
Thanks. I'm going for the double packs.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 2 April 2015 17:50 (two years ago) Permalink
Don't know why King Diamond individual albums are so cheap but not the first run of Mercyful Fate except Don't Break The Oath.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 2 April 2015 17:54 (two years ago) Permalink
One good thing about the DBTO TFTV is that it comes with Return of the Vampire, the demo comp. Those early versions of the songs are so good, and "Burning the Cross," which never made it onto an album proper, is maybe my favorite Fate song. It's ridiculous that that song isn't up there with their other classics.
― Devilock, Thursday, 2 April 2015 19:30 (two years ago) Permalink
yknow what's a little frustrating, there is just no singing along with this dude
― j., Monday, March 17, 2014 7:04 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
lol man you ain't lived until you've squealed "Grandmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" at a King Diamond show with thousands of other fans
― Neanderthal, Saturday, 25 June 2016 13:41 (one year ago) Permalink
that said, the new Denner/Shermann release is really solid. I pretty much tune out the vocalist cos he's decent but as many may say, he doesn't really fit what they're going for, too power metally.
but this is some of the most inspired, melodic heavy metal riffing I've heard in eons, esp from Denner/Shermann, who had really kinda tapped out of ideas in MF by the late 90s.
― Neanderthal, Saturday, 25 June 2016 13:42 (one year ago) Permalink
now if they can just kick out this vocalist and have auditions for another, I hear this guy Kim Bendix Petersen might be a good replacement.
― Neanderthal, Saturday, 25 June 2016 13:43 (one year ago) Permalink
did anybody else get into these guys solely due to seeing them on Beavis and Butthead btw
― Neanderthal, Saturday, 25 June 2016 13:44 (one year ago) Permalink
If like me you're either disinterested in or disappointed by any of the bands that get tagged with Mercyful Fate comparisons, you might want to look to Norway's Magister Templi. I think one reason I never checked them out was the Candlemass comparison, and I definitely hear that, but there's something in their music that takes me right back to hearing Fate for the first time, little guitar runs here and there, ghostly clanging cymbals, song shifts that catch you by surprise, a production that actually sounds alive. I just burned through several songs on their bandcamp and have bumped their two albums to the top of my ACQUIRE NOW list. (The vox are nothing like King's, though.)
They're on Cruz del Sur.
http://magistertempli.bandcamp.com/
And
― Devilock, Tuesday, 5 July 2016 20:53 (one year ago) Permalink
When I saw the "Family Ghost" video in 1987 I knew then and there I was seeing and hearing one of the the most insanely talented heavy metal bands in history. I still believe that. What a lineup, what innovation and flamboyance they brought to the genre.
― A. Begrand, Tuesday, 5 July 2016 21:19 (one year ago) Permalink
I had weird, malformed metal tastes in the early-going, but the first time I heard MF I was like "THIS, THIS, MORE OF THIS!". Just sounded so sinister, yet ear-catching, badass and occult. the 30 seconds I got to hear of whatever song it was were a delight.
the only reason I didn't start listening to them right away was I was still a Fundie and the Satanic lyrics put me off. the day I left that life behind I went and bought Melissa.
"Evil" is probably still my favorite metal song of all time.
it's weird that I didn't immediately love King Diamond as much, and yet nowadays probably listen to them more than MF, mostly because they have a bigger catalog.
― Neanderthal, Wednesday, 6 July 2016 00:58 (one year ago) Permalink
WANT
http://67.media.tumblr.com/5e3472ddf7c5483c0c326994a64e11ca/tumblr_nt3qyvOdgn1uqx9h3o1_1280.jpg
― report your crimes to my burning ghost cock (bizarro gazzara), Wednesday, 20 July 2016 20:57 (one year ago) Permalink
Dont bweak it
http://i66.tinypic.com/s3kqko.jpg
― waht, I am true black metal worrior (Neanderthal), Monday, 13 March 2017 01:36 (four months ago) Permalink
That's awesome. I'm wearing my Don't Break The Oath shirt tonight to a show.
― BlackIronPrison, Monday, 13 March 2017 01:41 (four months ago) Permalink
I have the title in the album font on my left forearm, high five Neanderthal
― though the tempest rages, (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Monday, 13 March 2017 01:55 (four months ago) Permalink
That album was one of the first of many i bought with financial aid that was meant for college
― waht, I am true black metal worrior (Neanderthal), Monday, 13 March 2017 02:05 (four months ago) Permalink
damn great tat neanderthal
― the raindrops and drop tops of lived, earned experience (BradNelson), Monday, 13 March 2017 02:06 (four months ago) Permalink
^^ excellent work
― a but (brimstead), Monday, 13 March 2017 02:36 (four months ago) Permalink
thx guys. it hurt a lot more than my other 4, but been wanting that one for eons.
so, Mercyful Fate POX time? here's mine...
1) Evil (probably the only band where my #1 song has p much never changed)2) A Dangerous Meeting3) The Bell Witch4) The Oath5) Nightmare Be Thy Name (this is a late addition - I love Time more than I used to now)6) Black Funeral7) Satan's Fall8) Nightmare9) Melissa10) Torture (1629) (this is one from Dead Again, which while not a great album...this is a killer opening track)
― waht, I am true black metal worrior (Neanderthal), Monday, 13 March 2017 03:43 (four months ago) Permalink
Oh god.
EvilNuns Have No FunDevil Eyes Melissa TimeDesecration of SoulsNightmareCurse of the PharoahsIs That You, Melissa?Into the Coven
― jmm, Monday, 13 March 2017 16:13 (four months ago) Permalink
In the Shadows tonight. god I still love this one. helluva comeback album.
― waht, I am true black metal worrior (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 15 March 2017 04:02 (four months ago) Permalink
Evil*NightmareA Corpse Without Soul Into the CovenTimeA Dangerous MeetingDevil EyesMelissaThe OathReturn of the Vampire
* wanted to put something else at #1, but…
― Not raving but drooling (contenderizer), Wednesday, 15 March 2017 06:28 (four months ago) Permalink
I should have had Corpse Without Soul in mine. So many moments in that song.
― jmm, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 14:01 (four months ago) Permalink
Can we all agree that "Welcome Princess of Hell" is a better title than "Welcome Princes of Hell," the correct one?
(Also, Neanderthal, that fucking tattoo is amazing.)
― Comment elles torment (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Tuesday, 18 April 2017 10:45 (three months ago) Permalink
it will always be "princess" to me and I have always thought this
― People like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr, and (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Tuesday, 18 April 2017 13:58 (three months ago) Permalink
Amen.
― Comment elles torment (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 19 April 2017 02:18 (three months ago) Permalink