Mercyful Fate
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Copenhagen, Denmark (1981 – 1985, 1992 – 1999)
Mercyful Fate is a Danish heavy metal band which helped inspire black metal through their lyrics and image.
The band was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1981 from the remaining members of Hank Shermann’s band Brats and King Diamond’s band Black Rose. In early 1981 they helped out Michael Denner with demos for his band Danger Zone. Soon, Shermann, Denner, Diamond, and Denner’s bass player Timi Grabber realized their potential as a unit and started performing as Mercyful Fate. The band experienced the usual member changes for a new band, as Denner left (and later returned). In addition, the drummer position was a revolving door, but Kim Ruzz finally established himself as the drummer.
Several demos and live shows survive from 1981, including their infamous first concert “Sabbath of all witches” held in early/mid 1981.
In early 1982, the band contributed to the Ebony Records sampler Metallic Storm. Later on in the year, Mercyful Fate recorded its first official release, Mercyful Fate, on vinyl for the Dutch label Rave On. The release included heavy and evil material that would later inspire the black metal genre (although Venom and Bathory are as equally considered as the forefathers of black metal).
Following the EP, the band released Melissa in 1983 and Don’t Break the Oath in 1984, which are now considered by many to be classics in both the power metal and black metal genres. Following the tour (which saw them play in the United States for the first time) in support of Don’t Break the Oath, Diamond split ways with Mercyful Fate in April 1985 as a result of frustration over creative differences with Hank Shermann.
The band was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1981 from the remaining members of Hank Shermann’s band Brats and King Diamond’s band Black Rose. In early 1981 they helped out Michael Denner with demos for his band Danger Zone. Soon, Shermann, Denner, Diamond, and Denner’s bass player Timi Grabber realized their potential as a unit and started performing as Mercyful Fate. The band experienced the usual member changes for a new band, as Denner left (and later returned). In addition, the drummer position was a revolving door, but Kim Ruzz finally established himself as the drummer.
Several demos and live shows survive from 1981, including their infamous first concert “Sabbath of all witches” held in early/mid 1981.
In early 1982, the band contributed to the Ebony Records sampler Metallic Storm. Later on in the year, Mercyful Fate recorded its first official release, Mercyful Fate, on vinyl for the Dutch label Rave On. The release included heavy and evil material that would later inspire the black metal genre (although Venom and Bathory are as equally considered as the forefathers of black metal).
Following the EP, the band released Melissa in 1983 and Don’t Break the Oath in 1984, which are now considered by many to be classics in both the power metal and black metal genres. Following the tour (which saw them play in the United States for the first time) in support of Don’t Break the Oath, Diamond split ways with Mercyful Fate in April 1985 as a result of frustration over creative differences with Hank Shermann.
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Melissa
Mercyful Fate
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Don't Break the Oath
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In the Shadows
Mercyful Fate Buy- Download Album
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Time
Mercyful Fate Buy- Download Album
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Shoutbox
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Midrel wrote:
@cashmerestylz I think you had too much drink o.o
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Midrel wrote:
Why must you guys drown in a glass of water?
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ZombiePlague26 wrote:
Mercyful Fate plays traditional heavy metal, end of discussion.
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RawheatC wrote:
I existed before I was even a thing. Makes sense.
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Vipey wrote:
This was black metal before black metal was a thing. [2]
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xdevilbunny wrote:
bunch of punk kids talking about this isn't black metal. this was black metal before black metal was a thing.
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morphinewaltz wrote:
Euronymous talking about freedom and life-living, c'mon man, who the fuck cares about what where his opinions.
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RawheatC wrote:
""Never accept any band which preaches Church of Satan ideas, as they are just a bunch of freedom and life-loving atheists, and they stand exactly the opposite of me" - Euronymous " Euronymous is the last person whose advice I'd take seriously.
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Ugly13 wrote:
I dont give a fuck about opinions of Varg, Euronymous or Fenriz!
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RavenousGunther wrote:
I'm never breaking the oath.
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MadThrasher678 wrote:
@Austin_Rac: Your point is moot.
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MadThrasher678 wrote:
"Never accept any band which preaches Church of Satan ideas, as they are just a bunch of freedom and life-loving atheists, and they stand exactly the opposite of me" - Euronymous
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Austin_Rac wrote:
"In a way, it can be ordinary heavy metal or just noise. What's important is that it's Satanic; that's what makes it black metal"- Euronymous.
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veyita_88 wrote:
Is heavy meta with occultism,satanism,horror,etc,themed lyrics,that doesn´t mean it´s black metal.There are black metal bands that do not write satanic lyrics,is first and foremost,a style of music.
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KarlaNeves wrote:
Into The Unknown
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jehf-rock wrote:
Me lembra filme de terror assim como quando ouço Black Sabbath. Bem que eles podiam voltar não só o King Diamond na carreira solo seria muito bom velos juntos de novo tocando nos melhores festivais de metal do mundo.
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rafael_freitas wrote:
Because of the fusion: Music + Lyrics =D
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rafael_freitas wrote:
I think the best thing that describe them is, in a genre definition, "Blackened Heavy Metal" =)
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veyita_88 wrote:
But i get your point of course.
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veyita_88 wrote:
Well not that much because Coven wasn´t even metal.
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Recent Activity
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Rickenroller, metal_halberd, Halturik and 5 other people added Mercyful Fate to their libraries. 18 minutes ago
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KingsAndQueen tagged Mercyful Fate with denmark, 80s and heavy metal. yesterday afternoon
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St33lBlood, Bojar16, RipperBlack666 and 14 other people added Mercyful Fate to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
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Chlorpromazinum tagged Mercyful Fate with danish and heavy metal. Thursday evening
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and 12 other people added Mercyful Fate to their libraries. Thursday afternoon
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DeepPurple14 unlinked Mercyful Fate from Judas Priest: Epitaph European Tour 2012 at Spodek. Tuesday evening
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pumacampeon1970, hellcobfaul666, snakestonebass and 18 other people added Mercyful Fate to their libraries. Tuesday evening
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JeroenKlomp wrote about Mercyful Fate in a deleted journal. Sunday evening
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JeroenKlomp wrote about Mercyful Fate in stats 'n stuff (under construction). Sunday evening
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