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Mercyful Fate

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Copenhagen, Denmark (1980 – 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 1980 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.

In early 1982, the band contributed to the Ebony Records sampler Metallic Storm. Later on in the year, Mercyful Fate recorded its first material, 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.

Tagged as:

heavy metal, black metal, metal, thrash metal, danish
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Melissa
Mercyful Fate
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Don't Break the Oath
Mercyful Fate
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In the Shadows
Mercyful Fate
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Top Tracks

1	Evil full track	877
2	Curse of the Pharaohs	385
3	Into the Coven	333
4	A Dangerous Meeting	299
5	Black Funeral	283
6	Satan's Fall	270
7	Nightmare	264
8	Come to the Sabbath	252
9	Gypsy	249
10	Night of the Unborn	247
11	To One Far Away	243
11	The Oath	243
13	Desecration of Souls	225
14	At the Sound of the Demon Bell	216
15	Melissa	215

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Henry994 wrote:
Tuesday afternoon

Awesome band.

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miqmiranda wrote:
Saturday afternoon

so fuckin awesome FODAAA(IT MEANS:COOL,GREAT ETC)

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GenitalWarfare wrote:
last week

"Tagged as: black metal." Oh you.

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hiimleslieee wrote:
last week

hail satan

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Thrashhard wrote:
last month

BACK IN TENNESSEE I SAW A FAMILY HAUNTED BY AN ENTITY

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rockthelotus wrote:
last month

great band, king diamond scares me tho

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MikeySchenker wrote:
last month

FUCK... what a great band...

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LogoDesigner wrote:
last month

the guitars in EVIL have to be my favorite riffs/solos.... Dont know why.... just awesome.

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LogoDesigner wrote:
last month

\/ negative nelly \/

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666Angelripper wrote:
last month

king diamond has the most disgusting vocals i've ever heard. it feels like he got fucked by titanic

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metal_gimp wrote:
last month

In The Shadows is really really good, ALMOST up there with the first two imo. 'The Beginning' collection is good too; contains the Mercyful Fate EP and a few tracks off the first 2 albums in demo form/live recordings.... DOOMED BY THE LIVING DEAD \m/

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desolateways wrote:
last month

Could anyone please recommend me another Mercyful Fate record? I got "Don't break the Oath" and "Melissa" so far..

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DEATHRASHERONE wrote:
last month

They killed with MOTORHEAD (Wendy O for No Class) at the Capital in NJ. Early 80's you can't touch today (in 2009)

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DeadDoug wrote:
last month

NUNS HAVE NO FUN

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Alliban wrote:
last month

Such a fucking good band.

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metal_gimp wrote:
last month

I DON'T NEED YOUR GOD

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jerzoo wrote:
last month

Zapraszam wszystkich polskich fanów do grupy! http://www.lastfm.pl/group/King%2BDiamond%2B%2526%2BMercyful%2BFate%2BPL

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tunyal wrote:
last month

999

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Overkill1993 wrote:
last month

this band is fking win.

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metal_gimp wrote:
last month

Oh the law of Satan Pray and obey it forever

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Recent Activity

RagnarRock, tiagomustaine, damg81 and 10 other people added Mercyful Fate to their libraries. yesterday evening
Glauco_Silva tagged Mercyful Fate with ‘heavy-black metal’. Thursday evening
themaiden1, LordQuake and Angelfukk added Mercyful Fate to their libraries. Thursday evening
Jejk_ connected Mercyful Fate to the group Stay Heavy. Thursday afternoon
DL_Darker, bsidar, NOCTURNO6CULTO and 1 other person added Mercyful Fate to their libraries. Thursday afternoon
palefolklore_89 tagged Mercyful Fate with ‘heavy metal’. Wednesday evening
goreandmetal, Necrogrindead, SegaCKY and 1 other person added Mercyful Fate to their libraries. Wednesday evening
Forsakenas tagged Mercyful Fate with black metal and heavy metal. Wednesday evening
Forsakenas and Musica174 added Mercyful Fate to their libraries. Wednesday evening
Mushishi_GinKo tagged Mercyful Fate with ‘heavy metal’. Wednesday afternoon