Mercyful Fate

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1981

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Biography

Copenhagen, Denmark (1981 – 1985, 1992 – 1999)

Mercyful Fate is a Danish band which helped inspire 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.
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  • LordMoe

    even if they are commonly considered part of the 1st wave of black metal, they are still so obviously heavy metal. Anyone who has heard a single black metal song can tell that.

    20 May 11:51pm Reply

  • Siffie91

    Try to Join if you think you listen to Killer Metal! http://www.lastfm.de/group/Underground+Metal+Maniac%C2%B4s

    12 May 1:55pm Reply

  • ToxicGriever

    If Mercyful Fate are black metal, then Iron Maiden are thrash metal.

    11 May 8:57pm Reply

  • Begravelse

    Does anyone know, if King Diamond tends to play ANY Mercyful Fate songs when performing live with his solo band?

    7 May 8:53am Reply

  • jvfukk

    The Black Metal/Heavy Metal argument is still going on?

    5 May 5:56pm Reply

  • g_english

    best mullet alive

    5 May 4:48am Reply

  • patisawesome121

    They do have elements of BM, but I wouldn't call em strictly BM.

    30 Apr 4:33am Reply

  • Arturan0

    Today many young metalfans didn't know, what's Mercyful Fate. That's insult! Mercy is amazing classic heavy metal band!

    25 Apr 7:04pm Reply

  • Stellar73

    Don't Break the Oath!

    19 Apr 12:16pm Reply

  • BatZugeRecords

    Please check out the female fronted, gothic death metal band "Raven X" - LastFM: http://www.last.fm/music/Raven+X Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RavenXofficial Debut album out now featuring a cover of the King Diamond song "Sleepless Nights"

    4 Apr 8:40pm Reply

  • ikd-sj

    "desecration of souls" NICE (・ɷ・)

    28 Mar 2:27am Reply

  • VanitysFair

    I love this band already

    24 Mar 5:46pm Reply

  • dark_wisdom

    @IBrokeTheOath Mercyful fate was a big influence to many 2nd wave black metal bands not only musically but lyrically too. also king diamond was one of the first metal artists to use corpse paint. That's why they are considered part of the 1st wave of black metal

    22 Mar 9:39pm Reply

  • Nadabolt

    vvv lyrical content + corpsepaint

    19 Mar 9:12am Reply

  • fearimpaired

    :D This music is so genuinely evil, I can't help but fall in love with it. ^_^

    14 Mar 7:52am Reply

  • IBrokeTheOath

    Can anyone explain how this fits in with the first wave of black metal? It seems way too complex, melodic and virtuosic for that. When I think of the first wave of black metal, I think of raw, aggressive, sloppy, thrashy stuff like Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Bathory, NME, Sarcófago, Venom, early Sodom, Sepultura's first album, early Mayhem and Vulcano. This doesn't fit in with that at all.

    12 Mar 2:51pm Reply

  • metalinvader34

    In the Shadows \m/

    3 Mar 6:19pm Reply

  • Thorgrimm6

    Possessed as similar artist ? lol, no

    23 Feb 6:51am Reply

  • dcascato

    Michael Denner's solo, in the beginning of At the Sound of the Demon Bell is the one the best intro solo of all time!

    4 Feb 11:11pm Reply

  • Idiots-Rule

    The Oath is my fave song of theirs :)

    3 Feb 7:52pm Reply
    • All 1178 shouts

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