I suppose you could say Mercyful Fate is the equivalent of a supernova. They were here, were all the rage, and then vanished in the air. And sure they came back for a couple of albums in the 90’s, but honestly, did anybody care? No they didn’t.

Regardless, Mercyful Fate’s claim to fame is that they are the most accessible “extreme metal” band. It might be reaching to call them extreme metal, yet quite a few lists put Don’t Break The Oath and Melissa as the #1 and #2 extreme metal albums of all time, respectively. Melissa in particular sounds as if it picks up where Judas Priest’s Stained Class left off, and took it in a more mind bending direction. Riffs were transformed to the point that they almost sounded like lead solos, and the vocals, well we are talking about King Diamond here, I think “The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal” said it best when they said King Diamond took the metal vocal to a new plateau of absurdity.

Sadly, after only two albums, and before the band got to do some more damage, the band split up over direction, and King Diamond took two other members of the band with him to do his eponymous solo act, and Fate was delegated to the history books.

Metalheads, for all their stupidity, try and make their little culture club all encompassing, and say that if you don’t like the most obscure of bands they will deny you your metalness. However, I believe I can say, with full confidence and zero pretentiousness, if you don’t like Mercyful Fate, U R NOT METUL!!!


Best LP: Don't Break The Oath
Best Songs: Into The Coven, Devil Eyes, A Dangerous Meeting, Evil

Blackout wrote:

Have you heard the King Diamond record?

You'll have to be a little more specific, as King Diamond has quite a few solo albums.

I do have Abagail, and it does kick much ass.

Blackout wrote:

JRA wrote: Blackout wrote: Have you heard the King Diamond record? You'll have to be a little more specific, as King Diamond has quite a few solo albums. I do have Abagail, and it does kick much ass. I meant the Latest one.

I heard it was medicore.

And Enshin, I'm surprised to hear you can't find either of those two albums anywhere. Melissa was re-released as a "25th anniversary" package three years ago, which I still see from time to time. Not to mention the fact that it's also available as a 2 for 1 deal with the first EP, as well as Don't Break The Oath with that same package bundled with Return Of The Vampire or something.

Syd Lexia wrote:

I've only heard one King Diamond song, "The Family Ghost". It made me laugh out loud.

That song has some lethal riffage.

Metal is about riffs. Just cause the vocalist is pleaseing to the ear doesn't make them a proper Metal band.

Case in point: Nightwish.

Syd Lexia wrote:

Heh, I love Nightwish. Like I said, I like vocals, and I like them to be interesting. I like songs to mean something, even if they don't mean anything particularly significant or intelligent. I'm not really into instrumentals, especially ones that run past the five minute mark.

Does mean that by association, you are not into "La Villa Strangiato," or that there are exceptions to the rule?

Syd Lexia wrote:

That is an exception, because Rush is awesome. I've seen a lot of hate for Geddy's vocals on other sites, which makes me sad. Geddy is awesome. Pink Floyd is also an exception. Songs like "Shine On, You Crazy Diamond" and "Dogs" aren't technically instrumentals, but they have large sections without vocals.

Good, cos I'd have to slap you with my e-penis. I had that song as my title for a reason = best Instrumental ever.

That's true about Pink Floyd as well. I can just imagine some idiot teeny-bopper listening to that going LOL WHERE"S THE VOCALS??