Mercyful Fate: King Diamond (vocals); Hank Sherman, Michael Denner (guitar);
Timi Grabber (bass); Kim Ruzz (drums).
Recorded at Easy Sound Recording, Copenhagen, Denmark in July 1983. Includes liner notes by Don Kaye.
Digitally remastered by Chris Gehringer (The Hit Factory, New York, New York).
One of the most important metal bands of the 1980s, Mercyful Fate took the gloom and doom of Black Sabbath, infused it with the faster tempos of Judas Priest, and added the complexity of prog rock. Meshing the sinister riffs and vibrant guitar harmonies of Michael Denner and Hank Shermann with the sterling rhythm section of bassist Timi Hansen and drummer Kim Ruzz, then topping it all off with the ghostly baritone and infamous falsetto of King Diamond, Denmark's renowned Satanic quintet took dark metal to a whole new level. Five-minute gems like "Evil" and "At the Sound of the Demon Bell" feature enough ideas for two separate numbers apiece, with the band creatively using unexpected rhythmic and dynamic changes and unconventional song structures. The album's standout is the radical epic "Satan's Fall," which exceeds 11 minutes and only repeats the introductory section twice, with every new movement presenting something new. But even on the short and sweet "Black Funeral," Mercyful Fate make the most of the material. Even if one cannot get past Diamond's Satanic lyrical musings, the band's music makes for a potent listening experience, one that can certainly grow addicting for those who prefer their metal black, heavy, and intricate.

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Pop
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