Mercyful Fate

For the Metallica cover song, see Garage Inc.

Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate performing in 2022
Mercyful Fate performing in 2022
Background information
OriginCopenhagen, Denmark
Genres
DiscographyMercyful Fate discography
Years active
  • 1981–1985
  • 1992–1999
  • 2008
  • 2011
  • 2019–present
Labels
SpinoffsKing Diamond
Members
Past members
Websitemercyfulfatecoven.com

Mercyful Fate is a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen, formed in 1981 by vocalist King Diamond and guitarist Hank Shermann.[4] Influenced by progressive rock and hard rock, and with lyrics dealing with LaVeyan Satanism (often with ironic or sardonic use of Christian themes) and the occult, Mercyful Fate was part of the first wave of black metal in the early to mid-1980s, along with Venom and Bathory.[5][6] The band is also cited as a formative influence on many then-up-and-coming subgenres of heavy metal, including thrash metal[7][8] and death metal, as well as the Norwegian black metal scene.[9][10][11]

Since its inception in 1981, Mercyful Fate has released seven studio albums, two extended plays, and four compilations. After several line-up changes and self-made demos, they released their self-titled EP in 1982, with the line-up of King Diamond (vocals), Hank Shermann (lead and rhythm guitars), Michael Denner (rhythm and lead guitars), Timi Hansen (bass) and Kim Ruzz (drums). With this line-up, the group recorded their first two studio albums: 1983's Melissa and 1984's Don't Break the Oath. In spite of their reputation as one of the most acclaimed bands of the European heavy metal scene of the 1980s, Mercyful Fate were the subject of controversy due to their satanic imagery, and one of their songs "Into the Coven" (from Melissa) later gained notoriety for appearing as one of the PMRC's "Filthy Fifteen" list of objectionable songs.[12]

After disbanding in 1985 due to musical differences, four out of the five members of Mercyful Fate reunited in 1992 and recorded the album In the Shadows, which was released the following year. During the 1990s, the band released four more studio albums and went through several line-up changes. Mercyful Fate went on hiatus in 1999, but had reunited on occasion during the 2000s. On August 1, 2019, it was announced that Mercyful Fate were reuniting on a more permanent basis, with plans to tour[4][13] and release a new album, which will be their first since 9 in 1999.[14]

  1. ^ Bille, Torben, ed. (2002). Dansk rockleksikon (in Danish) (1st ed.). Politikens Forlag. p. 314. ISBN 87-567-6525-8. En af grundlæggerne af 'black metal': heavy metal med udtalt satanistiske tekster. [English: One of the founders of 'black metal': heavy metal with pronouncedly satanic lyrics.]
  2. ^ Nielsen, Jens-Emil (2014). 80'er rock: Dansk rock 1980-1990 (in Danish) (1st ed.). Her & Nu. p. 74. ISBN 978-87-93093-85-0. [...] sataniske tekster, som gør, at de er med til at skabe undergenren black metal. [English: [...] satanic lyrics, which entails that they are involved in creating the subgenre black metal.]
  3. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry & Born, R. "Mercyful Fate". MusicMight. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  4. ^ a b Biography - Hank Shermann | Official Website
  5. ^ "Essential Black Metal Albums". Heavy Music Headquarters. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "Heavy Metal Culture — 10 Metal Bands that Broke Up too Soon". Heavy Metal Culture. July 4, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  7. ^ "Slayer's Kerry King: My 10 Favorite Metal Albums". Rolling Stone. July 14, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  8. ^ "Mercyful Fate – The high pitched un-powered metal band". metalinjection.com. April 3, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  9. ^ "Essential Black Metal Listening: MERCYFUL FATE Melissa". metalinjection.com. February 23, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  10. ^ "The Impact of Mercyful Fate's Melissa 40 Years Later". metalsucks.net. October 30, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Melissa Review was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "The 'Worst' Lyrics From the Satanic Panic's 'Filthy 15'". Loudwire. June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  13. ^ Fax: 33141000, Rådhuspladsen 37 1785 København V. Telefon: 33111313 (August 2019). "Legendarisk dansk band vender tilbage". Ekstrabladet.dk. Retrieved November 18, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "HANK SHERMANN Has Written 'Six Or Seven' New Songs For MERCYFUL FATE's Next Album". Blabbermouth.net. May 2, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2020.