In 1983, Mercyful Fate released their debut album “Melissa”. It features the singles “Black Funeral” and “Black Masses”.
The lyrics written by King Diamond deal with Satanism and the occult.
“Evil” is an amazing opening song! I love the main guitar riff on that one and the guitar solos are bad ass!
“Curse Of The Pharaohs” is awesome! I’d say my favorite part is the opening guitar riff on that one, but everything else rocks as well!
I love that twin guitar solo on “Into The Coven”!
It’s cool how 4 out of the 7 songs have a guitar solo in the beginning such as “Into The Coven”, “At The Sound Of The Demon Bell”, “Satan’s Fall” and “Melissa”!
“Black Funeral” is the shortest song on this album, but it is still awesome! The best part is the twin guitar solo!
“Satan’s Fall” is the longest song on this album reaching 11 minutes, but it is worth listening to! I love how there are like 16 different guitar riffs! My favorite is that energetic section from 8:51 to 10:56 after Michael Denner’s second guitar solo! I love how the bass follows along with the guitars on that part!
I love how Hank Shermann and Michael Denner share the lead guitar duties on this album! Kim Ruzz and Timi Hansen make a very good rhythm section and with powerful lungs from King Diamond, you have Mercyful Fate!
Although this record didn’t make the charts at the time of its release, it is a major influence on the then-development of thrash, death and black metal genres! Plus it’s the earliest example of extreme metal! It will always be a classic and my all time favorite! These are my favorite songs on this one;
“Melissa” is a good closing song! That opening guitar riff is really cool!
Evil
Curse Of The Pharaohs
Satan’s Fall
King Diamond - lead vocals
Hank Shermann - rhythm & lead guitar
Michael Denner - rhythm & lead guitar
Timi Hansen - bass
Kim Ruzz - drums
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