MERCYFUL FATE

The second re-release of the seventh full-length studio album by legendary Danish Heavy Metal band.
Mercyful Fate's last studio album before their twenty-year hiatus from 1999 to 2019.
"9" has a sound far more akin to 80s Thrash Metal than classic Mercyful Fate releases. Furthermore, the songs have been made shorter and much faster, again emitting a strong Thrash Metal vibe. This stylistic change works in favour of "9" and gives it a distinct identity, separating the album from every preceding release.
Although atmosphere has always been a key component of Mercyful Fate releases, no album has ever utilized atmosphere as well as "9" has. The album has the darkest, most disturbing atmosphere of any Mercyful Fate album, arguably even mores than "Don’t Break The Oath" or the band’s self-titled EP. The intense atmosphere found on each and every song derives from the album’s lyrics and production. "9" sees the return of Satanic and occult-themed lyrics, which had been mostly absent since the release of "Time" in 1994. While this style of lyricism was never completely abandoned, the fact that lyrics revolving around demons and Hell are back in full-swing adds another layer of darkness and evil to the album.
Like its predecessor, the sound quality on "9" has been intentionally worsened to achieve an effect, similar to bands of the Black Metal persuasion. As a result, the vocals sound muddy and the guitar tone is distorted and raw. Although the poor production adds to the haunting atmosphere the band was clearly trying to achieve, it nevertheless hurts the overall sound of the band in the long run. The loudness of the guitars often overpower the other instruments, and the muddiness of the vocals make King Diamond sound weaker than ever. In addition, the vocals are typically buried in the background while guitars blare in the foreground, occasionally rendering King Diamond’s vocals completely unintelligible. Luckily, the guitarists end up being the album’s saving grace. Unlike the previous album, Shermann’s riffs never cease to be interesting, and are usually the catchiest parts of every song. Wead’s shredding during guitar solos make songs more intense and compliment Diamond’s shrieks and falsetto wails. Although Mercyful Fate are clearly not at the top of their game during this album, the guitarists are typically able to make up for most of the band’s shortcomings. Although the messy sound quality works well with the songs’ Satanic lyrics, it ends up hurting the album in the long run.
When deciding how they should handle "9", Mercyful Fate most likely found themselves in an awkward place. Keeping their sound the same by sticking to their trite, overused formula would have proved disastrous, as it would have no doubt been a reiteration of "Dead Again", their least successful album. However, a return to form would have been laughable, as Denner was vital to their classic sound and most members of the band have lost most of their former glory. With that being said, "9" was an excellent way of finding middle ground. Despite its shortcomings, the album is a solid effort which proved that Mercyful Fate were still creative masterminds so many years into their career.
180-gram black vinyl includes large two-sided poster.
Metal Blade Records, 1999/2016/2022 (3984-25029-1). Made in Germany. Re-press.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Church Of Saint Anne 4:44
2. Last Rites 4:12
3. Hold My Soul 5:04
4. House On the Hill 3:43
5. Burn in Hell 3:49

Side 2
6. The Grave 4:09
7. Insane 3:01
8. Kiss the Demon 3:53
9. Buried Alive 4:41
10. 9 4:29

Total playing time: 41:45 min.



Samples: https://mercyfulfate.bandcamp.com

The first re-release of the sixth full-length studio album by legendary Danish Heavy Metal band.
The album marks the first that Michael Denner is not present on. It also marked a new era for the band, as the production is more muddy and raw, and the guitar tone is more distorted than on the three previous albums. In addition, the album introduced a more complex and arguably Progressive sound to several of its tracks.
Recorded during a frenzy of activity during the late '90s, "Dead Again" was presumably thrown together rather quickly, as Mercyful Fate and King Diamond's solo outfit were both releasing new discs at a furious rate. This schedule had to be most taxing on vocalist Diamond, whose ultra-high-pitch bellowing and novel-length lyrical additions to both of his bands made for a laborious schedule. Joining Diamond on this 1998 Metal Blade release are guitarists Hank Shermann and Mike Wead, drummer Bjarne T. Holm, and bassist Sharlee D'Angelo. Each member turns in solid performances in both the creation and execution of fine riffs and arrangements.
Very catchy and pretty damn heavy, with lots of groovy riffs to it, with a rather surprising ending. Mercyful Fate nor King Diamond have ever put out a bad album, and "Dead Again" conjures enough magic to make it a worthy purchase!
Metal Blade Records, 1998/2018 (3984-14159-2). Made in Germany. Pressed in Austria. Repress.


Tracklist:
1. Torture (1629) 5:03
2. The Night 5:51
3. Since Forever 4:39
4. The Lady Who Cries 4:17
5. Banshee 4:46
6. Mandrake 6:06
7. Sucking Your Blood 4:21
8. Dead Again 13:40
9. Fear 4:16
10. Crossroads 5:40
Total playing time: 58:39 min.



Samples: https://mercyfulfate.bandcamp.com

The third full-length studio album by legendary Danish Heavy Metal band.
Mercyful Fate's first album since their reunion in 1992. After an almost decade-long hiatus, the band's reunion did not disappoint; it was as if they picked up right where they had left off. There are more of King Diamond's gothic tales of horror and the supernatural, and the music sounds better than ever.
The songs here are first-rate; most of them grab your attention in one way or another. But what separates this record from the rest is the numbers of hooks found here. Whether it is a riff, a chorus, or a drum pattern, by the end of the album you'll remember something from it. The album also features awesome production; you can listen to every single note and vocal line the way that the band intended and yet, it doesn't sound overly polished.
Unlike previous Mercyful Fate albums, which were entirely centred around lyrical themes of satanism and the occult, the lyrics on this album are rather focused on more conceptual horror-themes, akin to King Diamond's work with his eponymous band. The band would not return to a primarily occult/satanic lyrical approach until the band's latest album, "9", released in 1999.
This would be the final full-length album Timi Hansen would appear on before his death in 2019. 
Even as the album doesn't have the historical significance of their early 80s material, that doesn't really matter, because this is high-quality material from a veteran band!
The CD features a Bonus Track, "Return of the Vampire… 1993", featuring Lars Ulrich of Metallica on drums – a re-recorded version of the underground classic "Return of the Vampire", present in the homonymous 1992 compilation album.
Metal Blade Records GmbH, 1993/2014 (3984-17020-2). Made in Germany.


Tracklist:
1. Egypt 4:53
2. The Bell Witch 4:34
3. The Old Oak 8:55
4. Shadows 4:43
5. A Gruesome Time 4:31
6. Thirteen Invitations 5:17
7. Room Of Golden Air 3:07
8. Legend Of The Headless Rider 7:43
9. Is That You, Melissa 4:41
10. Return Of The Vampire…1993 5:09
Total playing time: 53:30 min.



Samples: https://mercyfulfate.bandcamp.com

The first compilation album by legendary Danish Heavy Metal band.
"The Beginning" is a compilation of rare early releases by Mercyful Fate, and if you thought "Melissa" and "Don't Break the Oath" were great albums, you need to get this! 
The album, originally released in June 1987, consists of the band's first four-song EP, "Nuns Have No Fun" (released on Rave-On records in 1982), the three-song broadcast of Mercyful Fate live on the BBC, and a B-side from the "Melissa" recording sessions.
What a great idea this was, remastering that legendary EP, adding 3 BBC session tracks to it, a rare single and a raw, early version of "Black Funeral".
Overall, this album is a very worthy purchase for any Mercyful Fate fan, as it shows all the elements of their style honed to perfection and performed with raw, youthful abandon.
Vinyl Replica Black CD in hardcover gatefold sleeve.
Metal Blade Records Inc., 1987/2020 (3984-15701-2). Made in Germany for the world. Pressed in Austria.


Tracklist:
1. Doomed By The Living Dead (from 'Rave-On Sessions') 5:07
2. A Corpse Without Soul (from 'Rave-On Sessions') 6:52
3. Nuns Have No Fun (from 'Rave-On Sessions') 4:17
4. Devil Eyes (from 'Rave-On Sessions') 5:48
5. Curse Of The Pharaohs (from 'BBC Friday Rock Show Sessions') 3:50
6. Evil (from 'BBC Friday Rock Show Sessions') 4:01
7. Satan's Fall (from 'BBC Friday Rock Show Sessions') 10:28
8. Black Masses (from 'Melissa Sessions') 4:30
Total playing time: 45:21 min.


Samples: https://mercyfulfate.bandcamp.com