Melissa

Mercyful Fate’s debut album Melissa is yet another example of 1983 being a huge year for now classic metal albums. The album has been classified as the birth of Black Metal or Extreme Metal however, this has more in common with NWOBHM and early Iron Maiden than anything else.

Recording began July 18, 1983 in Easy Sounds Studios in Copenhagen. The band knew exactly what they wanted to include on the album as they essentially recorded what their live set consisted of. It took the band a mere 12 days to record, mix and master the album. The label tried to convince them to record a cover of “Immigrant Song” for inclusion on the album. They eventually did end up recording the Zeppelin classic. Guitarist Hank Shermann was surprised when vocalist King Diamond sounded very close to Robert Plant. Even more surprising when King Diamond rejected the song for inclusion as he felt that the song was too out of place on the LP.

“Evil” opens the LP and what an absolute crushing start to the record. On of the bands very best tunes. “Curse of the Pharaohs” was originally titled “Night Riders” and was from Kings previous band. “Into the Coven” was the original title of the album. “Satan’s Fall” guitarist Michael Denner recalls, took ages to learn and had to work hard to capture the songs eerie feeling. Hank Shermann wrote the music for this song, which was composed during many sleepless nights on his unplugged guitar in his living room. Denner has also stated there are about sixteen different riffs in “Satan’s Fall”, which was the band’s longest song with a running time over 11 minutes.

The album was released in October 1983 and the band toured with Metallica in 1984. Tipper Gore included “Into The Coven” on the PMRC’s infamous “Filthy Fifteen.”

The album has been very well received by fans and critics since its initial release. Lars Ulrich

has been very vocal about his love for the album and Slayer’s Kerry King has stated this is favorite album, ever.

DJ Madness