| MERCYFUL
FATE
King
Diamond-vocals
Hank Shermann-guitar
Mike Wead-guitar
Sharlee D'Angelo-bass
Bjarne Holm-drums
Not
many bands can claim to be as influential as Mercyful
Fate. As one of the early purveyors of true metal, the
band's impact is felt far and wide; from the new wave
of black metals' Cradle Of Filth and Dimmu Borgir to
international metal gods Megadeth and Metallica. Most
recently Metallica recorded a "Mercyful Fate Medley"
for their "Garage Inc." opus covering such
'Fate classics as "Evil", "Curse Of the
Pharaohs", "Satan's Fall" ,"A Corpse
Without Soul" and "Into The Coven".
When
vocalist and Mercyful Fate mastermind King Diamond is
asked about the bands he has inspired, he immediately
gets proud. "It feels great. It's an honor. All
of the bands have their own take but no one sounds like
us". And Metallica's tribute? "I had no idea
they were doing that. Lars (Urlich) called me out of
the blue and MP3ed it over the phone. It blew me away".
Homage will continued to be paid as Mercyful Fate tour
as guest of Metallica on a summer '99 European tour.
With
production duties h,andled by Kol Marshall and the band,
the new album "9" marks the retum of a more
streamlined and brutal sound. "It is much more
direct and aggressive both musically and Iyrically than
our past few records", says King. Certainly not
heard since the monumental "Don't Break The Oath"
album. King: "melody is there without sacrificing
the brutality". Recorded at Nomad Recording Studios
in Dallas, "9" has all the makings of another
Mercyful Fate classic. Tracks include "9",
"Bum In Hell", "Insane", "Buried
Alive", "Kiss The Demon", "Sold
My Soul", "The Grave", "Last Rites",
"Church Of St. Anne" and "House On The
Hill".
"9"
proves the Mercyful Fate are true innovators, who's
omnipotence will continue well into the next century.
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