This was the second full length lp from this band. It was also be the last album of their first run. This brings back memories of getting home from high school, crashing on my bed and listening to this album from start to finish. King Diamond has always vocals that you either love or hate. Personally I love his vocals, particularly on this album. He became a little more scattered when he went solo. Normally whenever this band is mentioned, so much is made of the vocals and/or the lyrics. I think the music and the rest of the get or at least used to get left out at times and not get the credit they deserved. To me this is a metal album that carries a heavy load and carries it well. From the opener "A dangerous meeting" you know it's solid metal with a heavy barrage of guitars, thumping bass and steady drums.Yet we get King's crazy vocals and maybe more importantly is they way they approach their song structures. There are parts that are typical, but just when you think you have them pegged they mix it up in a major way. The music flies off into another direction, the vocals change abruptly or the music halts or just completely takes another turn. This actually happens all through the album and what's more amazing is it works every single time. It's just crazy how much music is really on this album when you think about the number of pace changes. To me this is one the most engaging real metal albums of it's decade. I think sometimes people have forgotten how many different sounds this band had and just how many different metal sub-genres they really influenced. The band also sounds like they are 100% charged all the time here and the energy level rarely falters. It would be amazing to have them live at this point in their career because they were certainly at the top of their game. Highly recommended listening for sure.
"Desecration of Souls" has one of the greatest riffs I've ever heard. Long live the Fate!
ReplyDeleteThis was an awesome album I remembered listening to this and 'Melissa' as well. Both had excellent covers and music. The lyrics caused me some major conflicts in my religion then, but I enjoyed the music too much to stop listening to it. Now that I am rid of my complexes, I can really just enjoy this albums for what they are - kick ass music albums.
ReplyDeleteWild album cover!
ReplyDeleteI love MF. Classic band! I even like some of their later releases. I saw them in Philly on their last tour. It was a lot of fun..and they played Melissa.
ReplyDeleteThis is a classic album. I was fortunate enough to catch Mercyful Fate opening for Motorhead in 1984 for this tour.
ReplyDeletemarkm-I agree for sure.
ReplyDeleteandre-I used to have reservations about the lyrics, but I too am over them now.
Captain Corky-I used to have a shirt of this in the 80's and I wore it until it fell apart.
Fred Charles-I remember when the first reformed when I was in college. I was hoping they would come around where I was, but they didn't. I think the bill was Flotsam and Jetsam, Metal Church and Mercyful Fate.
dschalek-That must have been a cool show. I used to prefer King's solo stuff, but now I definitely prefer MF.
ReplyDeleteI suck for not owning this album.
ReplyDeleteFor its masterful blend of dark atmosphere and heavy metal that is both complex and well written, this album can't be beat.
ReplyDeleteI would really like a tshirt of this with the tshirt itself in the red and yellow flames and the demon in "big print"...don't exist from my searches...any help?
ReplyDeleteThe greatest album ener recorded. Period.
ReplyDelete*ever :P
ReplyDelete