Several demos and live shows survive from 1981, including their infamous first concert "Sabbath of all witches" held in early/mid 1981.
In early 1982, the band contributed to the Ebony Records sampler Metallic Storm. Later on in the year, Mercyful Fate recorded its first official release, Mercyful Fate, on vinyl for the Dutch label Rave On. The release included heavy and evil material that would later inspire the black metal genre (although Venom and Bathory are as equally considered as the forefathers of black metal).
Following the EP, the band released Melissa in 1983 and Don't Break the Oath in 1984, which are now considered by many to be classics in both the power metal and black metal genres. Following the tour (which saw them play in the United States for the first time) in support of Don't Break the Oath, Diamond split ways with Mercyful Fate in April 1985 as a result of frustration over creative differences with Hank Shermann. With him, Diamond brought band mates Hansen and Denner to found a new band under his own name. Diamond's new venture continued the tradition of Mercyful Fate, but with a more progressive, conceptual twist to it. In response, Hank Shermann formed the band Fate, which pursued a more AOR direction.
Reunion
In July 1992, the band reformed and signed a contract with Brian Slagel's Metal Blade Records. All the original members without Kim Ruzz (replaced by Morten Nielsen) reformed and released In the Shadows in 1993. The album featured a re-recording of "Return of the Vampire", with Metallica drummer and Mercyful Fate enthusiast Lars Ulrich playing on the track. In the years since, the band has released four other albums, with the last being 9. Similar to the band's first run, members have left and been replaced; Michael Denner left and was replaced by Mike Wead, Drummer Nielsen was later replaced by Snowy Shaw who was then replaced by Bjarne Holm, Bassist Timi Hansen left quickly and was replaced by Sharlee D'Angelo. Following the release of 9 (1999), King Diamond put Mercyful Fate on hold and continued his solo career. Shermann, Denner, Holm and (King Diamond Bass player) Hal Patino formed Force of Evil, which incorporates many of the themes of the original Mercyful Fate.
In a March, 2008 interview, King Diamond stated that Mercyful Fate is currently "hibernating", but had never split up. Though he does not know when the band will become active again, he said "It's definitely not finished, at least in my book.". With the Re-union in 1993, the same lineup returned for the album and European tour, with the exception of Drummer Kim Ruzz, who was replaced by Snowy Shaw. Bassist Timi Hansen also left after the European leg of the tour, and was replaced by Sharlee D'Angelo.
The Lineup remained the same for "Time" and "Into the Unknown". Snowy Shaw was then replaced by Bjarne Holm on drums.
Unfortunatley, Michael Denner had also parted ways with the band at this point, to stay with his wife and family. His replacement was Mike Wead, who recorded with the band for "Dead Again" As well as "9" and has proven to be a sufficient replacement for Michael Denner.
Melissa
"Melissa" is the name of a skull King Diamond used to carry on stage, and also a fictional deceased witch that appears in three songs. Before the recordings of the album Melissa, King Diamond had acquired a human skeleton that he named "Melissa". He used the femur bones to make his trademark microphone handle. The skull was apparently stolen during a show in the Netherlands.
The skull was inspiration behind the album Melissa, and the title track of the album is very different from the rest of the album, as it is much slower than the other songs (which are speedier and more aggressive). The lyrics tell of a male protagonist (usually identified as King Diamond himself by fans) who lost the love of his life, who was a witch who was burnt at the stake by a Catholic priest. The story builds itself up around the emotions of the protagonist, who first feels sadness and uncertainty, hope for her to still be alive, and then rage over his loss. He swears revenge on the priest who burnt her, proclaiming that he must die in the name of hell. The song ends with a whisper that hints Melissa's spirit is still with the protagonist.
The second song Melissa appears on is on the album Don't Break the Oath in the song "Come to the Sabbath", once again at the climax of the album. The lyrics tell about a Satanic coven holding a sabbath, in which the protagonist emerges to perform a ritual to "put an evil curse on the priest who took the life of Melissa". Though she is not the focus of the lyrics this time, because of her mention the song is known as a "Melissa song". Additionally, one of the main characters on the King Diamond's album Them was named "Missy", which is a common diminutive of Melissa.
The final song Melissa appears in is on Mercyful Fate's reunion album In the Shadows on the song "Is That You, Melissa?". The lyrics tell of the protagonist once again in sorrow about the loss of his love. He begins to hear her voice and goes to the coven to have them perform a ritual to speak with her ghost. The coven objects, saying that it is against the rules. The protagonist is visited by Melissa's spirit who shares a kiss with the protagonist. The subject of the song is argued by some; one side says the lyrics are not a continuation of the Melissa story but a tribute by the band to their past, while the other side sees it as the end of the Melissa story. It is widely accepted that she is the girl on the album cover of "In the Shadows" facing the old oak tree. After In the Shadows, Melissa has not been mentioned any more in both lyrics and artwork.
On August 1, 2019, it was announced that Mercyful Fate would be performing an unspecified number of concerts throughout Europe in the summer of 2020. The band's line-up consists of King Diamond on vocals, Hank Shermann on guitar, Bjarne T. Holm on drums, Mike Wead on guitar and Joey Vera on bass, the latter of whom was filling in for Timi Hansen, who was battling cancer; Vera then became their full-time bass player after Hansen died on November 4, 2019, shortly after his 61st birthday. Aside from previously released material, the band was also going to perform new songs over the course of the summer.
In a May 2020 interview with Heavy magazine, Shermann said that he had "written six or seven songs" for the band's new album. On June 2, 2022, Mercyful Fate performed their first live show since 1999 in Hanover as part of a European tour, where they debuted a brand new song titled "The Jackal of Salzburg"
IN 2022, Becky Baldwin, a British musician who has previously played with Fury, Triaxisand Control The Storm. filled in for regular bassist Joey Vera, who had scheduling conflicts with his longtime band Armored Saint.
Angel of Light
Mercyful Fate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Master of Light, Master of the night
Master of all the things that shine
[Chorus]
Oh I believe
I believe in all that I have seen
And I have seen the Angel Of Light
I have seen Him there
Deep down where the Devils dwell
Deep down in the darkest well
[Chorus]
I will make a second deal with the Prince Of Light
Never will break the Oath I gave that night
Shine in all your glory, shine your light on me
I have seen Him there
Deep down where the Devils dwell
Deep down in the darkest well
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Mercyful Fate's "Angel Of Light" describe a believer's encounter with Lucifer, known as the Angel of Light, who appears as the master of all things that shine. The singer keeps reiterating that he has seen him in the deepest, darkest places, where the devil dwells. The believer confesses his belief in all that he has seen and acknowledges Lucifer as the Angel of Light despite his fallen state.
Furthermore, the lyrics mention a second deal with the Prince of Light, indicating that the singer is willing to join Lucifer by making another deal with him. However, he swears to never break the Oath he made that night. The lyrics become an ode to Lucifer, where the singer begs him to shine in all his glory and to shine his light on him.
The lyrics of "Angel Of Light" can be seen as a conflicting and curious relationship with the Devil. The song portrays a darker perception of Lucifer, who is described as the Master of the Night and the Prince of Light. The lyrics suggest a certain sense of admiration and attraction to his power, even though the singer acknowledges the dark side of his nature.
Line by Line Meaning
I have seen Him there
The singer has had a spiritual experience where they have encountered the entity they refer to as 'Him'.
Master of Light, Master of the night
The entity that the singer has encountered is believed to be a deity or supernatural being who has mastery over both light and darkness.
Master of all the things that shine
The entity is believed to have complete control over all entities, physical or otherwise, that emit light.
[Chorus] Oh I believe I believe in all that I have seen And I have seen the Angel Of Light I have seen the Angel Of Light, Lucifer
The artist acknowledges that their experience with the entity has cemented their belief in its existence and refers to the entity as the 'Angel of Light'. The artist also equates this entity with Lucifer.
Deep down where the Devils dwell Deep down in the darkest well
The artist believes that the entity they encountered often resides in places of darkness or malevolence.
[Chorus]
The singer reiterates their belief in the Angel Of Light and affirms the reality of their encounter.
I will make a second deal with the Prince Of Light Never will break the Oath I gave that night
The singer announces their intent to formally ally with the Angel of Light and describes themselves as having already made an oath to the entity.
Shine in all your glory, shine your light on me
The artist entreats the Angel of Light to bless them and illuminate their path with the entity's light.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Fintage House Publishing
Written by: KIM BENDIX PETERSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@qbitscondiasalterados5891
I have seen Him there
Master of Light, Master of the night
Master of all the things that shine
Oh I believe
I believe in all that I have seen
And I have seen the Angel Of Light
I have seen the Angel Of Light, Lucifer
I have seen Him there
Deep down where the Devils dwell
Deep down in the darkest well
Oh I believe
I believe in all that I have seen
And I have seen the Angel Of Light
I have seen the Angel Of Light, Lucifer
I will make a second deal with the Prince Of Light
Never will break the Oath I gave that night
Shine in all your glory, shine your light on me
I have seen Him there
Deep down where the Devils dwell
Deep down in the darkest well
Oh I believe
I believe in all that I have seen
And I have seen the Angel Of Light
I have seen the Angel Of Light, Lucifer
@GhoulishGage
I'm a christian, yet Mercyful Fate is one of my favorite bands....i think King Diamond is one of the best frontmen out there!!!
@Erick21740
Lucifer/Angel of light is Satan's name before he fell when he was an Angel actually
@spaceace4387
Back when I was in high school people would ask me "why do you listen to satanic music", and I'd be like " I can't help it if it sounds so good"
@bonechip01
God is real, Satan is real, Mercyful Fate is real! OH I BELIEVE
@RAFAHELL52
Nobody sound like Mercyful Fate
@littlewing5539
Rafael Ceferino Maza No one sounds exactly like him. But, sometimes when I'm listening to Pantera, I notice Phil Anselmo kind of sings like him in a way. very high vocals and it just makes me think of King Diamond eveytime. listen to Message in blood by Pantera you'll see what I mean.
@luis_punisher9045
When people ask me worried why i listen to so much satanic music i say that is not my fault that its so good.
@levitatingmoon5220
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@qbitscondiasalterados5891
I have seen Him there
Master of Light, Master of the night
Master of all the things that shine
Oh I believe
I believe in all that I have seen
And I have seen the Angel Of Light
I have seen the Angel Of Light, Lucifer
I have seen Him there
Deep down where the Devils dwell
Deep down in the darkest well
Oh I believe
I believe in all that I have seen
And I have seen the Angel Of Light
I have seen the Angel Of Light, Lucifer
I will make a second deal with the Prince Of Light
Never will break the Oath I gave that night
Shine in all your glory, shine your light on me
I have seen Him there
Deep down where the Devils dwell
Deep down in the darkest well
Oh I believe
I believe in all that I have seen
And I have seen the Angel Of Light
I have seen the Angel Of Light, Lucifer
@Farahlefar
LUCIFER!