Mercyful Fate - Worship at the tomb of fate!!!

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The legends of Black Metal are back!!!

Mercyful Fate **** are a band from Copenhagen, Denmark... I have been waiting to see for years, the last time I saw them was opening the Big Day Out in Milton Keynes 1999, playing alongside Metallica, Marilyn Manson, Placebo, Ministry, Sepultura, Creed, Queens of the Stoneage and many more. I of course have seen King Diamond solo a number of times, but to hear tracks like 'Melissa' and 'Black Funeral' live again by the full line-up was going to be something quite special. The scene is set, it's the last band on the Saturday night of this years Bloodstock Festival. You see the lights go down, and then just a lit up cross and you know it's time for the legends of Black Metal to come to the stage.

I know people will probably think I am mad, but I have to admit I have always prefered King Diamond's solo material to Mercyful Fate. But I think this is more of a preferance, and that both are equally as good. I have been lucky to see King Diamond perform at Bloodstock before and a couple of times at the Graspop festival in Dessel, Belgium. The reunion line-up for Mercyful Fate consits of King Diamond (Vocals), Hank Shermann (Guitar), Bjarne T. Holm (Drums),  Mike Wead (Guitar) and Joey Vera (Bass). They open with 'The Oath', off the classic album 'Don't break the Oath' which is a record my friends played on continuous loop at me for a very long time.

But it's 'Curse of the Pharaohs' and 'Melissa' that are my personal highlights of the bands performance, I always really loved the 'Melissa' record. And King Diamond has an array of costumes to change into during the performance. Which are different from what he uses with King Diamond (Solo), a little more Satanic and menacing. The bands Satanic side is shown the whole way through the performance, but especially comes out on tracks like 'Black Funeral', 'Evil' and 'Come to the Sabbath'. What is great about Mercyful Fate is the Classic Rock / Heavy Metal storytelling, as well as the intricate guitar sequences. Which are really memorable, their is so really standout guitar solo's during the bands performance.

Mercyful Fate did not disappoint, I think they could have done slightly more with the stage show. But this is probably me being a little picky, and a little greedy. But who can blame me for wanting more, but how can you really complain when they end with 'Satan's Fall' and 'To one far Away'. But all the tracks they play are classics, and I think Mercyful Fate have got more respect in recent years. Going from opening festivals back when I first saw them, to headlining festivals all over Europe in 2022. If your a Metal fan you really have to see Mercyful Fate, they are really ones for your bucket list. So see them while you can, to avoid forever missing out.

Review and Photos by Dan Devour 

Mercyful Fate - Setlist 
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The Oath
A Corpse without Soul
The Jackal of Salzburg
Curse of the Pharaohs
A Dangerous Meeting
Doomed by the living Dead
Melissa
Black Funeral
Evil
Come to the Sabbath
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Satan's Fall
To one far Away

Check Out! the Video for 'Witches' Dance' Below...