Great Metal Albums of 1986: Mercyful Fate- Melissa

 

My first experience of  the 1983 "Melissa" album from Danish metal band Mercyful Fate didn't come until early 1985 when I heard the best known song from the album, "Black Funeral" on a compilation album. During that time, I constantly heard the Jesus brigade going on about how the lyrics of rock songs all have hidden Satanic messages that mess with your subconscious. Well, it is safe to say that there are no such hidden subversive lyrics in the song, "Black Funeral." No, instead lead singer King Diamond just comes out and sings "Hail Satan." I've loved that song ever since.

"Black Funeral" isn't the only song on the Melissa album that has straight forward messages from the Dark Lord. There are lyrics in most of the songs here that grab my attention and fill me with much amusement. Take the second track, "Curse of the Pharaohs." Those lyrics, "Don't touch, never ever steal unless you're in for the kill or you'll be hit by the curse of the pharaohs" Continue to make me smile. After that is "Into the Coven" with, "Come, come into my coven and become Lucifer's Child." The penultimate track, "Satan's Fall" gives two different sets of lyrics to amuse. The first is "Bring me the blood of the unborn child." The second greatly amused my roommate at University in London and upon hearing it repeated "Satan's still alive." With all of these, one my think that I have upside down crosses on my front lawn and an altar in my backyard where I sacrifice chickens, goats and virgins to Satan. I don't because like so many millions of people, song lyrics don't effect me like that.

Satanic lyrics is only one reason to like this album. The music on "Melissa" is of top quality. Most metalheads know the unmistakable voice of King Diamond and his ability to go from a deep, low growl to his high pitched harmonies. On this album, he is probably at his best. However, what has gone less noticed is the guitar work of both Michael Denner and Hank Shermann. Not only do they hammer out some cool solos throughout the album, there is some nice little guitar breaks in the songs as well. Two more to add to the list of under appreciated guitarists. Furthermore, this is the only album that I know where the first three tracks all have catchy riffs. The opening riffs in "Evil" definitely grab your attention and when the song ends, the opening riffs to "Curse of the Pharaohs" keeps things moving. That's not all, the medieval sounding opening lead guitar intro to "Into the Coven" is done very nicely. So, all in all, this is an album to enjoy the music while being amused by the lyrics.

Track Listing:

1. Evil
2. Curse of the Pharaohs
3. Into the Coven
4. At the Sound of the Demon Bell
5. Black Funeral
6. Satan's Fall
7. Melissa

[caption id="attachment_3680" align="aligncenter" width="358"] Mercyful Fate[/caption]

King Diamond- vocals

Hank Shermann- guitar

Michael Denner- guitar

Tim "Grabber" Hansen- bass

Kim Ruzz- drums

Mercyful Fate's "Melissa" album was my first true indoctrination into black metal and it had the effect of getting me hooked on it. For me, it was the right album at the right time.

Next post: Tank- This Means War

To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Rock Albums of 1981: The Fools- Heavy Mental

Originally I was fearful that this post was going to be much shorter than usual. Has there ever been an album that you used to listen to many years ago but now a days seems to have vanished from the face of the earth? For me, it was the "Heavy Mental" album by The Fools. This was another album I came across when I was home on leave after six months away. My friend Frank introduced me to it and he used to play it all the time when riding in his car. Therefore, I heard it a lot over two weeks in 1981 and though I haven't heard it again before today, the album has always stuck in my mind. Now that I have heard it again, I regret not buying this album from Frank when he was selling off all of his music collection as a result of him finding Jesus.

This is a brilliant album, kind of heavy metal meets Weird Al Yankovic. BTW, I will be visiting all of his album when they come up down the line. The lyrics of each song are just total parody here. I really like those in the songs "Alibi" and "Lost Number" but each song has a catchy hard rock feel which gets you banging away to it even if you aren't paying attention to the lyrics. Thus it dispels the myth that people who create humorous songs lack music talent. (Never say that around a Zappa fan.) "What I Tell Myself" is proof of this and then there's the cover of Roy Orbison's "Running Scared." It might have been a serious song for Roy, but The Fools add their own little silly touch too it and still make the playing of it sound good. My conclusion is that Christ, I have to get this album for myself. No offense Frank.

Track Listing:

1. Mind Control

2. Dressed in White

3. Around the Block

4. Local Talent

5. Lost Number

6. What I Tell Myself

7. Last Cadillac On Earth

8. Come Home With Me

9. Running Scared

10. Tell Me You Love Me

11. Alibi

The Fools

Doug Forman- bass, lead vocal on Last Cadillac on Earth

Chris Pedrick- drums

Stacey Pedrick- guitar

Richard Bartlett- lead guitar

Michael Girard- lead vocals

Since Christmas has past and my birthday isn't for another five months, I guess I'm going to have to buy this album myself. I know I sound like a tight fisted git but really I'm not. Besides, this album will be worth spending the money on. If you like the combination of hard rock and humorous lyrics, then this is one of the best.

Next post:  Frankie And The Knockouts

To buy Rock and Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London