Mercyful Fate--Melissa

Mercyful Fate--Melissa (1983) Rating--7.0

And so, for all practical purposes, a legacy of darkness and malevalence begins...
The King Diamond-led troupe brings great atmosphere and layered vox to the table, while the musical sound is a rough-but-splendid mix of classic-'70s Priest and 'Number'-era Maiden. The band also shows a few tendencies to stray towards light, light Slayer, though the speed and thrash is never really achieved.
Opening track "Evil" cruises and bumps along at a bobbing pace, and both "Into the Coven" and "Satan's Fall" are strong, with the latter being dotted with soon-to-be-famous Fate time changes.
The discs, for the most part, will continue to strengthen from this point on out. If you are a fan of straight-crunch NWOBHM music, and can adapt to King Diamond's erratic vocal patterns and penchant for the underworld, it's hard to go wrong with the Fates...
TRACK LIST: Evil/Curse of the Pharaohs/Into the Coven/At the Sound of the Demon Bell/Black Funeral/Satan's Fall/Melissa

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