Metal Blade Records has announced that it is releasing MERCYFUL FATE‘s classic “Melissa” digitally on October 30 in celebration of the album’s 40th anniversary. What makes this release special is that it’s a version of “Melissa” that was remastered in 2005 by Ted Jensen of Sterling Sound in New York City and has, up until now, not been available to fans digitally. Thanks to the band and as a treat to their fans, this remastered version of “Melissa” is now available across all digital service providers, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and more.
To further celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Melissa”, MERCYFUL FATE worked with its merchandise company Bravado to create a new line of “Melissa”-themed items that are now available to fans worldwide.
MERCYFUL FATE was formed in early 1981 in Copenhagen, Denmark by vocalist King Diamond and guitarist Hank Shermann. They were later joined by guitarist Michael Denner and bassist Timi Hansen, and soon thereafter drummer Kim Ruzz would join to complete the band lineup. The band recorded two demos in 1981 and later signed with Rave On Records in Holland for the recording of their successful self-titled EP, released in November of 1982. The “Mercyful Fate” EP was soon in heavy rotation around core metal radio stations, launching a new breed of heavy metal with their unique sound.
The band joined Roadrunner Records in 1983 and their debut full-length, “Melissa”, was recorded and released that same year. The following year, MERCYFUL FATE returned to the studio to record their now legendary “Don’t Break The Oath” full-length, released in September of 1984.
MERCYFUL FATE embarked upon a two-month U.S. tour in support of the record, which took them across the States several times sharing the stage with the likes of MOTÖRHEAD and EXCITER. The shows had created a brush fire within the metal community. The band reaped recognition globally, closing the year with a five-date tour in Germany with MOTÖRHEAD, GIRLSCHOOL, HELIX and TALON.
MERCYFUL FATE‘s first concert of 1985 was in their hometown of Copenhagen at an old movie theater with a large capacity. The show sold out and their stage show exhibited a new level of distinction. The night was a huge victory and a new highlight for the band.
By April of 1985, however, MERCYFUL FATE decided to part ways for each to pursue new challenges. The KING DIAMOND band was born and reaped critical acclaim the following years with five studio albums on Roadrunner Records. KING DIAMOND has since signed with Metal Blade Records and is going stronger than ever before.
In the summer of 1992, MERCYFUL FATE decided to reunite and penned a new deal with Brian Slagel and his label, Metal Blade Records. “In The Shadows” was released in 1993 and was an instant triumph furthered by a sold-out U.S. tour.
MERCYFUL FATE has gone on to release another five studio albums and have toured Europe, the U.S. and South America multiple times. The highlight of 1999 was their critically acclaimed album “9” which was followed by a European tour with METALLICA, where King Diamond and Hank Shermann joined the band onstage several times for the medley “Mercyful Fate”, which METALLICA had recorded on their “Garage Inc.” double tribute album the year prior. Tours in the U.S. and in South America followed, marking the band’s last live performances for over a decade. MERCYFUL FATE then went on hiatus, but made a brief appearance when members joined METALLICA onstage in 2011 for their 30th-anniversary show in San Francisco, California.
Currently MERCYFUL FATE is hard at work on a new album and back in June of 2022, gave fans a taste of the new material when they debuted a song called “The Jackal Of Salzburg” when they performed alongside VOLBEAT in Germany as well as at Psycho Las Vegas in the United States. MERCYFUL FATE continued performing in 2022 with stops at multiple festivals worldwide, including Bloodstock Open Air (U.K.),Wacken Open Air (Germany),Hills Of Rock (Bulgaria),Tuska (Finland),Rock The Castle (Italy),Hellfest (France),Copenhell (Denmark),Graspop Metal Meeting (Belgium),Sweden Rock Festival (Sweden) and Mystic Festival (Poland),toured North American tour in the fall with KREATOR and labelmates MIDNIGHT as support, and wrapped up live shows for the year with performances at the Hell & Heaven festival (Mexico) alongside KISS, SLIPKNOT, MEGADETH, and more and Monterrey Metal Fest (MX) alongside JUDAS PRIEST, STRYPER, PANTERA and BEHEMOTH.
MERCYFUL FATE‘s current lineup is King Diamond on vocals, Hank Shermann and Mike Wead on guitars, Bjarne T. Holm on drums and Joey Vera on bass.
