Mercyful Fate

Mercyful Fate is a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen, formed in 1981 by King Diamond and Hank Shermann. Drawing influences from progressive and hard rock, the band became known for their dark themes involving the occult and Satanism, often with a satirical take on Christian imagery. As pioneers of the first wave of black metal in the early 1980s, alongside Venom and Bathory, Mercyful Fate played a key role in shaping metal genres like thrash, death, and Norwegian black metal. Their classic lineup featured King Diamond on vocals, Hank Shermann and Michael Denner on guitars, Timi Hansen on bass, and Kim Ruzz on drums. They gained acclaim with their early albums, Melissa and Don't Break the Oath, but also drew controversy for their lyrics and imagery, with the song Into the Coven appearing on the PMRC's Filthy Fifteen list. Though the band split in 1985, most members reunited in 1992 and released several more albums throughout the 1990s. After a long hiatus, Mercyful Fate announced their return in 2019, with plans for new music and touring, marking their first album project since 1999.