It’s been almost 7 years since I’ve written for the Ripple Effect. Not because I’ve stopped listening to music, not because the platform was taken away from me - but because I felt like - I didn’t really have the energy - the fire -that I used to. Life was - a lot - caregiving, routines, etc… I didn’t have that spark to share the things that made me light up - that made my brain lemonade bubble like crystal pepsi when the chords hit just right.
Until last month.
All credit goes to the youtube channel Metal School https://www.youtube.com/@MetalSchoolChannel if you’re a fan of 80’s metal and haven’t subscribed - go there right now. They go in depth on 80’s classic metal bands. So how did an incredible Youtube channel lead me to start writing again???
It was a regular weekday morning - I was playing my youtube subscriptions on my firestick while having my coffee - and Metal School had uploaded their latest video - a retrospective on Mercyful Fate and King Diamond. It played in the background while I scrolled my phone. Then - something tugged at me - “I know that song…” then “Hey that’s a great riff…” then “Holy shit that’s a fucking killer rff… “ then , “What the hell was that? Why have I never heard that before?” followed by, “that fucking bass player is a BEAST!!!”. There was an excerpt from a Danish interview with guitarist Michael Denner talking about “Into the Coven” being on the PMRC’s Filthy 15, saying because of the song’s inclusion on that list there was so much interest generated in the band that MF was able to tour the US for the first time “TUSIND TAK!” he grinned into the camera. I thought any band who pissed off Tipper Gore has got to be worth my time…
Then it began. I didn’t think, “Huh, that was cool. I’ll just continue my life like a normal person.” Because as any of my friends will tell you - that’s not how I exist. I started googling history - side projects demos, Old interviews, old reddit threads, Vintage youtube videos - “Hey why is this guy always cropped out…?” (More on that soon hopefully) - anything related to this band - I totally immersed myself.
Of course I already knew about King Diamond - I had even seen him in concert in 2014. I remember I went nuclear when he busted out “Come to the Sabbath,” but that and “Nuns Have no fun” was my total knowledge of the band at the time.
So much has been written about Mercyful Fate’s influence on the black metal scene because of their occult/ satanic lyrics. But musically - they were a straightforward metal band who wore their influences on their sleeve. Michael Denner and Hank Shermann were influenced by Judas Priest, Michael Schenker, the Scorpions, Wishbone Ash, Hank has even listed Status Quo and Kiss as his influences. As a guitar duo they should be talked about with the same reverence as Tipton/ Downing IMO. In fact, go on Youtube and look for the videos of the two of them playing through Melissa and Don’t Break the Oath for their respective 30 year anniversaries on Hank Shermann’s YouTube channel. You can see the absolute joy on Denner’s face. He looks 20 years younger when he’s playing those songs again. And Hank - stays 100% Danish but you could tell he’s smiling on the inside. (links at end of article) Late bassist Timi “Grabber” Hansen played what I like to call “lead bass” very melodic, tasteful - but not afraid to let you know he’s there. He does NOT get enough credit - I’m not going to go off on drooling fangirl territory here (yet hehe) but seriously TIMI FUCKING HANSEN. And Kim Ruzz on drums on the first two studio albums? Absolutely insane - another one who doesn't get mentioned enough. And then there’s King Diamond - his infernal Majesty. On the early Mercy stuff he hasn’t gotten quite that glass shattering screech yet. And oh - the lyrics….I’m not going to copy and paste them here for fear of the internet police shutting us down - but google is your friend . Some people say they were a bit “hokey” or “overt” - remember - King was in his early 20’s when he wrote them. And he is very open about being “a devoted adherent of LaVeyan Satanism. He has openly championed the philosophy, noting that it acts as a self-empowering guide for individuality rather than a belief in a literal deity. “ (thank you google) . And no, I’m not about to throw myself on an altar now that I’ve listened to the lyrics of “Don’t Break the Oath” - and if you actually listen to the lyrics of “A Dangerous Meeting" it actually warns against playing around with forces you don’t fully understand.
So this is my life now. Yes I know MF reunited in the 90’s with some strong material but when Denner left after 1996’s Into the Unknown he took a lot of the heart of the band with him.
And Yes, I do know the first two King Diamond albums were basically MF without Hank and Kim and those are FANTASTIC records that I’l probably talk about another day.
The MF reunion in 2019 , supposed to be with the classic lineup with the intention of playing the classic material? (unfortunately Timi passed away from cancer right before this happened) No - it's not a reunion without Denner. Nope.
As a journalist I’m supposed to stay impartial - and I’m sure there’s a lot I don’t know but - NOPE.
-Rys
Photos from Pinterest and Tumblr and copyright the respective photographers
Denner/Shermann play Melissa album here: https://youtu.be/uUVDIFxBxzw?si=QGIGwbHLZpObIEJ5
Denner/Shermann play Don't Break the Oath album here: https://youtu.be/9QA4kbcX3Go?si=homY9mOt-s6Tua1X
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