Customer Reviews

9

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I'm really glad that MF put this album out. I'm tired of the incessant comparison of every new MF album with MELISSA and DON'T BREAK THE OATH. Hell, DBTO was released over 15 yrs ago, and something would be very wrong with MF's creativity if they still sounded today like they did back then. I read an interview with King and Hank Shermann (in Metal Maniacs) and they explicitly said they're tired of everyone always saying, "This album isn't MELISSA," and that they've always wanted to try different directions with their sound. I admire them for finally taking broader steps, with 9, to move away from that ancient fan base that's still stuck in the early 80s. I mean, how many times can you possibly listen to MELISSA and DBTO? MF's fans should be grateful to have a band that continues to produce consistently high-grade music on an almost yearly basis (minus the breakup years). King Diamond himself has got to be one of metal's most creative and inspired artists. I admit that the lyrics on 9 sound kind of similar to other KD/MF songs, but his singing remains impressably innovative and incomparable. "Church of Saint Anne," "Sold My Soul," and "9" are vocal masterpieces. I also hope that Mike Wead will be allowed to contribute more music to the next MF album; his only composition, "9," stands out as the most twisted piece of music on the album. I think 9 will, with the proper exposure, garner MF more fans and the wider listening base that they have been so long in deserving.

Musick at 100 mph, sudden drops & changes, special effects to accentuate the sonic experience, it's just Black Heaven!

I particularly enjoyed "Kiss The Demon", which resembles some vampyric practices that I have come across.

'The Grave' seems to mock black sheep-types, in "bring your sacrifice....." to the graveyard, for desacration, intoxication, & fornication!

'Church of St. Anne' is a moving piece which carries some evocative aspects. It also speaks of a priest getting stoned by his own parishoners.

'House on the Hill' sounds very familiar, actually. The classic haunted house scenario done with eager anticipation.

".....I don't believe in heaven, I don't believe in Hell, so save your god for someone else, or save him for yourself....."

I was kinda surprised in learning that this wasn't a concept album, as I was under the impression that almost any album was that involved King Diamond. I'm not quite sure of the significance of this album's title. Perhaps it's because this is Mercyful Fate's ninth release (if you dismiss their self-titled EP debut and the 1992 "rarities" release). Or maybe it's just because it was released in 1999. Context clues don't make things much clearer when the lyrics to the title track read "I am 9 ... you are 9 ... we are all 9". I suppose it's also possible that it has some satanic significance (as it is well known that King Diamond claims to be a member of the Church of Satan -- to which his lyrics testify). In any event, I liked this album a tad more than I did _Them_ from King Diamond -- although I thought the La Rocque and Blakk tandem performed slightly better than the guitar work found here from Shermann and Wead (which is saying a lot). I'm not exactly sure what made this a better album. Better production might be part of it, maybe it was slightly tighter, more memorable songs. It also seemed more melodic, and the vocals seemed a bit more consistent here. I actually loved this album more on the first few listens, but repetitious choruses and predictable structures took away a little from this initial attraction. Still, this is something metal fans won't want to miss out on -- I don't believe there was a single weak track on the album. Favorite songs included "Church of Saint Anne", "Burn in Hell", and "Buried Alive".

This album is truly one of the greatest albums of the nineteens. Brutal, but still melodic. King's singing is just perfect!

This is their best since In The Shadows. The production is by far the best. The guitars, King's vocals, bass and drums are superbly mixed. It kind of makes you wonder what would Don't Break The Oath sound like if it were recorded today? This is it! Though I don't agree with the lyrical content on most of the album, it's just King doing his own thing, as usual. As for the band's lineup, Michael Denner left the band in order to spend time at home. He subsequently found his own replacement in Mike Wead, whom Michael thought played very similar to his own style. Sharlee DiAngelo has been with them since '93, and only the drummers have constantly changed. I see it as a band that is continuing to evolve. This is definitely a must for any Fate/Diamond fan. It is definately NOT a disapointment, but a triumph for the band, giving it's best sound so far.

Having read mixed reviews, I wasn't sure what to think, but I took the chance and was blown away! Fate's first venture into speed metal is incredible! "Last Rites" is a brilliant opening song, one of Sherman's best in recent years. OK, so the musical style is different this time around. The songs are shorter and simpler, but after the extended epics on "Dead Again", it's good to hear them try something different. So far, I've only detected one short passage in 7/8 time, but Sherman's songs are still mind-bogglingly weird, and this has some of Diamond's best songs in years. Sure, I miss Michael Denner (The "thank you" to him, by the way, was a nice touch, guys), but this line-up is gelling well, and seems to be stable. One could make the argument that Fate is Sherman and Diamond anyway. The production is excellent, and I liked every song on the first hearing, which I didn't with "Dead Again". It's not "Melissa" or "Oath", but it's not trying to be. It's heavy as hell and proves that true power metal is not dead! I've been a Fate fan since 1983 and first saw them live in late 1984, shortly before the break-up. I'm happy to say that with this new album, they they are alive and well!

Sold My Soul, Burn in Hell, and House on the Hill are some of the best King Diamond songs since masterpieces like A Dangerous Meeting and Come To the Sabbath. They definitely sound different now, but in some ways it's better.

Do not read "madpatient", "intedude", or a reviewer in Torrance, CA., as they were obviously not listening to "9"! They are correct in some ways. "9" is no "Melissa", or "Abigail", but it is probably the best Mercyful Fate in over 15 years! "But I want double guitar solos, and thought provoking lyrics, blah, blah, wahh, this no good" WRONG!! The band has changed over the years. It isn't the exact same line up as in the early eighties! But what "9" does offer is the most energetic, best mixed, and musically written "Fate" album in years. Not to say anything bad abou the other previous albums, but this one is explosive! Incredible riffs, and some great solos. King's lyrics and melodies are the most dissident in a while. How any fan of the group could think that their new album is garbage is beyond me. As I said, don't read any of the bad reviews, as they have NO argument to back it up.

This New Mercyful Fate album is so amazing so evil so powerful and awezome that i am going wild every time i hear it.This album will go on to become a classic!!!The best Mercyful Fate ever.

This is one of the best albums I've heard in years! It's not a new DBTO or Melissa,and I don't see how you could expect one in the year 1999.It is a great disc full of top notch Metal songs and no rip-off crap.The leads are also much better then any other MF album.I'd say a few of the songs on here are vintage Thrash Metal,which MF has never done before.The atmosphere causes vivid mental imagery,very eerie and dark.The vocals are a bit different,there is a lot less falsetto.I'd say it's the opposite of DBTO considering he used his falsetto nearly the whole time on that album. He does use his voice to create atmosphere like in the old days though."Sold My Soul" is probably his most vocally adventurous track ever.