Melissa [Special Edition, Extra tracks]

Mercyful Fate | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 30, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Special Edition, Extra tracks
• Label: Roadrunner Records
• ASIN: B000AMJEB4
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,043 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Evil

2. Curse of the Pharaohs

3. Into the Coven

4. At the Sound of the Demon Bell

5. Black Funeral

6. Satan's Fall

7. Melissa

8. Black Masses [*]

9. Curse of the Pharaohs [BBC Radio 1 Session][*]

10. Evil [BBC Radio 1 Session][*]

11. Satan's Fall [BBC Radio 1 Session][*]

12. Curse of the Pharaohs [*][Demo Version]

13. Black Funeral [*][Demo Version]

Editorial Reviews

King Diamond and friends get the reissue treatment from Roadrunner. Check out this legendary album with the bonus material it's got.

YEAR: 2005

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best is released even Better!!!!, November 10, 2005

By 

Toxic Teleblaster (Omaha NE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Melissa (Audio CD)

Arguably the most original and critically acclaimed group to come from Denmark was Mercyful Fate. Mercyful Fate's nucleus comprised of the multi-octave vocals of King Diamond aka Kim Bendix Petersen, and the twin lead guitar attack of Hank Sherman aka Rene Krolmark and Michael Denner. "Melissa" was the group's first formal recording and was a featured LP for Road Runner Records. Although "Melissa" was originally released in 1983, and re-released in 1997, Roadrunner Records has remastered the songs and released this classic for your listening enjoyment. It includes the highly sought after early 1980's BBC sessions, two extra demo tracks of "Black Funeral", and "Curse of the Pharaohs" and a three track DVD featuring live footage of the band during early 1983. A commentary by King Diamond himself narrates the performance and the story of the group during that time frame. Mercyful Fate pioneered a sub genre of ultra heavy and complex music renown for its macabre lyrics, and Satanic/occultism driven imagery and attitude called Black Metal.

The relevance of "Melissa" as a recording is immense. Firstly the LP had 7 drop dead knock out classics including the 11 minute opus "Satan's Fall" Secondly, Mercyful Fate's sound was so obscenely original that to this day not another group even vaguely comes close to emulating them. And thirdly, Mercyful Fate's success paved the way for many other extremely heavy artists to prosper.

In conclusion, this group's body of work isn't for everybody, and some will find the subject content and or delivery of Mercyful Fate's music to be uncomfortable. But for those who are interested in truly groundbreaking Metal classics and the development of the genre of darker Metal music, this CD/DVD package is a must have for your collection! Be sure to check out Mercyful Fate's 9 other releases, King Diamond's solo work and Force of Evil's cds featuring Hank Sherman and Michael Denner

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars just in case you didn't know..., September 3, 2005

By 

G. White "MINDFULL" (Garland, texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Melissa (Audio CD)

this album includes a dvd of three songs by mercyful fate from the live at the dynamo in holland 1983

track list for dvd:
1.doomed by the living dead
2.black funeral
3.curse of the pharaohs
*also inludes exclusive commentary by king diamond

but wait there more it also includes a cd of melissa

track list:

1.Evil
2.Curse Of The Pharaohs
3.Into The Coven
4.At The Sound Of The Demon Bell
5.Black Funeral
6.Satan's Fall
7.Melissa
* all tracks remastered

bonus tracks:
8.black masses (b-side of the "black funeral" single)
9.curse of the pharaohs(bbc radio 1 session)
10.evil(bbc radio 1 session)
11.satan's fall (bbc radio 1 session)
12.curse of the pharaohs (demo)
13.black funeral (demo)



also this album kicks ass I love mercyful fate and king diamond

I also recommend you buy some celtic frost.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavy Metal Forever!, September 28, 2005

By 

Jonathan Heckman "Taste 4 Whiskey" (Hummelstown, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Melissa (Audio CD)

Here is another re-release for Mercyful Fate's Melissa album. I already owned two different versions when I saw this but I had to get it for the demos and for the Live DVD. You should know this already, but if you don't, this is one of the top five heavy metal albums of all time, in my opinion. The song writing is top notch, combining great melody with brutal riffing. You'll hear influences from NWOBHM, thrash, true-metal and even some blues. The singing of King Diamond, in my opinion, is amazing! Some people can't get past it though, so if you don't like high pitched singing and screaming this might not be for you. But, still give it a listen, the music will win you over.

The two demos on the Melissa album are nice and to my knowledge not available anywhere else. All of the BBC tracks are available on the album Beginning. Now, for the DVD. It is a shame that they couldn't have made it longer. I mean, if you're gonna keep taking our money give us more! Well, they got my money anyways! The sound and camera work isn't very good, but what do you expect, it's 1983. The songs are pretty choice that they used, although I would have loved to see them play Satan's Fall! It also would have been nice if they would have shown more of Hank Sherman's solos! The commentary tracks by King Diamond are pretty neat, as he gives you little details about that time period and the members. It's a little hard to understand him sometimes though. Overall this package is well worth the money. Especially if you don't own this album yet!

When I said that this album is in my top five, I include in that Metallica - Kill 'Em All; Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations; Witchfinder General - Death Penalty; Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath...so trust me or not.