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Once again, Roadrunner Records is up to their old tricks of dipping back into the classics library and putting out reissues that don't necessarily need to be oout. Mercyful Fate is unfortunate enough to receive this treatment with their two releases on this label, Melissa and Don't Break The Oath . This review will look at the recent reissue of Melissa, which falls in between the arguments of whether this should or should not have been done. For those unfamiliar with this album, this is one of the most renown heavy metal discs, and considered one of the most important albums from the first wave of black metal. It does have good reason to be too. Melissa was a very dark album as far as lyrics went, with catchy as hell guitar riffs that, while not the greatest in the world, fit the falsetto vocals perfectly, and the often evil lyrical content. Just look at "Satan's Fall", which is an eleven and a half minute song that revolves around none other then the devil himself. "Evil", which is easily the best song off the album, is pretty much about the desire to watch someone die, and "Curse Of The Pharoahs" which is about grave robbers and how they will suffer Egyptian prince curses for disturbing them and their artifacts. Musically, the album is pretty much what you would expect from an album released in this time period. There seem to be some groove sounding guitar hooks that would be reminiscent of some hard rock bands, prodominantly with the song "Into The Coven". Much of the album is set to a mid pace, but some of the songs are faster, like the song "Evil", as well as moments that pick up, and many of the killer guitar solos and lead ups to that point as well. But while a good amount of the music is on the album is of a mid-tempo, the real highlight of the release is the technical ability portrayed in the music. You can really notice this with the track "Black Funeral, as well as during the bridge of any song on here. And the real plus about this release is that everything has been remastered and placed on a golden professionally pressed disc for superb quality. While there may be no other incentives on this release to make you want to buy it, like the lack of bonus songs, the main reason to purchase this would be the remastered mix. The quality is definitely much clearer and sharper then the original CD pressings were, making this a must for fans for the devout Mercyful Fate occultists. A biography of the band is included in the CD booklet for bonus material, but if you're already a fan of King Diamond that is pretty much pointless and not really that much of a bonus. All in all, this is just a superb album brought to the clarity it deserves. Some people will contest that the album should not have been remastered in the first place, but once you listen to it, you'll be glad it was done. While this isn't an absolute must rush out and buy now album, if you have the money to spare, or find it used for cheap, then definitely grab it. But, if you don't own this album already, then you need to add this to your collection before your metal friends find out and make fun of you. |
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