Ranking the Studio Albums: Mercyful Fate (w/Rich Catino & Bryce Talks Metal)

Join Pete Pardo, Rich Catino, and Bryce Talks Metal as they rank the albums of legendary Danish heavy metal act Mercyful Fate. #mercyfulfate
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[@brycetalksmetal]

Thanks a lot for having me again, really enjoyed it! 🦅

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

Great having you on!!!

[@sloppycabi]

Very cool to have a rankings episode with different perspectives. Getting into KD and MF around 93-94' (my teen years) I must say my ranking is closer to Bryce's than Rich or Pete's (although I agree with Pete on Gypsy as a top song, I guitar covered it here on yt). And in my opinion, Time has no production issues whatsoever. Rich's copy must have had a defect. ;) Hope to see Bryce on again soon!

[@johnkatsoudas3544]

Mercyful Fate is a LEGENDARY band! Hank Sherman and Michael Denner are a PHENOMENAL guitar duo!! They are just as amazing as Glenn Tipton and KK Downing, Adrian Smith and Dave Murray, and Kai Hansen and Michael Weikath. I love all their albums, and my ranking changes from time to time accept my top three. 7. 9 6. Into The Unknown 5. Dead Again 4. Time 3. In The Shadows 2. Don't Break The Oath 1. Melissa

[@AMCmachine]

Bryce makes it more interesting as he didn't grow up experiencing the music of our formative years "firsthand" like we did. Had a good chuckle at the story of Pete hiding his Mercyful Fate albums from his parents.

[@analogkid2869]

Agreed I love when he has Bryce on - it’s interesting to hear a younger generations perspective like when he has Sydney on as well !

[@AMCmachine]

I remember being 13 and sitting on my front steps late at night with my friend who lived next door at the time, listening to Mercyful Fate, telling ghost stories and sharing spooky local "urban legends." The sort of tales that grew over time, possessed more mystique and were harder to debunk or disprove in those pre-internet days. The neighborhood for some unknown reason was particularly quiet that night. Those things simply have to happen on their own, you almost can't plan, recreate or replicate some moments. The atmosphere was just exactly right for what we were doing. Summer in the '80s! \m/ \m/

[@ashbowen6551]

I loaned my copy of Don't Break the Oath to a friend on a Friday. On Monday, I asked him how he liked it. He said, "I didn't even listen to it! I kept two bibles on top of it!" Hahahaha!

[@twikirobot6897]

1. Melissa 2. Don't Break the Oath 3. EP/The Beginning

[@vagabond197979]

I almost fell out of my chair when I looked up and saw Pete's hair.

[@j.j.4150]

Never seen wet hair?

[@vagabond197979]

@@j.j.4150 I dry clean mine. Doesn't everyone?

[@glenfinston704]

Being a Merciful Fate newbie this was super helpful. Thanks guys!

[@docvader82]

Lemme tell ya, this dude Bryce gives me faith that there's members of the next generation that 'get it'. I don't care what his rankings are, doesn't matter. He a true metalhead. (My sons like my music as well) If ya end up in the Boston area, you've gotta go a little south to New Bedford. Purchase street Records. Unfortunately it wasn't there when I was growing up(or fortunately, cuz I'd have been more broke than I was), but they are about the most metal music place I've ever walked into.

[@johnanton6356]

There is nothing greater than... don't break the oath. First heard it when I was sixteen, changed my life forever.

[@bschuler6216]

🤘🔥🤘

[@spaceace4387]

My favorite song from each album: - Merycful Fate EP: A Corpse Without Soul - Melissa: Satan's Fall - Don't Break The Oath: Nightmare - In The Shadows: The Bell Witch - Time: Angel Of Light - Into The Unknown: Kutulu (The Mad Arab Part II) - Dead Again: Title Track - 9: Last Rites

[@billygoth]

Nicely done. 👏

[@bschuler6216]

For me (out of the albums I'm that familiar with): Nuns Have No Fun Melissa Desecration Of Souls Is That You Melissa? Time (title track)

[@mvjonsson]

It is worth mentioning that King Diamond is highly influenced by the 70's Uriah Heep.

[@Olegstuff21986]

King himself talks about that all the time :).

[@ajvasta]

Although much older than Bryce, I concur with his #1. I always thought "Time" was a masterpiece.

[@benedictdonald4338]

Great songs, but the production seriously detracts from it. If any record needs a remix, this is it! Some bottom-end, please! For the love of god!

[@independenceltd.]

7. 9 6. Into the Unknown 5. Dead Again 4. Time 3. In the Shadows 2. Melissa 1. Don't Break the Oath Now we need King Diamond...

[@takodabostwick8507]

I was about to say that too. A King Diamond Ranking would be awesome too!

[@DokkenSabbath]

1. Melissa 2. Time 3. Nuns Have No Fun 4. Don't Break the Oath 5. In the Shadows 6. Into the Unknown 7. 9 8. Dead Again

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

A great threesome for this ranking show and it was interesting to see the various rankings by Bryce, Rich and Pete. Enjoyed Pete and Rich reminiscing about hiding the cover of an album as they brought it home as teenagers. For me, that album was the Black Sabbath first album. Knew the folks would get irate at that time just from the name of the band. Bryce's participation really added to the show as someone with a little different perspective. Thanks to all three for an entertaining show.

[@MetalAsylumNJ]

Thank you

[@mvjonsson]

Melissa, Don't break the Oath and In the Shadows are the top three for me.

[@anthonyrivers1619]

Absolutely

[@davidburns6284]

I agree with you completely.

[@MIKE197923]

I wish I had record stores around me. There is nothing better to go to one and spend hours flipping through records and seeing Melissa or Don't Break the Oath in person.

[@kekolber868]

Great episode. This is a revelation for me because I was a fan through Don't Break The Oath and then toddled off after the breakup. Everything from In The Shadows forward is a mystery to me, but not for long.

[@orchidcarpetcleaningrp6061]

Cannot wait for new album if ever gets a release

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

Glad to see Bryce and always a pleasure to see Rich and Pete. My ranking (and yes pulling a fast one): 8. Into The Unknown 7. Dead Again 6. 9 5. Time 4. Don't Break the Oath 3. Melissa (and I wished 'Black Masses' made the album proper) 2. Return of the Vampire (I know but it contains my fav MF song ever in 'Burning the Cross') 1. In The Shadows

[@spaceace4387]

It would have been awesome if the band recorded an actual version of Burning The Cross and put it on the Melissa album.

[@benedictdonald4338]

Agreed. Burning the Cross is a masterpiece.

[@spaceace4387]

@@benedictdonald4338 yeah in the notes on Return of the vampire they said they didn’t put it on the album because Peterson left the band by that point. I honestly don’t know why that would have stopped them? Metallica released several songs on the first two albums that Dave Mustaine had a writing credit for.

[@metaldams78]

18:05 As far as King Diamond’s voice - it’s taken to a much more extreme level, but the falsetto and harmonies have its precedent in Uriah Heep and David Byron. I heard Uriah Heep about ten or fifteen years after I first heard King (now a fan) and when I heard that bridge in Easy Livin’, I thought King instantly. You can hear it several other instances too. Also, there’s the fact King’s young son is named Byron. 🤓

[@jimmycampbell78]

Absolutely. Rich Katino mentions the Uriah Heep influence from 30:45. As you say, it is so obvious with King Diamond’s vocal style.

[@kdiamond]

"We're going to get it this year"... lol, right after the King solo album that's 15 years in the making

[@bschuler6216]

The Institute!!! Lol

[@Mustonen]

Great to see the 90s albums being appreciated!

[@anthonyrivers1619]

In The Shadows...what a comeback! Sounds very good these days! I was so jacked for it when it came out...🤘

[@zandig666]

Hi Pete thx !!!!🤙🤙🤟🤟🤙🤙

[@EliphasDesni]

I have no problem with bringing this albums at home. I had wonderful parents.

[@seagullpoet]

It’s interesting. King D was intellectual. Band was tight. They flirted with evil. But something was also very good too.

[@sabinoabdala5685]

1- Melissa 2- Don't Break the Oath 3- In the Shadows 4- Time 5- Into the Unknown

[@hellojimmypage]

Not too many people talk about the drumming on the first EP and the couple of classic 80s albums, which despite not being flashy or technical enhances the songs remarkably. Kim Ruzz has a distinctive groove that stands out from his venerable successors in the band.

[@RueMorgueDweller]

Kim Ruzz does not get enough credit on those early albums. His drumming is dynamic and almost had this jazz feel to it as well. It's a shame he did not do much after the band first disbanded.

[@Questformetal]

Good to see Bryce on the show again 🤟 for me it’s gotta be don’t break the oath but in the shadows is really underrated too

[@iloveheavymetalmetalrules6829]

Hi quest for metal. I love your channel.

[@andreijurca5546]

Your ranking of manowar was horrible

[@andrewcollins9628]

I bought the the 2 from the vault reissues of mellisa oath ep and interview that roadrunner put out in the 90s. Great stuff.

[@under-one-flag]

Mecryful Fate can do no wrong - KD for life !

[@philcore4759]

My first show ever, saw them on the Time tour, Newark NJ @ Studio One, it WAS FKG MAGICAL I TELL YOU!!!! The opened with The Oath & then the dam broke, it was maniacal to say the least, then they go straight into Nightmare be thy name, Best show ive ever been to hands down! I have Dont Break The Oath as an easy number 1, great episode gentlemen!

[@caljerm]

Ranking these albums numerically for me is pretty impossible and my ranking would change almost constantly LOL. The best I can do is break them down into two groups - the absolute untouchable classics (Melissa, DBTO, In The Shadows, Time) and the others, which are damn close (Into The Unknown, Dead Again, 9). I probably listen to the post-reunion albums more than the first two anymore as the arrangements and riffs are just unmatched - the stuff is just incredible

[@j.j.4150]

Bryce is a perfect addition on here! I think, a cool show would be to rank the 10 Metal albums from each decade from the 70s onwards and make a couple of shows on that.

[@seagullpoet]

He’s a cool kid for sure.

[@brycetalksmetal]

👍🏻💯

[@brycetalksmetal]

@@seagullpoet ‘preciate it

[@jpmcmullan8666]

I missed the Mercyful Fate show a few months ago. Only 2 hours away and never even knew it happened

[@anthonyrivers1619]

I have not seen the mighty Mercyful Fate live, but I am honored to have seen King Diamond on the Voodoo and House of God tours...Los Angeles

[@troy78]

Arguably my favorite band. They are up there with Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Dio, but Fate was always the most consistent within their catalogue. Loved this episode and the rankings were varied which was kind of unexpected. Cheers 🍻

[@anthonyrivers1619]

Massively talented band...as players as writers

[@davidlear2372]

good shit!!!!

[@samhouston1979]

a cool memory was seeing Metallica in 2008 in Dallas & King Diamond (who lives in the Dallas area of all things) came on stage to sing the encore “mercyful fate medley”

[@jimfrixen4438]

I remember the band Fate with Hank Shermann. Good stuff too!

[@Skycladatdusk78]

It is a very difficult catalogue to rank, it's all so good. My top 3 are pretty set in stone but the other 4 fluctuates, for now I'll go with: 1 - In The Shadows 2 - Don't Break The Oath 3 - Melissa 4 - Time 5 - 9 6 - Into The Unknown 7 - Dead Again

[@wastelander1015]

1. Melissa 2. Don't Break the Oath 3. Time 4. 9 5. In the Shadows 6. Into the Unknown 7. Dead Again

[@spaceace4387]

Something interesting about Melissa: The music sounds like traditional heavy metal, it doesn't even really becoming all that evil until King's vocals come in. Heck At The Sound of the Demon Bell at first sounds like something you might hear on classic rock radio until the 30 second mark.

[@seagullpoet]

I have 3 tribute CDs. Even them - are worth getting !

[@gwts1171]

After the first two I didn't listen to them much until "9" came out. I don't know why, but I've gone back and caught up since. 7) Dead Again (I haven't heard this one much, for some reason, so it has to be lowest.) 6) In The Shadows 5) Into The Unknown 4) Time 3) Melissa 2) 9 (It feels strange putting this above "Melissa", but... there ya go.) 1) Don't Break The Oath (No doubt that this is #1 for me.) Thanks for the video, guys!

[@ZMsoloman5000]

my fav stuff from MF is the debut EP and Don’t Break the Oath.

[@FinalBaton]

Hell yeah In The Shadows is also in my top 3. Probably #2 actually, right after Don't Break The Oath. Phenomenal album.

[@dertodesking8379]

What did you guys think about the Sherman / Denner album (&EP)?

[@bschuler6216]

I bought the lp. It's good, ok, but I don't feel the urge to go back and listen to it very often. I guess it's missing something.

[@metaldams78]

1. Don’t Break the Oath 2. Melissa 3. Time 4. In the Shadows 5. 9 6. Into the Unknown 7. Dead Again Every album has its moments, great band. I was 14 when In the Shadows came out and I bought it mainly because Lars Ulrich plays drums on Return of the Vampire. Needless to say, 28 years later my love for this band extends way beyond that Metallica connection. Great show, guys.

[@bschuler6216]

This list is close enough to mine. I endorse it, lol🤘

[@spaceace4387]

Fun Fact: Part of Burning The Cross was incorporated into Devil Eyes, and on the same Return Of The Vampire album part of Death Kiss ended up in At The Sound Of The Demon Bell.

[@metalart5369]

1.Melissa 2.Dont Break The Earth 3.Into The Shadows 4.Time 5.Dead Again 6.Into The Unknown 7.9

[@timtaylor2202]

Don't Break The Oath and 9 is my favorites and they even have similar Album Covers

[@diannecarpenter7718]

Thank you guys for your picks and ranking. 🎤🎸🎵🥁

[@jamesgwarrior1981]

Mr Bryce has some guts on him 🤔 😈 ✊🏿🤘🏾🤎🖤 Remember the History of Metal magazine where the ask King Diamond his favorite albums and Uriah Heep “Look At Yourself,” is one his favorite albums.

[@metaldams78]

Yeah, I mentioned it in my comment and I’m glad you brought it up too, the Uriah Heep influence on King Diamond. 🤘🏻

[@jamesgwarrior1981]

@@metaldams78 my favorites though was Max Cavalaera and Mike Williams. More of Metal Punker and their lists were totally insane!

[@anthonyrivers1619]

The kid had me at Black Sabbath Born Again album behind him... I have a 24 x 24 framed version in my Home Office

[@SteveHughesOfficial]

Nothing can beat Melissa and Don’t break the oath. Nothing.....is it because I’m an old curmudgeon ? No ! Just facts.....those albums have not only masterful songs, but a spirit never again captured.....IMHO.....Hail the King....

[@snowdog202]

1. Melissa 2. Don't break the Oath 3. In the Shadows 4. Dead Again 5. Into the Unknown 6. 9 7. Time

[@Mike-aka747]

You’re not alone Pete. From the years 84-86 I had to hide the 5 Sabbath cassettes I owned from my parents as well 😄

[@anthonyrivers1619]

My parents confiscated mine and destroyed them

[@donmcglothlin841]

I love all 7 albums My ranking (personal taste) puts Melissa around 5 but even my number 7 (Dead Again) is a top shelf banger 7 Dead Again 6 9 5 Melissa 4 Into the Unknown 3 Time 2 Don’t Break the Oath 1 In the Shadows And as you’ve said this ranking shuffles constantly

[@donmcglothlin841]

I had a copy of The Oath with Death Kiss (became Dangerous Meeting) demo

[@ericsteadman6687]

In the shadows,my favorite Mercyful Fate album. All of them are great though

[@N2Uhtive]

Morten Nielsen was the drummer on "In The Shadows" despite Snowy Shaw being listed as the drummer.

[@thiivala]

Haha, yeah... I was going to comment the same thing.

[@orchidcarpetcleaningrp6061]

Love your reviews guys.Hoping they tour will travel.

[@mr.davidian631]

My first exposure to Fate was the medley on Metallica's Garage Inc. Needless to say, I was NOT expecting King's vocals when I finally found a copy of Melissa lol. Just curious what your opinion was on the Denner/Shermann project from a few years ago? I thought it was great, shame they didn't do more.

[@benedictdonald4338]

Great musically, but the vocalist (from Cage) bites hard.

[@takodabostwick8507]

1. Melissa 2. Don't Break The Oath 3. In the Shadows 4. Into the Unknown 5. Dead Again 6. 9 7. Time

[@starchild6347]

Great band....

[@under-one-flag]

Pete, just saying i love watching your videos - seem to do it a lot lately !

[@chrisflood9205]

Where can I get that shirt Chris alo was wearing from your pizza party ?

[@Diamond_Jim]

I love the diversity of opinions here.

[@bagofbones95]

My ranking is as follows: 1. Time 2. 9 3. In the shadows 4. Into the unknown 5. Melissa 6. Don't break the oath 7. Dead again. But as you guys said, they are all good records

[@johnzavradinos4677]

Good rankings as always. I think another legendary band that needs a ranking is Venom. I hope to see one some day.

[@metaldams78]

Agreed. Would love to see a Venom show.

[@paradoxofepicurus]

1. Don’t Break the Oath 2. Melissa 3. In the Shadows 4. Time 5. Into the Unknown 6. 9 7. Dead Again

[@loganc1158]

7. Dead Again 8/10 6. Into the Unknown 8/10 5. In the Shadows 9/10 4. 9 9/10 3. Time 9.5/10 2. Don’t Break the Oath 10/10 1. Melissa 10/10

[@garyjoyce2160]

Great show. Gotta love the different perspective with Bryce / where probably 4️⃣of the 7️⃣albums came out before he was born. However, as I’ve stated before, very knowledgeable young music guru. Great job to Rich & PETE as well. 💯👍

[@seagullpoet]

Martin Popoff’s book “ Black Funeral “ - Mercyful Fate story. Great read !

[@anthonyrivers1619]

Excellent book one of his best

[@spaceace4387]

Fun fact: Snowy Shaw didn't actually perform on In The Shadows, it was a session drummer Morton Nielson and of course Lars Ulrich performed on Return of the Vampire. Shaw however did perform on the In The Shadows Tour along with the Time album however Timi Hansen did not perform on the tour as he was replaced by Sharlee D'Angelo.

[@marcdiego1]

Rank Mercyful Fate AND King Diamond albums together...even though they are stylistically different.

[@caljerm]

I love Priest as much as anybody but the stuff Shermann and Denner did on these albums to me is light years beyond Tipton and Downing

[@AdrianJeffreys-fj2fv]

Don't break the oath in the shadows those are the best mercyful fate is the coolest name I remember having Melissa when I came out and my friends were like what is that I remember saying are you fucking deaf listen to the musicianship and epic songs I loved kim ruxx drumming

[@scottoz7891]

Don't Break the Oath scared the shit out of me also...AND I'm 52 . . Back in the day. Also Venom At war with SATAN AND Possessed...

[@bayareathrasher666]

I have a Brats demo I got from Ron Quintana in 86

[@captainbeyond7469]

Fantastic episode really liked the old school and new school mixture of opinions. Very entertaining would like to see this group do a ranking of the King Diamond solo albums. For me it’s “Melissa” at number one the guitar team of Denner and Sherman is just phenomenal. Hey Rich and Pete lots of forehead going on in this episode needed my sunglasses. LOL 😂

[@scottwalker5275]

My top 3 are definitely top 3 bottom 4 are bottom 4 but orders could flip on any but for most part I think my top 3 would stay in the same order. #7- 9 #6- Time #5- Dead Again #4- Into the Unknown #3- Melissa #2- In the Shadows #1- Don’t Break the Oath

[@Orange_Affinity]

I've listened to some King Diamond solo albums, and they were really good stories, but I didn't feel they had melodic or memorable songs. Is Mercyful Fate similar to KD solo albums or do they have more traditional song structures?

[@bschuler6216]

I'd say they have more musical structure and value, especially Melissa & Don't Break The Oath. These two albums are essential listening for any metal head. After that I think Time is the only worthwhile album.

[@kingjudas66]

Mercyful Fate scared the hell out of me too but they are so good the guitar playing is the best I have heard I couldn't not listen to them

[@ezioauditore7427]

The Beginning Ep is best for me.

[@samhouston1979]

sadly i haven’t seen a record store in probably a decade

[@garyjoyce2160]

DONT break the OATH- 1️⃣. IN the SHADOWS-2️⃣. MELISSA-3️⃣

[@orchidcarpetcleaningrp6061]

That's why I love KD and MFate because cross between Deep Purple and Vince Price

[@damianczarnecki8775]

My rank: 1 Don't Break the Oath 2 Melissa 3 Time 4 In the Shadows 5 Into the Unknown 6 "9" 7 Dead Again

[@TalesFromTheCrypt13]

Great video! Cool to see someone my age that’s super into Mercyful Fate as much as I am! I’ve been a Mercyful Fate fan for about 6 years now and they have also been my favourite band since then! Ive known about Mercyful Fate & King Diamond for more than a decade now and actually got into them thanks to my mom out of all people lol! Her ex boyfriend in the 80’s was a huge metal head and his favourite band was and still is Mercyful Fate! So around 2015 I finally decided to give them a listen and they’ve been my favourite band ever since! 🤘😈🤘 Here’s my ranking! 7. Into The Unknown (1996) 6. Dead Again (1998) 5. Time (1994) 4. In The Shadows (1993) 3. 9 (1999) 2. Don’t Break The Oath (1984) 1. Melissa (1983)

[@filthyswit]

@15:00 yyyyyyyep!

[@frankartale1026]

Time , Melissa, In the Shadows, The Oath, Into the Unknown, 9 , Dead Again

[@scottoz7891]

My number 1 is THE E.P. Rough. Raw. Hungry....

[@JackieNihil]

1. Don't Break The Oath My favorite album of all time. The production, guitar sound, riffs, haunting atmosphere. I have the cover art tattooed on my arm to show my love for it. I was just blown away by it when I first heard it and still to this day there's nothing else like it. Absolute perfection. 2. Melissa Not far behind my number 1. I'd say they're more or less tied musically but its production is more generic sounding. Don't get me wrong, it sounds like a great old school metal album, it just hasn't got the same kind of unique sound and character as "Oath". 3. In The Beginning Great comeback album but sadly, close to a decade later, the sound is somewhat different and not quite as cool or special in my opinion. The guitar work and overall sound is still undoubtedly Mercyful Fate but the songs don't match the magic of those first two albums (and EP). Maybe it's partly due to the 90's production as well. I'd say the band's quality declined with each consecutive album, starting with this album. 4. Time 5. Into The Unknown 6. Dead Again 7. 9

[@georgelamie7001]

7. Dead Again 6. Into the Unknown 5. 9 4, In the Shadows 3. Time 2. Melissa 1. Don't Break the Oath

[@seagullpoet]

TIME is such a great album. The stories. Wow. I know most of the lyrics on it too. Air guitar too.

[@EmrahUncu]

This is my ranking of Mercyful Fate's albums. Here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJLadoGcarWHj68

[@steinarskaaland1570]

1 Don’t break the oath 2 Time 3 Melissa 4 In the shadows 5 Into the unknown 6 9 7 Dead Again

[@mikeryanmikeryan4740]

Hi Guys Great show. Bryce, I just Listened to Skullfist Chasing the Dream based off your Recommendation from the Ranking show. Loved it. Thanks for the recommendation. I will have to listen to more Mercyful Fate.

[@brycetalksmetal]

Awesome glad you like it, Skull Fist rules and that album actually ranks top 10 all time for me

[@analogkid2869]

@@brycetalksmetal I love when you are on Pete’s show - I appreciate your take and opinions !!! I wish he would have you on more often!!!! You are awesome Bryce!!!

[@davidburns6284]

Don't Break the Oath and Melissa are absolute masterpieces. Hard to decide which is #1 between these two. In the Shadows is really impressive too. 1. Melissa 2. Don't Break the Oath 3. In the Shadows 4. 9 5. Time 6. Dead Again 7. Into the Unknown