- Unleashed Chaos: The Infernal Roar of Mercyful Fate’s Underground Era
MERCYFUL FATE – From the Depths of Hell is an unofficial bootleg capturing the raw, sinister energy of the band’s early live performances. The front cover titles it From The Depths Of Hell, while the record label reads Live From The Depth Of Hell. Featuring King Diamond’s haunting falsetto and blistering guitar work, this release is a sought-after collector’s item despite its unofficial status.
In the shadowy underworld of heavy metal, where clandestine recordings and illicit performances thrive, "Mercyful Fate: From the Depths of Hell" stands as a testament to the band's raw power and enduring appeal. This bootleg album, capturing a live performance from the early 1980s, serves as a portal to a time when Mercyful Fate was still a rising force, their music a potent blend of theatricality and genuine darkness.
While not an official release, "From the Depths of Hell" offers a glimpse into the band's early years, a time when their stage shows were shrouded in an aura of mystique and their music pushed the boundaries of heavy metal. The tracklist, a mix of fan favorites and deep cuts, showcases the band's versatility and their ability to conjure an atmosphere of otherworldly dread.
From the ominous opening notes of "Black Masses" to the final crescendo of "Nuns Have No Fun," Mercyful Fate delivers a relentless assault on the senses. King Diamond's vocals, a chilling blend of operatic range and demonic falsetto, soar above the maelstrom of guitars and drums. Hank Shermann and Michael Denner's intricate fretwork weaves a tapestry of neoclassical shredding and doom-laden riffs, while the rhythm section of Timi Hansen and Kim Ruzz lays down a thunderous foundation.
The recording itself, while rough and unpolished, captures the raw energy and intensity of Mercyful Fate's live performances. The guitars snarl and bite, the drums pound with primal fury, and Diamond's vocals pierce the air like a banshee's wail. It's a sonic document of a band at their most visceral and unhinged.
While the exact origins of this bootleg remain shrouded in mystery, it's clear that it was recorded during a time when Mercyful Fate was still honing their craft, their music a potent blend of heavy metal, hard rock, and progressive influences. The tracklist, a mix of songs from their early demos and their debut album, "Melissa," showcases their evolution as a band and their commitment to pushing the boundaries of the genre.
So, if you're ready to descend into the depths of hell, crank up the volume and let Mercyful Fate be your guide. Just be warned: once you've experienced their unholy power, there's no turning back.
Music Genre: Heavy Metal |
Record Label & Catalog-nr: Satan's Nightmare SN1002 |
Media Format: 12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone RecordTotal Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram |
Year & Country: 1984 Made in UK |
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: MERCYFUL FATE From the Depth of Hell |
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Complete Track-listing of the album "MERCYFUL FATE From the Depth of Hell" |
The detailed tracklist of this record "MERCYFUL FATE From the Depth of Hell" is:
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The front cover of MERCYFUL FATE – From the Depths of Hell is a striking and eerie design that embodies the band’s sinister aesthetic. Dominated by a macabre, black-and-white image of a skull-like face with wide, haunting eyes, the artwork exudes an unsettling presence. A spider crawls on the forehead, adding a chilling detail. The entire cover is splattered with dripping red blood, intensifying the horror-like visual impact. The album title, From the Depths of Hell, is positioned at the top in a classic, almost archaic font, partially obscured by the blood splatters. Below the central image, the band’s name appears in an ornate, gothic-style blackletter typeface, reinforcing the dark, occult themes synonymous with Mercyful Fate. The overall presentation is raw, menacing, and perfectly suited for an underground bootleg capturing the band’s early ferocity.
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RoadrunneR RR 9603 , 1987 , Holland / The Netherlands
The definitive collector's addition to the Mercyful Fate Catalogue featuring the band's official pre-Melissa recordings - The legendary Rave-On sessions (Fully re-mastered) The BBC "Friday Rock Show"
The Beginning 12" Vinyl LPRoadrunneR RR 9835 , 1984 , Made in Holland ( The Netherlands)
"Don’t Break the Oath" isn’t just an album—it’s a blood pact sealed in fire. Mercyful Fate, led by the inhuman wail of King Diamond, pushed heavy metal into the abyss with this 1984 masterpiece. Riffs slash like ritual daggers, drums pound like a death march, and every lyric drips with infernal menace. This is where the genre’s shadows deepened, where metal stopped playing dress-up and embraced true darkness.
Don't Break The Oath 12" Vinyl LPSatan's Nightmare SN1002 , 1984 , UK ( United Kingdom )
This album "MERCYFUL FATE From the Depth of Hell" is an unofficial (bootleg record) album of this band of Mercyfull Fate. Title on the front cover and record's label are slightly different.
Live From The Depth Of Hell 12" Vinyl LPSatan's Nightmare SN 1002 , 2013
This album is an unofficial (bootleg) album of this band Mercyfull Fate. Limited to 500 copies reissue on red vinyl. Classic and ultra hard to find semi official Mercyful Fate fan club recordings.
Live From The Depth Of Hell Red Vinyl 12" Vinyl LPBernett Records SB 18011 , 1984 , France
Melissa isn’t just a debut—it’s a declaration of war. Mercyful Fate, led by King Diamond’s banshee wail, tore open the gates of hell with this 1983 masterpiece. Henrik Lund’s production gave the record a raw, sinister edge, while Hank Shermann and Michael Denner’s twin guitars carved out the blueprint for black metal. Dark, theatrical, and utterly relentless, Melissa is where metal learned to stare into the abyss.
- Melissa French Release Melissa Canadian Release Melissa Netherlands ReleaseRoadrunneR RR 9184 , 1992 , Holland ( The Netherlands )
"Return of the Vampire" is the compilation album of rare demo tracks by Mercyful Fate recorded before their first, official release in 1982. It is also released in 1992 by Roadrunner Records RR 9184.
Return Of The Vampire Compilation 12" Vinyl LPRave-On Records RLP-011 , 1985 , Netherlands
This album "VA Rave-On Hits Hard" includes tracks by the bands: Mercyful Fate , Astaroth, H-Bomb, Crossfire, Evil, H-Bomb, Gilgamasj, Sortilege. It was produced by Stefan Rooyackers, Jac Hustinx.
Rave-On Hits Hard Mercyful Fate 12" Vinyl LP