MERCYFUL FATE - MELISSA BERNETT FRANCE KING DIAMOND 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Rare French Release on BERNETT Records

lbum cover of Mercyful Fate’s 1983 debut LP “Melissa.” The artwork features a dark, menacing skull with sharp teeth, partially obscured by streaks of fiery red mist. The background is a sickly yellow hue, adding an eerie atmosphere. The band’s name, “Mercyful Fate,” is displayed in an ornate, gothic yellow font at the top left, while the album title, “Melissa,” appears in red, jagged script at the bottom left. The overall design evokes a sinister and supernatural feel, matching the album’s occult and heavy metal themes.

Melissa isn’t just an album—it’s a séance set to tape. Mercyful Fate, led by King Diamond’s unholy falsetto, crafted a debut that oozes occult menace and riffs sharper than a guillotine. Shermann and Denner’s twin guitars spiral like demon wings, while ‘Evil’ and ‘Satan’s Fall’ carve out the black metal blueprint. Dark, theatrical, and gloriously sinister—this is where metal found its shadow.

Album Description & Collectors information:

"Mercyful Fate" was a Danish heavy metal band formed in 1981 in Copenhagen. The band consisted of vocalist King Diamond, guitarists Hank Shermann and Michael Denner, bassist Timi Hansen, and drummer Kim Ruzz. Their debut album, Melissa, released in 1983, established the band as one of the leading forces in the emerging genre of black metal. The album's dark imagery, occult themes, and theatrical vocals set a benchmark for the genre, influencing countless bands in the years that followed.

The musical and lyrical content of Melissa were instrumental in shaping the sound and image of black metal. The album's music is characterized by fast, complex guitar riffs, rapid-fire drumming, and King Diamond's high-pitched, theatrical vocals. The album's opening track, "Evil," sets the tone for the entire record, with its ominous, foreboding melody and sinister lyrics. Other tracks, such as "Curse of the Pharaohs" and "Black Funeral," continue in this vein, with lyrics that explore dark themes such as death, the occult, and Satanism.

The album's title track, "Melissa," is a standout track that showcases the band's range and versatility. The song opens with a haunting, acoustic guitar intro before exploding into a full-throttle metal assault. King Diamond's vocals on this track are particularly impressive, showcasing his ability to move effortlessly from a whisper to a scream.

Melissa's impact on the world of heavy metal cannot be overstated. The album's dark, occult themes and theatrical vocals helped to create a blueprint for the black metal genre, which would go on to influence countless bands in the years that followed. The album's impact can be seen in the work of bands such as Mayhem, Emperor, and Darkthrone, who all drew inspiration from Mercyful Fate's pioneering sound.

The album's legacy can also be seen in the continued success of King Diamond, who went on to have a successful solo career after leaving Mercyful Fate. King Diamond's influence on the world of heavy metal is undeniable, with bands such as Metallica, Slipknot, and Ghost all citing him as a major influence on their work.

Music Genre:

Black Metal , Thrash Metal

Album Production Information:

The album: "Mercyful Fate Melissa NL King Diamond" was produced by: Henrik Lund, Roadster Music

Henrik Lund (Music Producer, Sound Engineer) founded Easy Sound Studio with his brother, Niels Erik Lund (Producer, Sound Engineer). He played a key role in shaping Danish heavy metal, producing numerous albums, including several by Mercyful Fate. His work helped define the sound of Denmark’s metal scene, making Easy Sound Studio a crucial part of its history.

Sound/Recording Engineer(s): Jacob J Jorgenson

Jacob J. Jorgenson is a sound engineer from Denmark and has engineered several records of Mercyful Fate and King Diamond.

This album was recorded and mixed at: Easy Sound Recording Copenhagen, July 1983

Easy Sound Studios a Danish recording studio established in 1974 by brothers Henrik Lund and Niels Erik Lund in the basement of their parents villa in Hellerup, a northern suburb to Copenhagen. In 1982 it was moved to central Copenhagen, into the premises of former movie theater Triangel Teatret on Østerbrogade 70 where it became the largest recording studio for rock music in Europe.

Album cover design: Thomas Holm, Studio Dzyan

Thomas Holm, the mastermind behind King Diamond’s most haunting album covers, defined the band’s chilling aesthetic during the late 1980s. His eerie, intricate artwork for Abigail (1987), Them (1988), and Conspiracy (1989) set the standard for horror-infused metal visuals, blending dark fantasy with gothic horror. His legacy lives on through these iconic designs.

Album cover photography: Thomas Grondahl

Thomas Grondahl is a Danish photographer and has been working for the album covers of the bands: Mercyful Fate, Geisha

Record Label & Catalognr:

Bernett Records SB 18011

Media Format:

12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  

Year & Country:

1984 France
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: MERCYFUL FATE MELISSA BERNETT FRANCE
    Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • King Diamond - Vocals
    King Diamond (born Kim Bendix Petersen) emerged in the 1980s as a pioneering force in heavy metal. Fronting Mercyful Fate and later his solo band, his piercing falsetto and occult storytelling redefined the genre. Albums like Melissa (1983) and Abigail (1987) cemented his legacy as a theatrical metal visionary. Explore the World of King Diamond.
  • Hank Shermann - Guitars
    Rene Krolmark is from Denmark and was born in 1958. He is also known under the aliases Hank De Wank, Hank Shermann started his musical career as guitar player in 1977 with a band called Brats, this was followed by "Danger Zone", "Mercyful Fate", Fate, Lavina, "Zoser Mez"
  • Michael Denner - Guitars
    Michael Denner, a Danish heavy-metal guitarist, is best known for his work with Mercyful Fate and King Diamond bands, where his intricate solos and dark, melodic riffs helped define the band’s occult-laced sound. Playing on classics like Melissa (1983) and Don’t Break the Oath (1984), his contributions shaped heavy metal’s evolution.
  • Timi "Grabber" Hansen - Bass
    Timi “Grabber” Hansen (5 October 1958 – 4 November 2019) was a Danish bassist best known for his work with Mercyful Fate and King Diamond. His thunderous bass lines helped define the band’s dark, heavy sound, influencing generations of metal musicians. A key figure in the early black metal scene, his legacy remains strong. Learn more about Timi Hansen.
  • Kim Ruzz - Drums
    Kim Ruzz (born Kim Thyge Jensen) was the drummer for Mercyful Fate on their first three releases, helping shape the band’s early black metal sound. His stage name was inspired by Rush, his favorite band. After Mercyful Fate disbanded in 1985, Ruzz stepped away from drumming and later relocated to the United States.
Complete Track-listing of the album "MERCYFUL FATE MELISSA BERNETT FRANCE"

The detailed tracklist of this record "MERCYFUL FATE MELISSA BERNETT FRANCE" is:

    Track-listing :
  1. Evil 4:45
  2. Curse of the Pharaohs 3:57
  3. Into the Coven 5:11
  4. At the Sound of the Demon Bell 5:23
  5. Black Funeral 2:50
  6. Satan's Fall 11:23
  7. Melissa 6:40
Front Cover Photo Of MERCYFUL FATE - Melissa Bernett France 12" LP ALBUM VINYL

This is Melissa, the full-blown exorcism of Mercyful Fate’s debut LP, and the cover looks like it was yanked straight from the blackened corridors of some ancient cathedral that reeked of incense and death. This thing doesn’t just whisper sinister—it shrieks it from the depths of a charred abyss. A grotesque, grinning skull bathed in streaks of molten red, framed against a sickly yellowish haze, like Hell’s own sunset.

This ain’t your average horror show, it’s a goddamn declaration. A creeping, menacing specter that bleeds malevolence, foreshadowing the unholy sermon that King Diamond and company are about to unleash. The jagged, claw-like protrusions stretch out as if ready to pull you straight into the void, while those razor-sharp teeth seem like they’ve just finished gnawing on something unfortunate.

The typography? That perfect, medieval flourish of ‘Mercyful Fate’ sits at the top like some ancient tome of forbidden rites, while Melissa slashes across the bottom in a hellish scrawl, as if it were written in the blood of some unfortunate victim sacrificed at the altar of early ‘80s metal.

This cover is primal, evocative—like the album itself, it’s a gateway into a world of doom-laden riffs and infernal storytelling, a place where ghosts wail and Satan grins. It doesn’t just lure you in—it commands you to enter, and by the time you realize what’s happening, it’s already too late.

Photo Of The Back Cover MERCYFUL FATE - Melissa Bernett France 12" LP ALBUM VINYL
Back cover of Mercyful Fate’s 1983 album “Melissa.” The design features a black background with the band’s name in large, gothic white lettering at the top. Below, the tracklist is divided into two sections, “Side 1” and “Side 2,” framed in red borders. The bottom of the cover displays five individual band member photos, each outlined in red: Kim Ruzz (drums), Hank Shermann (lead guitar), King Diamond (vocals), Michael Denner (lead guitar), and Timi Grabber (bass). Additional text includes album credits, recording details, and special thanks, with the “Music for Nations” logo featuring a red-hooded executioner on the right. The overall aesthetic is dark and ominous, reflecting the album’s occult and heavy metal themes.

The back cover of Melissa by Mercyful Fate is as stark and sinister as the album itself—pure black canvas with white gothic lettering, exuding the aura of an unholy scripture. The band’s name, Mercyful Fate, looms at the top in its signature medieval-style font, commanding reverence like an ancient spell carved into stone.

The lineup of musicians—King Diamond (vocals), Hank Shermann (lead guitar), Michael Denner (lead guitar), Timi Grabber (bass), and Kim Ruzz (drums)—is presented with their individual photos at the bottom, each image framed in a blood-red border. The band members appear in full metal fury: King Diamond clutching a microphone, his face painted in ritualistic corpse paint, while Denner and Shermann wield their guitars like weapons. Grabber, with a bare-chested, leather-clad look, and Ruzz caught mid-drum assault, complete the visual. These aren’t just band portraits; they’re snapshots of a coven in action.

To the right, the album’s production credits are meticulously laid out, listing the recording location (Easy Sound Recording, Copenhagen, July 1983), engineers (Henrik Lund, Jacob Jørgensen), and the artists behind the cover art (Thomas Holm, Studio Dzyan). Below that, there’s a special thanks section packed with names, nodding to the metal underground and allies in the scene.

At the bottom right, the Music for Nations logo, featuring the red hooded executioner, reminds you that this is a release under one of the most important heavy metal labels of the early ’80s.

This isn’t just a back cover—it’s a statement of intent. The minimal but effective layout lets the ominous energy of Melissa breathe, framing the album not just as a collection of songs, but as a ritual, a sermon, a gateway into the world of Mercyful Fate’s infernal majesty.

Close up of record's label MERCYFUL FATE - Melissa Bernett France 12" LP ALBUM VINYL Side One:
Close-up of the record label for Side A of Mercyful Fate’s 1983 album “Melissa,” from a French pressing by Bernett Records. The label is bright orange with black text. At the top, the Bernett Records logo is displayed in an elegant script. Below, “Mercyful Fate” and “Melissa” are printed in bold capital letters. The catalog number “SB 18011” is on the left, along with “33 tours” (33 RPM) and “Face A” (Side A). The tracklist includes “Evil,” “Curse of the Pharaohs,” “Into the Coven,” and “At the Sound of the Demon Bell,” with songwriting credits to Hank Shermann and King Diamond. Additional details include the “SACEM” logo, a “STEREO” marking, production credits for Henrik Lund, and a 1984 copyright notice for Roadrunner Productions B.V. The label also mentions “Licence Music for Nations” and “Distribution Musicdisc.

This is the label of the Melissa LP, specifically Side A, from a French pressing released by Bernett Records. The label is a bold orange color, contrasting sharply against the black vinyl, making it instantly recognizable. At the top, the Bernett Records logo is displayed in an elegant, flowing script, adding a touch of class to an otherwise dark and sinister album.

Below the logo, “Mercyful Fate” is printed in bold capital letters, followed by the album title, “Melissa”, in quotation marks, reinforcing the importance of the record’s name. The catalog number SB 18011 is prominently listed on the left side, along with “33 tours” (indicating 33 RPM speed) and “Face A” (Side A). The tracklist for this side is neatly arranged in a numbered format, featuring:

1. Evil – 4:46

2. Curse of the Pharaohs – 4:00

3. Into the Coven – 5:35

4. At the Sound of the Demon Bell – 5:20

Songwriting credits (Hank Shermann, King Diamond) are listed in parentheses below the last track, acknowledging the primary creative forces behind the music.

To the right, there’s a SACEM logo, which is the French music rights society, indicating this pressing’s distribution in France. The STEREO marking ensures that this version delivers the full dynamic range of Mercyful Fate’s ominous riffs and King Diamond’s eerie falsetto.

Production credits follow below the tracklist, attributing Henrik Lund as the producer, with publishing under Roadster Music. A 1984 copyright notice from Roadrunner Productions B.V. is present, along with a mention of Licence Music for Nations, solidifying the record’s place in the early ’80s metal underground.

At the bottom, “DISTRIBUTION MUSICDISC” appears, marking the French distribution network.

Overall, this label has a no-frills, functional aesthetic, but its vibrant orange hue ensures it stands out against the darkness of the album’s themes. It’s a piece of heavy metal history, pressed into wax, carrying the infernal magic of Melissa into the hands of true believers.

Close up of record's label MERCYFUL FATE - Melissa Bernett France 12" LP ALBUM VINYL Side Two:
Close-up of the record label for Side B of Mercyful Fate’s 1983 album “Melissa,” from a French pressing by Bernett Records. The label is bright orange with black text. At the top, the Bernett Records logo is displayed in an elegant script. Below, “Mercyful Fate” and “Melissa” are printed in bold capital letters. The catalog number “SB 18011” is on the left, along with “33 tours” (33 RPM) and “Face 2” (Side 2). The tracklist includes “Black Funeral,” “Satan’s Fall,” and “Melissa,” with songwriting credits to Hank Shermann and King Diamond. Additional details include the “SACEM” logo, a “STEREO” marking, production credits for Henrik Lund, and a 1984 copyright notice for Roadrunner Productions B.V. The label also mentions “Licence Music for Nations” and “Distribution Musicdisc.”

This is the Side B label of Melissa, Mercyful Fate’s 1983 debut album, from the French pressing released by Bernett Records. Like its counterpart on Side A, the label is a bright orange color, standing out against the deep black of the vinyl. It features a minimalist yet striking layout, with all the essential details in black text.

At the top, the Bernett Records logo is prominently displayed in its flowing, elegant script, adding a sense of distinction to this pressing. Directly below, the band’s name, “Mercyful Fate,” is printed in bold capital letters, followed by the album title, “Melissa,” enclosed within double quotation marks.

The catalog number, SB 18011, appears on the left, alongside the notation “33 tours”, indicating that the record plays at 33 RPM. The label is marked as “Face 2” (Side 2 in French). The tracklist for this side is displayed clearly:

1. Black Funeral – 2:47

2. Satan’s Fall – 11:21

3. Melissa – 6:40

As on Side A, Hank Shermann and King Diamond are credited as the songwriters beneath the tracklist.

To the right, the SACEM logo (the French music rights society) is present, along with a STEREO marking, ensuring the listener gets the full dynamic range of Mercyful Fate’s dark and intricate sound.

Further down, production credits attribute Henrik Lund as the producer, with publishing under Roadster Music. A 1984 copyright notice from Roadrunner Productions B.V. is included, along with the mention of “Licence Music for Nations”, affirming its connection to the legendary heavy metal label.

At the bottom, the “Distribution Musicdisc” branding indicates that this French pressing was distributed through Musicdisc, a key player in European music distribution during the era.

Like the music itself, this label is no-nonsense and direct, with a raw, underground aesthetic that reflects the uncompromising spirit of early ’80s heavy metal. Its bold orange background ensures that it’s instantly recognizable—a piece of metal history pressed into wax.

The MERCYFUL FATE Vinyl Discography and Album Cover Gallery

MERCYFUL FATE - The Beginning
Thumbnail of MERCYFUL FATE - Beginning with King Diamond 12" Vinyl LP Album album front cover

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 LP
MERCYFUL FATE - Don't Break The Oath
Thumbnail of MERCYFUL FATE - Don't Break The Oath 12" Vinyl LP Record album front cover

 RoadrunneR 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 LP
MERCYFUL FATE - Live From The Depth Of Hell
Thumbnail of MERCYFUL FATE - Live From The Depth Of Hell 12" Vinyl LP Album album front cover

Satan'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 LP
MERCYFUL FATE - Live From The Depth Of Hell Red Vinyl
Thumbnail of MERCYFUL FATE - From The Depths Of Hell Red Vinyl 12" LP Album album front cover

Satan'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 LP
MERCYFUL FATE - Melissa (International Releases)
Thumbnail of MERCYFUL FATE - Melissa Bernett France 1983 12" LP ALBUM VINYL album front cover

Bernett 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 Release
MERCYFUL FATE - Return Of The Vampire Compilation
Thumbnail of MERCYFUL FATE - Return Of The Vampire Compilation 12" LP Vinyl Album album front cover

RoadrunneR 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 LP
Rave-On Hits Hard Mercyful
Thumbnail of VARIOUS ARTISTS - Rave-On Hits Hard Mercyful Fate 12" LP Vinyl Record album front cover

Rave-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

The King Diamond Band Vinyl Discography and Album Cover Gallery