Mercyful Fate

EPs have always existed in music in some form or fashion, but to my knowledge this is the earliest example of an EP with all original material in heavy metal that would never be re-recorded. Just a standalone package. This is noteworthy of course because quite a few other metal bands (mostly European) would put out EPs in the 80s, presumably to keep the momentum of the first album's success going or to create hype for the upcoming debut. Personally, I'm glad these songs weren't re-recorded for Melissa because I always found Melissa's production to be rather muffling especially when you compare it to this. Go ahead, play the first minute or so of Corpse Without Soul and compare it with the first minute of Evil. The former sounds like the band is screaming right there, painting hexes and pentagrams in your face, whereas Melissa sounds like you are listening to them next door. Both are enjoyable, but it's not quite the same.

We have four songs here, and just about all of them could have been a highlight had they been on either of the first two albums, and would have stood head and shoulders above all else In The Shadows. I imagine most people have heard A Corpse Without Soul, or at least the 30 seconds that Metallica covered in that little medley of theirs (you'd think they've have preferred to do the breakdown sections that are somewhat within James's range), and King Diamond's vocal range will be the one thing most people are not expecting. But those people need to hear the actual near 7 minutes themselves, as they feature of wide cavalcade of riffs, harmonies and unholy screams. This EP features King's rawest and fiercest vocal performances. The scream around 6:43 is particularly shocking and high-pierced.

The next song, Nuns Have No Fun is an oddball. Despite being the most offensive song lyrically (how the hell did Tipper Gore not discover this?), musically this is more or less Living After Midnight (another reason why I don't take the "Mercyful Fate is black metal" argument seriously). Definitely the weakest song on here. While its not wimpy by any stretch, I can't help but wonder how much better this EP would have turned out if the band had recorded Burning The Cross, Return of the Vampire or even Mission: Destroy Aliens for this.

Doomed By The Living Dead is another Priest style scorcher, but it's Devil Eyes that blows the roof off the joint for my money. People are going to either love this song, or hate it, simply because of the chorus and the King's unholy screaming. Hell I was turned off from it for a while, but what brought me back was Hank and Michael's brilliant guitar work (I dare you to not break your neck around 4:44). Devil Eyes is also a career highlight for drummer Kim Ruzz. The intro fill is of course killer, but the way he holds that pocket while maintaining the songs heaviness (with hi-hat sixteenth notes, no less) is probably the most underrated drumming performance in metal.

If you love Melissa and Don't Break The Oath, you'll love this as well. Hell if you love metal you'll love this. From what I recall the best way to get is those 2-for-1 comps that Roadrunner puts out with their catalog (which already has Melissa attached to it anyways, heh). But get it whichever way you can!

Hey....why does that nun have a pentagram on her panties, anyway?