Editing Mercyful Fate (section)

===Formation and first releases (1981–1985)===
Mercyful Fate was originally formed in [[Copenhagen]] in the spring of 1981,<ref>{{cite book|title=Dansk rockleksikon|editor=Bille, Torben|publisher=[[JP/Politikens Hus|Politikens Forlag]]|year=2002|isbn=87-567-6525-8|edition=1st|page=314|language=da|quote=Dannet foråret 1981 i København. [English: Formed in the spring of 1981 in Copenhagen.]}}</ref> following the dissolution of the band Brats.<ref name="Allmusic"/> Brats were a [[Punk rock|punk]]/[[Heavy metal music|metal]] band, featuring future Mercyful Fate members, vocalist [[King Diamond]], and guitarists [[Hank Shermann]] and Michael Denner.<ref name="Interview">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghf8cVMstBM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/ghf8cVMstBM| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=King Diamond interviewed in 1997. |date=January 19, 2009 |publisher=[[YouTube]] |access-date=December 9, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> After two studio albums and several line-up changes (including the addition of Diamond and the departure of Denner), Diamond and Shermann began writing new material that was much heavier than any of Brats' previous work.<ref name="Interview"/> The band's record label [[Sony Music|CBS]] was not pleased with the material, and demanded they stop singing in English and become more commercial.<ref name="Interview"/> As a result, Diamond and Shermann quit the group and went on to form Mercyful Fate.<ref name="Interview"/> Former Rock Nalle bassist [[Ole Beich]] (later of [[L.A. Guns]] and [[Guns N' Roses]]) briefly joined the band around this time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jv.dk/esbjerg/Esbjergs-stoerste-rockstjerne-havde-en-destruktiv-djaevel/artikel/2197991|title=Esbjergs største rockstjerne havde en destruktiv djævel|date=January 2, 2016}}</ref> After several line-up changes and semi-professional demo tapes, Mercyful Fate released their [[Mercyful Fate (EP)|self-titled EP]] in 1982.<ref name=szt>Björn Thorsten Jaschinski: ''Seziertisch''. In: ''Rock Hard'', no. 282, November 2010, p. 28.</ref><ref name="Band members"/> This line-up, consisting of King Diamond, Hank Shermann, bassist Timi Hansen, drummer Kim Ruzz and guitarist Michael Denner.<ref name="EP">{{cite web |url=http://www.kingdiamondcoven.com/site/discography/mercyful-fate-mercyful-fate/ |title=''Mercyful Fate'' at KingDiamondCoven.com |publisher=KingDiamondCoven.com |access-date=December 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020100924/http://www.kingdiamondcoven.com/site/discography/mercyful-fate-mercyful-fate/ |archive-date=October 20, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 

In July 1983, Mercyful Fate recorded their debut album at Easy Sound Recording, in Copenhagen, Denmark.<ref name="Melissa">{{cite web |url=http://www.kingdiamondcoven.com/site/discography/mercyful-fate-melissa/ |title=''Melissa'' at KingDiamondCoven.com |publisher=KingDiamondCoven.com |access-date=December 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020100828/http://www.kingdiamondcoven.com/site/discography/mercyful-fate-melissa/ |archive-date=October 20, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Entitled ''[[Melissa (Mercyful Fate album)|Melissa]]'', the album was produced by Henrik Lund and released on October 30, 1983 through [[Roadrunner Records]].<ref name="Melissa"/> ''Melissa'' has been referred to as "one of the first records to start to develop an '[[extreme metal]]' sound" and was major influence on the then-emerging [[thrash metal]], [[death metal]] and [[black metal]] genres.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thisdayinmetal.com/feature/versus-melissa-vs-abigail/|title=VERSUS: Melissa vs. Abigail|website=thisdayinmetal.com|access-date=5 July 2024|date=24 May 2024}}</ref> The character of Melissa, a [[witch]] who was burned at the stake, appears for the first time on the eponymous debut album and intermittently throughout the band's later work.<ref>{{cite news |title=The 50 Most Evil Songs Ever |url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/the-50-most-evil-songs-ever/ |access-date=July 20, 2019 |publisher=Kerrang!}}</ref> One of the album's tracks, "Into the Coven", received particular attention two years later, when it was listed by the [[Parents Music Resource Center]] (PMRC) as one of their "Filthy Fifteen" songs due to its perceived occult content.<ref name="PMRC"/> King Diamond was, in reality, interested in [[LaVeyan Satanism]], which he called "a life philosophy" and stated that it had nothing to do with [[Satan|the Devil]] of [[Abrahamic religions]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Heavy Metal – 40 år med hård rock |author=Rasmussen, Jens|publisher=[[Dagbladet Information|Informations Forlag]]|year=2010|isbn=978-87-7514-2590|edition=1st|page=138|language=da|quote=LaVey, som også var en ironisk mand, skabte en livsfilosofi, der ikke havde noget med religion at gøre, hvor der fandtes én Gud, der sagde, hvordan man skulle gøre [...] Ordet 'satanisme' skulle måske aldrig have været sat på den livsfilosofi, for det har kun givet grund til misforståelser og har ikke noget at gøre med kristendommens 'Satan', som er ét stort negativt fortegn. De 'satanistiske' tekster i Mercyful Fate gav os chancen for at forklare os på mange områder, men på samme tid gav de også anledning til en masse misforståelser. [English: LaVey, who was also a man given to irony, created a life philosophy, which had nothing to do with a religion that has one God, who says what one must do [...] The word 'Satanism' should perhaps never have been used to designate that life philosophy, because it has only provided grounds for misunderstandings and has nothing to do with 'Satan' of Christianity, which is one big negative characteristic. The 'satanic' lyrics of Mercyful Fate gave us the chance to explain ourselves in many ways, but they also gave the opportunity for a lot of misunderstandings at the same time.]}}</ref> After a number of concerts around Denmark, Mercyful Fate entered the studio in May 1984 to record their second studio album ''[[Don't Break the Oath]]'', which was released on September 7, 1984.<ref name="Don't Break the Oath">{{cite web |url=http://www.kingdiamondcoven.com/site/discography/mercyful-fate-dont-break-the-oath/ |title=''Don't Break the Oath'' at KingDiamondCoven.com |publisher=KingDiamondCoven.com |access-date=December 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701225755/http://www.kingdiamondcoven.com/site/discography/mercyful-fate-dont-break-the-oath/ |archive-date=July 1, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During the album's supporting tour, the band played the US for two months and made festival appearances in Germany.<ref name="YouTube #1">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Io9kAl76NM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/1Io9kAl76NM| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=King Diamond - Interview |date=May 19, 2009 |publisher=[[YouTube]] |access-date=December 8, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Despite winning a [[cult following]] around the world, Mercyful Fate broke up in April 1985, due to musical differences.<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mercyful-fate-mn0000343954 |title=Mercyful Fate |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=December 8, 2012}}</ref><ref name="YouTube #1"/><ref name="Music Box">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a89uYy8su2k | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610214019/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a89uYy8su2k| archive-date=2014-06-10 | url-status=dead|title=King Diamond interviewed on the Music Box |publisher=[[YouTube]] |access-date=December 8, 2012}}</ref> Guitarist Hank Shermann wanted the band to move to a more commercial sound;<ref name="Allmusic"/> King Diamond refused and announced his departure from Mercyful Fate, which led to the band breaking up.<ref name="YouTube #1"/>