Editing Mercyful Fate (section)

===Full-time reunion (2019–present)===
[[File:Mercyful Fate (52202517675).jpg|thumb|upright|Mercyful Fate performing in 2022]]
On August 1, 2019, it was announced that Mercyful Fate would be performing an unspecified number of concerts throughout Europe in the summer of 2020. The band's line-up consists of King Diamond on vocals, Hank Shermann on guitar, Bjarne T. Holm on drums, Mike Wead on guitar and [[Joey Vera]] on bass, the latter of whom was filling in for Timi Hansen, who was battling cancer;<ref>{{cite web|author=Andrew Sacher|title=Mercyful Fate's Timi Hansen sitting out reunion tour because he's battling cancer|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/mercyful-fates-timi-hansen-sitting-out-reunion-tour-because-hes-battling-cancer/|publisher=[[BrooklynVegan]]|access-date=August 13, 2019|date=August 2, 2019}}</ref> Vera then became their full-time bass player after Hansen died on November 4, 2019, shortly after his 61st birthday.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/mercyful-fate-bassist-timi-hansen-dies-after-battle-with-cancer/|title=MERCYFUL FATE Bassist TIMI HANSEN Dies After Battle With Cancer|date=November 4, 2019|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=November 4, 2019}}</ref> Aside from previously released material, the band was also going to perform new songs over the course of the summer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/mercyful-fate-to-reunite-for-appearance-at-denmarks-copenhell-festival/ |title= MERCYFUL FATE To Reunite For Summer 2020 European Festival Appearances |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=August 1, 2019 |access-date=August 1, 2019}}</ref>

In a May 2020 interview with Heavy magazine, Shermann said that he had "written six or seven songs" for the band's new album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://heavymag.com.au/mercyful-fate-return-to-their-origins/|author=Griffiths, Dave|title=MERCYFUL FATE Return To Their Origins|website=heavymag.com.au|date=April 30, 2020 }}</ref> On June 2, 2022, Mercyful Fate performed their first live show since 1999 in [[Hanover]] as part of a European tour, where they debuted a brand new song titled "The Jackal of Salzburg".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/king-diamond-says-mercyful-fate-will-play-new-nine-minute-song-on-upcoming-tour-its-quite-a-monster|title=KING DIAMOND Says MERCYFUL FATE Will Play New Nine-Minute Song On Upcoming Tour: 'It's Quite A Monster'|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=May 29, 2022 |accessdate=May 29, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/av/mercyful-fate-played-their-first-show-in-23-years-and-they-sounded-fantastic|author=Kennelty, Greg|title=MERCYFUL FATE Played Their First Show In 23 Years And They Sounded Fantastic|date=June 3, 2022 |accessdate=June 3, 2022}}</ref>

On January 16, 2024, Mercyful Fate announced that they had "mutually decided to split ways" with Vera.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/mercyful-fate-parts-ways-with-bassist-joey-vera|title=MERCYFUL FATE Parts Ways With Bassist JOEY VERA|date=January 16, 2024|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|accessdate=January 16, 2024}}</ref> Three days later, it was announced Becky Baldwin was the new bassist of the band, who filled in for Vera during the band's 2022 tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/mercyful-fate-announces-new-bass-player-becky-baldwin|title=MERCYFUL FATE Announces New Bass Player BECKY BALDWIN|date=January 19, 2024|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|accessdate=January 19, 2024}}</ref> In the following month, Baldwin stated that the new Mercyful Fate album is not expected to be released before 2025, due to [[King Diamond]]'s focus on his [[King Diamond (band)|namesake band]]'s upcoming thirteenth studio album ''The Institute''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/new-mercyful-fate-music-in-on-the-way-says-bassist-becky-baldwin|title=New MERCYFUL FATE Music Is 'On The Way', Says Bassist BECKY BALDWIN|date=February 12, 2024|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|accessdate=February 12, 2024}}</ref>