Editing Mercyful Fate (section)

==Style and legacy==
Mercyful Fate were a part of the [[first-wave black metal|first wave of black metal]], along with other groups, such as [[Venom (band)|Venom]], [[Bathory (band)|Bathory]], and [[Hellhammer]].<ref name=sam>{{cite video |last=Dunn |first=Sam |year=2005 |title=[[Metal: A Headbanger's Journey]] |type=motion picture |publisher=Seville Pictures}}</ref> Many of these groups helped establish the style upon which future black metal artists would later build.<ref name=sam/> Unlike the other first-wave bands, typical elements of Mercyful Fate's style are influences from [[progressive rock]],<ref name=rhi1>Götz Kühnemund: ''A History of Horror''. In: ''Rock Hard'', no. 282, November 2010, p. 20-27.</ref> epic 1970s [[hard rock]],<ref name=szt/> and traditional heavy metal. As many of the band's songs featured lyrics about [[Satanism]] and the [[occult]]<ref name="Melissa Review"/><ref name="Don't Break the Oath Review"/> and King Diamond was among the first black metal musicians to use the now famous [[corpse paint]],<ref name="metalstrom">{{cite web |url=http://www.metalstorm.ee/pub/article.php?article_id=66 |title=On the Role of Clothing Styles In The Development of Metal – Part I |publisher=Metalstorm.ee |date=July 5, 2005 | access-date=December 8, 2012}}</ref> Mercyful Fate was a pioneer in developing black metal,<ref name="Melissa Review">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/r12968 |title=Mercyful Fate: ''Melissa'' - Review |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=December 9, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Don't Break the Oath Review">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/r12969 |title=Mercyful Fate: ''Don't Break the Oath'' - Review |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=December 9, 2012}}</ref> although their musical style was not as much an influence as that of other first wave bands.<ref name=szt/> The band has also been cited as an influence on or inspiration to bands of the then-emerging [[death metal]] genre, including [[Death (metal band)|Death]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/chuck-schuldiner-lust-life|title=Chuck Schuldiner: Lust for Life|website=[[Guitar World]]|date=May 13, 2009|access-date=February 6, 2021}}</ref> [[Morbid Angel]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.deathmetal.org/article/the-craft-of-metal-2-abominations-of-desolation/|title=The Craft of Metal #2: Abominations of Desolation|website=deathmetal.org|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=February 6, 2021}}</ref> [[Obituary (band)|Obituary]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Donald Tardy (Obituary) interview|url=http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/musicians/donald_tardy_obituary.htm|website=metal-temple.com|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref> and [[Cannibal Corpse]].<ref>{{cite web|title=CANNIBAL CORPSE's GEORGE 'CORPSEGRINDER' FISHER: Why I Love MERCYFUL FATE's 'Don't Break The Oath'|url=https://metaladdicts.com/corpsegrinder-why-i-love-mercyful-fates-dont-break-the-oath/|website=metaladdicts.com|date=March 23, 2021|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref>

Mercyful Fate have been cited as a formative influence on the 1980s thrash metal scene, including two-fourths of the genre's "Big Four" – [[Metallica]] and [[Slayer]].<ref name="Kerry King" /><ref name="metalinjection" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metallicaworld.co.uk/Band%20History.htm |title=The History of Metallica |publisher=Metallicaworld.co.uk |access-date=6 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605102501/http://metallicaworld.co.uk/Band%20History.htm |archive-date=5 June 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Other thrash metal bands that have cited the band as an influence or inspiration to them include [[Testament (band)|Testament]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/news/testaments-chuck-billy-says-new-record-has-some-mercyful-fate-black-metal-influences|title=TESTAMENT's Chuck Billy Says New Record Has Some MERCYFUL FATE & Black Metal Influences|website=Metal Injection|date=September 30, 2019|access-date=February 6, 2021}}</ref> [[Exodus (band)|Exodus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Exodus Family Tree — The Metal|url=https://www.givememetal.com/thrashmetaltrees/exodus-family-tree|website=givememetal.com|date=May 20, 2021 |access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref> and [[Kreator]].<ref>{{cite web|title=KREATOR Frontman: 'I Try Not To Sound Like Anyone Else'|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/kreator-frontman-i-try-not-to-sound-like-anyone-else/|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=April 15, 2017|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref> Slayer guitarist [[Kerry King]] has stated that he and then-guitarist [[Jeff Hanneman]] were big fans of Mercyful Fate and cited them as influence on their second album ''[[Hell Awaits]]''.<ref name="Kerry King"/><ref name="Metal Hammer">{{cite web | title = Kerry King interviewed by Metal Hammer.| date = June 15, 2010| publisher = YouTube| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiLGIw2KXm0&list=FLOb0w15YR6aG-n_TxKIZg9Q&index=88&feature=plpp_video| access-date = December 8, 2012 }}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=October 2020}} Metallica recorded a medley of Mercyful Fate songs on their 1998 covers album ''[[Garage Inc.]]'' Since then, the band has performed the song various times live with several members of Mercyful Fate.<ref name=GWorld/><ref name="Metallica 1999">{{cite web | title = Metallica performing "Mercyful Fate" w/King Diamond and Hank Shermann in 1999.| publisher = YouTube| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E20_5rQAbBQ| access-date = December 9, 2012 }}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=October 2020}}<ref name="Metallica 2008">{{cite web| title = Metallica performing "Mercyful Fate" w/ King Diamond on August 9, 2008 in Dallas, Texas.| publisher = Metallica.com| url = http://www.metallica.com/tour/2008-tour-videos.asp| access-date = December 9, 2012| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130101134934/http://www.metallica.com/tour/2008-tour-videos.asp| archive-date = January 1, 2013}}</ref> [[Lars Ulrich]] from Metallica has said in about 2008: "Mercyful Fate has made two of the best heavy rock records ever. We have been friends with them for 23 years. The first time I ever played on some other record was with them – I was in Dallas to make ''[[Return of the Vampire]]'' in 1992. They have been a very, very big inspiration for our sound."<ref>{{cite book|title=Husker du – dansk rock gennem 50 år|last1=Hegnsvad|first1=Kristoffer|last2=Maegaard|first2=Sofie|publisher=[[DR (broadcaster)|DR]]|year=2008|isbn=978-87-7680-812-9|page=108|language=da|quote=Mercyful Fate har lavet to af de bedste heavyrock-plader nogensinde. Vi har været venner med dem i 23 år. Første gang jeg nogensinde spillede med på en anden plade, var med dem – jeg var i Dallas og lave ''Return of the Vampire'' i 1992. De har været en meget, meget stor inspiration for vores sound.}}</ref> [[Gary Holt (musician)|Gary Holt]] of Exodus and Slayer recalls, "We were all listening to the early Mercyful Fate demos. I was like, 'Who's this fuckin dude reciting the [[Lord's Prayer]] backwards? He's awesome.' [...] All that stuff had a huge influence on us in the beginning."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wiederhorn |first=Jon |title=Raising Hell |publisher=Diversion Books |year=2020 |pages=141}}</ref>