In 1983, a Danish band led by a mysterious, face-painted singer unleashed one of the most influential and evil-sounding albums of all time. Melissa was the debut of Mercyful Fate, a record that would lay the foundation for the entire black metal genre and introduce the world to the legendary King Diamond.

Join host Duff for the next chapter in our "Festival of Debuts" series. We're exploring the complex, chilling riffs of Hank Shermann and Michael Denner, the occult-themed lyrics, the story behind the famous human skull "Melissa," and the groundbreaking vocal performance that changed metal forever.

In this Duff Dive, we explore:

• The album's massive influence on the First Wave of Black Metal.
• The unique and legendary vocal style of King Diamond.
• The game-changing twin-guitar work of Hank Shermann and Michael Denner.
• The true story of "Melissa," the human skull used by the band.
• A breakdown of key tracks like "Evil," "Curse of the Pharaohs," and the 11-minute epic, "Satan's Fall."

Episode Resources & Affiliate Links:

(Note: Some of the links below are affiliate links... etc.)

💿 The Album:

• Purchase Melissa on Amazon (Vinyl or CD): https://amzn.to/4pqwMu7

🎤 Duff's Gear:

• 🎤 Duff's Mic: My Microphone (Electro-Voice RE20): https://amzn.to/4n334cK
• 🎧 Duff's Headphones: Sennheiser HD 280 Pro: https://amzn.to/45TpFl6
• 🎛️ Duff's Audio Interface: Focusrite 2i2 4th generation:https://amzn.to/4fV1jf2

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