Mercyful Fate

Danish outfit Mercyful Fate assembled vocalist King Diamond, guitarists Hank Shermann and Michael Denner, bassist Timi Hansen, and drummer Kim Ruzz. The group cultivated an intense cult audience through lyrics steeped in Gothic themes of evil and the occult, Diamond’s striking vocal span that moved from guttural low end to piercing falsetto wail, and the interlocking guitar work of Shermann and Denner. After issuing two studio albums the band dissolved amid creative disagreements, chiefly Shermann’s push for a more mainstream sound; Diamond then launched a solo career during the mid-’80s. The original members, minus Ruzz, reconvened in 1993 with Snowy Shaw—drummer for King Diamond—taking the drum chair. Early reunion efforts restored the band’s prior momentum and thrilled longtime followers. Following the first post-reunion album, In the Shadows, Hansen departed and Sharlee D’Angelo assumed bass duties on the 1994 successor Time. Bjarne T. Holm replaced Shaw for 1996’s Into the Unknown. Dead Again arrived in 1998 and triggered additional personnel changes when founding guitarist Denner exited; Mike Wead stepped in on guitar. The resulting configuration recorded 1999’s 9.