Don't Break the Oath: Difference between revisions
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'''''Don't Break the Oath''''' is the second studio album by Danish [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Mercyful Fate]], released on 7 September 1984 through Roadrunner Records. | '''''Don't Break the Oath''''' is the second studio album by Danish [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Mercyful Fate]], released on 7 September 1984 through Roadrunner Records. | ||
The style Mercyful Fate employed on ''Don't Break the Oath'' resembled a mixture of heavy metal with [[progressive rock|progressive]] elements, lyrically preoccupied with [[Satan]] and the [[occult]] and distinguished by [[King Diamond]]'s theatrical [[falsetto]] vocals. Very influential to future [[black metal]] bands due to its lyrical content, the music itself tends toward progressive forms such as dramatic modulations, tempo and tone changes. | The album was remastered and subsequently re-issued on [[Roadrunner Records]] in 1997. This reissue came with the bonus track "Death Kiss (Demo)", which would eventually evolve into the album's lead-off track, "A Dangerous Meeting". | ||
== Music and lyrics == | |||
The style Mercyful Fate employed on ''Don't Break the Oath'' resembled a mixture of heavy metal with [[progressive rock|progressive]] elements, lyrically preoccupied with [[Satan]] and the [[occult]] and distinguished by [[King Diamond]]'s theatrical [[falsetto]] vocals. Very influential to future [[black metal]] bands due to its lyrical content, the music itself tends toward progressive forms such as dramatic modulations, tempo and tone changes. | |||
According to Louis Pattison of ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'': "On ''Don’t Break the Oath'', the Copenhagen quintet were drawing power from the rollicking tempos of [[hard rock]], the [[Neoclassicism (music)|neo-classical]] techniques of prog, and the brutish heaviness of UK standard bearers [[Venom (band)|Venom]]. Then, on top of that, they threw in King Diamond, a genuine Satanist whose [[Opera|operatic]] vocals dripped with evil grandeur, but who was also capable of a [[pathos]]-laden wail curiously reminiscent of [[the Cure]]’s [[Robert Smith (musician)|Robert Smith]]."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pitchfork |date=2018-09-10 |title=The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-200-best-albums-of-the-1980s/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
== Legacy == | |||
The album received critical acclaim, and ''[[Metal Rules]]'' named this the greatest [[extreme metal]] album of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-rules.com/polls/index.php?id=7|title=Top 50 Extreme Metal Albums|website=[[Metal Rules]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405003815/http://metal-rules.com/polls/index.php?id=7|archive-date=April 5, 2018|access-date=April 16, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Louis Pattison of ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' wrote: "Thanks to Diamond’s distinctive [[corpse paint]], Mercyful Fate are often pigeonholed as a sort of proto-black metal band. But ultimately, ''Don’t Break the Oath'' isn’t great because it’s a roadmap to some future sound; this is ’80s metal [[wiktionary:in_excelsis|in excelsis]]."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pitchfork |date=2018-09-10 |title=The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-200-best-albums-of-the-1980s/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
==Track listing== | ==Track listing== | ||
Latest revision as of 15:30, 7 June 2025
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Don't Break the Oath is the second studio album by Danish heavy metal band Mercyful Fate, released on 7 September 1984 through Roadrunner Records.
The album was remastered and subsequently re-issued on Roadrunner Records in 1997. This reissue came with the bonus track "Death Kiss (Demo)", which would eventually evolve into the album's lead-off track, "A Dangerous Meeting".
Music and lyrics
The style Mercyful Fate employed on Don't Break the Oath resembled a mixture of heavy metal with progressive elements, lyrically preoccupied with Satan and the occult and distinguished by King Diamond's theatrical falsetto vocals. Very influential to future black metal bands due to its lyrical content, the music itself tends toward progressive forms such as dramatic modulations, tempo and tone changes.
According to Louis Pattison of Pitchfork: "On Don’t Break the Oath, the Copenhagen quintet were drawing power from the rollicking tempos of hard rock, the neo-classical techniques of prog, and the brutish heaviness of UK standard bearers Venom. Then, on top of that, they threw in King Diamond, a genuine Satanist whose operatic vocals dripped with evil grandeur, but who was also capable of a pathos-laden wail curiously reminiscent of the Cure’s Robert Smith."[1]
Legacy
The album received critical acclaim, and Metal Rules named this the greatest extreme metal album of all time.[2] Louis Pattison of Pitchfork wrote: "Thanks to Diamond’s distinctive corpse paint, Mercyful Fate are often pigeonholed as a sort of proto-black metal band. But ultimately, Don’t Break the Oath isn’t great because it’s a roadmap to some future sound; this is ’80s metal in excelsis."[3]
Track listing
Template:Track listing Template:Track listing Template:Track listing
Personnel
Mercyful Fate
- King Diamond - vocals, keyboards, harpsichord
- Hank Shermann - guitars
- Michael Denner - guitars
- Timi Hansen - bass
- Kim Ruzz - drums
- Benny Petersen - guitar (on track 10)
Production
- Henrik Lund - producer, engineer
- Niels Erik Otto - engineer
- Thomas Holm - cover art
Charts
Template:Album chart| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
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