TOXIC HOLOCAUST's Joel Grind on Mercyful Fate's 'Self Titled' 12"
LISTEN!!!! There have been a lot of good records that I've heard, but few truly great records. The first Mercyful Fate EP stands as one of the great ones. Right away the black and white artwork grabs you. It's a naked chick on a cross (which you find out later in the lyrics is actually a Nun) being burned at the stake. Flip the record over and you get to see the band. King Diamond jumps right off the page at you, full on black and white make-up, upside down cross earring and on his forehead, and of course a bone mic stand. Hank Sherman, Micheal Denner and Tim Grabber are all playing flying V's and Kim Ruzz looks like he just took one bong rip too many!
The playing is top notch and the arrangements are complex, but Hank Sherman knew how to keep them memorable. And what can I say about King Diamond's vocals? Completely over the top and haunting. So unique and so killer!
What you've got here is four songs of total Occult Hard Rocking Heavy Metal with twisted lyrics like "C.U.N.T. that's what you are..." and "It was all dressed up as a corpse in a wedding dress." Hard to believe that they were influenced by Kansas!
I got this record when I was 17. A guy I was working with was selling his record collection so he could re-buy it on CD!! Go figure. When I first listened, it actually gave me chills. It was nothing like I had ever heard before. I made a dub of this on cassette for the car and I'd re-play these four songs over and over (much to the dismay of my friends) going to parties, shows, band practice and record shopping until the tape disintegrated. Sometimes we'd crank this at the party and we'd all try our best King Diamond impressions while completely intoxicated. There is just something so perfect about this record.
Every time I listen to it, it brings back a lot of cool memories. A must have!
Select Toxic Holocaust Discography:
'Evil Never Dies' LP - Nuclear War Now Productions 2003
'Hell On Earth' LP - Nuclear War Now Productions 2005
'An Overdose Of Death' LP - Relapse Records 2008
Official Toxi Holocaust Myspace Page
LISTEN!!!! There have been a lot of good records that I've heard, but few truly great records. The first Mercyful Fate EP stands as one of the great ones. Right away the black and white artwork grabs you. It's a naked chick on a cross (which you find out later in the lyrics is actually a Nun) being burned at the stake. Flip the record over and you get to see the band. King Diamond jumps right off the page at you, full on black and white make-up, upside down cross earring and on his forehead, and of course a bone mic stand. Hank Sherman, Micheal Denner and Tim Grabber are all playing flying V's and Kim Ruzz looks like he just took one bong rip too many!
The playing is top notch and the arrangements are complex, but Hank Sherman knew how to keep them memorable. And what can I say about King Diamond's vocals? Completely over the top and haunting. So unique and so killer!
What you've got here is four songs of total Occult Hard Rocking Heavy Metal with twisted lyrics like "C.U.N.T. that's what you are..." and "It was all dressed up as a corpse in a wedding dress." Hard to believe that they were influenced by Kansas!
I got this record when I was 17. A guy I was working with was selling his record collection so he could re-buy it on CD!! Go figure. When I first listened, it actually gave me chills. It was nothing like I had ever heard before. I made a dub of this on cassette for the car and I'd re-play these four songs over and over (much to the dismay of my friends) going to parties, shows, band practice and record shopping until the tape disintegrated. Sometimes we'd crank this at the party and we'd all try our best King Diamond impressions while completely intoxicated. There is just something so perfect about this record.
Every time I listen to it, it brings back a lot of cool memories. A must have!
Select Toxic Holocaust Discography:
'Evil Never Dies' LP - Nuclear War Now Productions 2003
'Hell On Earth' LP - Nuclear War Now Productions 2005
'An Overdose Of Death' LP - Relapse Records 2008
Official Toxi Holocaust Myspace Page
