Mercyful Fate's Don't Break the Oath

Don't Break the Oath by Mercyful Fate was a popular album in the anglophone metal scene, but it was conceived in peripheral Denmark. The book discusses the relationship between center and periphery, juxtaposes the Anglophone reticent of heavy metal with the marginalized location of Copenhagen, and examines Mercyful Fate's relation to the Nordic region more generally. It also takes a close look at the methods involved in the production of King Diamond's vocals and emphasizes the role of the vocalist as just as important as the instrumental contributions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 10 March 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Upon its release, Don't Break the Oath, a groundbreaking heavy metal album, secured its place as the fifth-ranked record on the official British heavy metal album list. This remarkable achievement was accompanied by a two-month-long sold-out American tour in early 1985, further solidifying the band's popularity. However, it was the band's controversial stage appearance, featuring burning crosses, a microphone stand shaped like a cross made of two human leg bones, and other blasphemous rituals, that truly captured the attention of the music industry. Ironically, this attention from the newly formed PRMC (Parental Resource Music Center) committee actually reassured the band of their position on the charts. Despite the album's immense popularity within the anglophone metal scene, it was conceived in the periphery of Denmark.

This captivating book delves into the intricate relationship between the center and the periphery. It juxtaposes the reserved nature of heavy metal in the Anglophone world with the relatively marginalized location of Copenhagen, shedding light on Mercyful Fate's connection to the Nordic region as a whole. Furthermore, it takes a close look at the methods employed in the production of King Diamond's iconic vocals, emphasizing the vocalist's role as an equally significant component of the overall soundscape, alongside the instrumental contributions.

Through its comprehensive exploration, this book offers a profound understanding of the dynamics between different cultural contexts and the impact they have on the creative process. It serves as a valuable resource for music enthusiasts, scholars, and anyone interested in the intersection of music, culture, and identity.

Weight: 182g
Dimension: 128 x 196 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501354373