Mercyful Fate - The Beginning
1987 Roadrunner
by Uncle Meat

Quick Summary:
Oh a collection.  A half studio, half “live” work.  You know what that means, someone didn't want the memory of MF to fade away that easily.  After a brief existence, MF decided to go their separate ways.  One of the bonuses that came out of the break up was The Beginning.  Listening to The Beginning, it sounds less like a greatest hits package and more of a restatement of the groups powerful start.

So what do we know about these types of compilations?  They are usually thrown together at the last minute and aren't sanctioned by the band.  I have no idea if the band OK'ed this and it does have a last minute thing going on, but who cares?  Songs 1-4 represent what was originally on the Nuns Have No Fun e.p.(1982).  Despite the lack of virtually anything (budget, time, etc) these songs hold up very well against Melissa and Don’t Break the Oath.  Songs 5-7 are taken from “Friday’s Rock Show", and while they sound a bit claustrophobic, the listener can appreciate where the band would go from there.

Website:  www.covenworldwide.org

Song Summaries:

1. Doomed By The Living Dead - This track kicks off with riff that sounds like Deep Purple.  Things become a little too mellow in the mid section, which is book ended by two very nice solos.  Not much falsetto from the King.  Also be sure to check out the guitar riff underneath the first solo.  B
2. A Corpse Without A Soul - Another fast opening.  Very NWOBHM.  The middle has a very slow/sludgy feel.  Listen to the way King’s voice hangs in the air.  Awesome.  B
3. Nuns Have No Fun -The most memorable track for the C.U.N.T part.  Musically it sound like a cross between Judas Priest and ‘80s hair band (take your pick).  Blatantly pop would be a little harsh, but not that far off.  Besides this song is about the lyrics.  A- 
4. Devil Eyes - Nice hit-hat work from Kim Ruzz.  King uses a lot of his higher pitched vocals in this track.  Solos have an Iron Maiden feel to them.  Goes on for about a minute too long.  B+ 
5. Curse Of The Pharaohs - Played in a “live” environment gives this song a much looser feel.  Along the lines of A Corpse Without a Soul.  B- 
6. Evil - Another slice of Deep Purple/Black Sabbath riffing opens this track.  The middle sounds like a throwaway Judas Priest track.  B
7. Satan’s Fall - King seams to be struggling to keep up with the band in this track.  Epic would be a good work to describe this track.  The song goes through several riffs, time changes, and moods.  Grandiose would be another.  B+
8. Black Masses - Much more of the King Diamond voice we all know and love.  This song suffers from a sameness and been there done that.  The main riff sound too tired and be true MF. T he part leading up to the “chorus” sound like something off of DBTO.  C
9. Black Funeral - Another well known MF in that it contains the chorus Hail Satan.  Aside from this fact the song is quite good in that it continues with the formula set by the other songs, especially Evil.  Why fix it if it’s not broke?  C+ 

Average Song Rating:  B
Overall Album Rating:  B

Also be sure to read:
Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath by Uncle Meat
Mercyful Fate - In The Shadows by Uncle Meat
King Diamond - Abigail by Uncle Meat
King Diamond - Abigail II:  The Revenge by Uncle Meat
King Diamond - The Puppet Master by Uncle Meat
King Diamond - The Puppet Master by Horatio