Mercyful Fate vs. King Diamond

Both bands are undeniably influential, although they're stylistically a bit different from each other. Whereas early Mercyful Fate is more straight-forward with the Satan worship and raw production values, King Diamond is more concept-driven and symphonic.

Mercyful Fate
The band's self-titled EP, along with Melissa and Don't Break the Oath, cement Mercyful Fate's reputation as one of the core pioneers of real heavy metal. Guitarists Michael Denner and Hank Shermann rank right up there with Judas Priest's K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton. When you have a song as atmospheric as "Satan's Fall", "Nightmare", or "Come to the Sabbath", it's simply difficult to NOT appreciate the intricate, wonderfully crafted melodies that form a unison of hook-laden harmonies. Let's not even forget to mention the amazingly high-pitched vocals, emphasizing the true darkness that abounds and sends a shiver down your spine. After all, this IS King Diamond.

Since their return in the early 1990s, Mercyful Fate put out a string of albums, but few of those could be considered classics. Personally, I mostly listen to In the Shadows and Time.

King Diamond
The first five albums are all classics to me, with Conspiracy and Abigail tied. As previously mentioned, this band is more concept-driven than Mercyful Fate, although there are still some similar elements. It should be noted that Andy LaRocque is the main guitarist, and the only other member aside from King Diamond to have been present on all their releases so far. His style is more classical-inspired, whereas Denner and Shermann are more into simpler riffs that still captivate the mind.

Anyway, some of the later releases are pretty good, with The Puppet Master being my favorite one in the last ten-plus years. Regardless, nothing ever comes close to any of the first five King Diamond albums.