Melissa

Released in 1983, Melissa is the debut full-length from Denmark's Mercyful Fate and stands as a cornerstone of the First Wave of Black Metal. While its lyrical themes of Satanism and the occult paved the way for more extreme subgenres, the musicality is rooted in highly technical Heavy Metal and Progressive Rock. The album is famous for the 'Shermann-Denner' guitar duo, whose harmonized leads and complex arrangements set a new standard for the genre. King Diamond's vocal range, characterized by his frequent use of a powerful falsetto, became the band's most recognizable trait. The title track refers to a human skull used by the band in their live rituals, which was allegedly stolen from a stage in the 1980s. Critically, the album is regarded as a flawless execution of the band's vision, often cited alongside its successor, Don't Break the Oath, as one of the greatest metal records ever produced.