Released: Sep 7, 1984
Genre: Heavy Metal, First-Wave Of Black Metal
Label: Combat, Roadrunner
Number Of Tracks: 9
"Don't Break The Oath" is a timeless classic that will resonate throughout the centuries and show people the very best classic metal band at the very top of their game.
Don't Break The Oath
Reviewed by:
iommi600, on february 09, 2012 1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Sound: "Don't Break The Oath" is the second album by heavy metal band Mercyful Fate, released in 1984, and sure thing a metal masterpiece and a big influence to later metal acts. Just for starting, I have to say: guitarists Hank Shermann and Michael Denner are probably two of the most creative heavy metal guitarists of all time. Their riffs are just incredible, as well as their composition skills, making complex song structures that sound so great, not to mention their melodies that allies perfectly to King Diamond's outstanding voice. Timi Hansen's bass lines are also pretty damn good, and the tone of his bass is really good. You can hear it clearly, even with the guitar works and King Diamond's voice blowing your mind together. Also, Kim Ruzz is one good drummer. After this album, Mercyful Fate would split up due to musical differences, and King Diamond would go in solo career, releasing many classics like "Abigail" and "Fatal Portrait", only rejoining in 1993. Just a classic, from a highly inspired band with true talent. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics on this album focuses on satanic tales and in the occultism. And well, we gotta say that King Diamond is a great writer. Overall, lyrics about satanism and occult does not really impress me, but these ones are really well written. Check out for "Desecration Of Souls" or "The Oath". It's no wonder he would later write great stories in albums like "Abigail". And not only he is a talented writer, but a fantastic singer. His trademark falsettos are really incredible. Probably one of the best singers in heavy metal, if not the best. // 9
Impression: Well, enough said here. This album is a masterpiece, and a big influence to many bands and genres of metal. Don’t know why, but this album really reminds me of Judas Priest, just heavier. Truly amazing. I would point "A Dangerous Meeting", "Desecration Of Souls" and "The Oath" as the best songs here, but all songs are amazing. The whole album is just mind-blowing, and this is a essential part in the collection of any heavy metal fan. I would surely buy it again if I lost it. // 9
Don't Break The Oath
Reviewed by:
MHDrunk, on may 05, 2008 2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Sound: This is easily in my top 3 albums of all time. Don’t Break the Oath is a timeless classic that will resonate throughout the centuries and show people the very best classic metal band at the very top of their game. It wouldn’t be ridiculous to suggest that Mercyful Fate killed traditional metal by laying waste to everything that came before it and all traditional metal that came after it. Nothing equals this.
While people’s favourites from this album tend to be A Dangerous Meeting and Gypsy, as mine were on first listen, as you get deeper and deeper into this album you begin to appreciate more the savage sinisterness of Desecration of Souls, the epic, fist-pumping, neck-breaking the Oath or the equally amazing closing track, Come to the Sabbath. Other highlights include every single other track. There is no down point to this album, no reason for me to subtract one point. It is traditional metal perfection. // 10
Lyrics and Singing: The aspect of Mercyful Fate that lets most people down is the vocals. King Diamond goes higher than just about anyone I’ve ever heard other than Lust and Urfaust, and most people don’t like it. You know that part in Deep Purple - Child in Time where he wails as high as he can? King Diamond is higher than that - for the entirety of the album. At times he sings at a more 'normal’ pitch. His vocals are amazing though and you need to listen to this as loud as possible to fully appreciate it. Mercyful Fate use multiple vocal tracks and the vocals become another instrument. Mercyful Fate would not be the same without King Diamond. // 10
Impression: Overall this is simply an unmissable classic. Whether you like black metal, death metal, thrash metal, speed metal, power metal, doom metal or pornocyberscumgrind, you need to hear this. I’d have the Oath played on repeat at my funeral for 6 hours and then put Come to the Sabbath on repeat for the next 6. If you don’t like Don’t Break the Oath then you don’t like metal: it’s that simple. // 10
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