Roadrunner Records - 1984
9.5/10
Not even a full year following the tremendous effort known as Melissa, the Danish occult metallers Mercyful Fate would return with another record showing signs of evolution very quickly. While a little less unique than the never-replicated first effort, Don't Break The Oath would basically cement their overall theme and sound on a more general scale within the genre. Continued are the melodies, heavy riffs, and clean singing that would never really go away. However, gone is the emphasis on unsettling, soft edges with a ghostly undertone that concocts such a cool atmosphere.
Instead, Don't Break The Oath opts for something far more reminiscent of its album art, a warmer approach with the aforementioned musical traits. Traditional metal riffing is sharpened with a hotter crunch, the atmosphere is cleaned up to allow both of King's high howls and lower snarls to break in clearer, and the song structures themselves feel a little more orthodox. No eleven minute songs with sixteen different riffs will be found here, however the gains are worth the loss; in other words, this album still has an identity of its own. Sweeping solos amidst arguably harder drum kicks and sharper rhythms make for a record that's heavier in execution in lieu of the coldness.
Really, this is made evident immediately when the record opens on the powerful punch with gradual guitar layers in "A Dangerous Meeting." Closer "Come To The Sabbath" counters this wonderfully, utilizing the same technique but with smooth vocal layers that break into an otherwise straightforward tune. As a matter of fact, the catchier earworms considered classics standout nicely here, namely "Gypsy" with its swift execution, bouncy bridge, and singalong verses. "Welcome Princess Of Hell" snaps on the same tactic with a softer tone, utilizing more emotion to match the poetic expression and macabre feelings pairing with hidden Satan worship. You'd never realize how dark some of these tunes are without paying close attention to the lyrics, as they're once again so warm in feeling. But that's also what helps the memorability!
On the other hand, you can hear intricacies that would become prominent as Mercyful Fate would progress as a band. A harpsichord makes its way into the mix for several tracks, and "Nightmare" borders power metal territory as its pace is picked up after the bridge. The bass and drum combo is heard wonderfully here, progressing with some strong might. To the same end, "The Oath" is a menacing stomper, being the only tune that doesn't have a shred of inviting energy. It enters with a cold and dark set of keyboards and undertones that break into power metal ranges amidst its pummeling drive. These subtle contrasts with the rest of the album are still mixed in wonderfully, almost acting as a transition to break the record in half. For a second, you may think we're getting a surprise doom metal attack before it makes a smooth one-eighty into something faster.
If the menacing quintet's first album was a fierce execution of freezing expressions with the darkest presentation of traditional metal, then their sophomore is its counterpart. Here the devil disguises himself in pretty colors and comfortable coats to trick the listener into trekking right into hell. But the songwriting isn't nearly as edgy as the description I just gave, it simply fits the same vibe without a trace of awkwardness. Ya know, as if adults interested in the occult wrote it, rather than kids aiming to upset their religious parents.
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