𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…
20 years ago this week, the Iron King showed no Mercy as the Forces of Evil were unleashed.
On June 15 in 2003, Force of Evil released their debut full-length studio album, “Force of Evil” in Europe via Diamond Records (released in North America on January 26, 2004 via Escapi Music).
Background:
Force of Evil was formed in September 2002 by guitarists Michael Denner and Hank Shermann (MERCYFUL FATE), bassist Hal Patino (King Diamond), drummer Bjarne T. Holm (Mercyful Fate), and vocalist Martin Steene (Iron Fire) with whom he has made several albums.
They began recording their first album at 5th Vision & Hellfire Recordings on March 24, 2003 and the self-titled CD was officially released on June 15, 2003. On June 13, 2003, the band played their first worldwide performance in Cleveland, Ohio.
The band disbanded in 2006, citing the band member's various other projects as the reason.
Critical Reception:
In his review for AllMusic, Alex Henderson wrote;
“Sometimes, a veteran headbanger will throw his/her admirers a major curve ball. The rap-metal/alternative metal that Tommy Lee offered on his Methods of Mayhem project of 1999, for example, was a total departure from the decadent Sunset Strip boogie that his former band, Mötley Crüe, was best known for in the '80s. But other times, metal's veterans celebrate their past, which is what Mercyful Fate alumni Michael Denner and Hank Shermann do on Force of Evil's self-titled debut album. The Danish's band's three other members are lead singer Martin Steene (of Ironfire fame), drummer Bjarne Holm (who joined Mercyful Fate in 1995 -- long after their '80s heyday), and bassist Hal Patino (best known for backing Mercyful Fate's original lead singer, King Diamond, after he went solo).
When four of a band's five members have some connection to either Mercyful Fate the band or King Diamond the solo artist, one expects a dose of '80s-style metal -- and that is exactly what Force of Evil provide on this release. From the gothic, occult-minded themes to Force of Evil's amplified sense of melody, this album sounds like it could have been recorded in 1984 or 1985 instead of 2003. But if the material (which is power metal bordering on thrash) is less than groundbreaking, Force of Evil still deserve credit for craftsmanship. Like Mercyful Fate, Force of Evil don't govern by brute force alone. They're loud and forcefully aggressive, but they're also quite melodic, intricate, and musical -- and, of course, that is exactly how one would describe Mercyful Fate and Diamond as well as Iron Maiden, Queensrÿche, Judas Priest, and many other power metal bands that were popular in the '80s. Force of Evil's debut isn't in a class with Mercyful Fate's most essential '80s recordings or King Diamond's best solo output, but it's a solid and enjoyable, if derivative, effort that will appeal to headbangers who still can't get enough of classic '80s power metal.”
Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:
Click this link to listen to “Force of Evil” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/force-of-evil/1229292344
Click this link to follow Force of Evil on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forceofevilband/
Click this link to follow the official Bjarn T. Holm Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Bjarne-T-Holm-official-fan-Club-114098827047115/
Click this link to follow Hank Shermann on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HankShermannOfficial
Click this link to follow Hal Patino on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalPatinoOfficial
Click this link to follow Michael Denner of Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.d.denner
Click this link to follow Martin Steene of Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steenelandofficial
Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells
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