Happy 25 years since Mercyful Fate last released a new album! The exact anniversary will be May 15th to be exact, but hey, close enough. King Diamond claims the long awaited follow up to 9 will finally see the light of day sometime in 2025, but we’ll believe it when we hear it (the same goes for a new King Diamond album for that matter, but I digress). In the meantime, Mercyful Fate have spawned quite a few faithful worship bands who have killed it satiating our appetites, the most devout of these devotees being Sweden’s Portrait and Germany’s Attic.
Whereas Portrait tends to expand upon the progressive adventurism of Melissa, Attic have earned a name for themselves by fusing the pure evil of Don’t Break the Oath with occasional flashes of speed metal. Their first two albums, The Invocation (2012) and Sanctimonious (2017), aren’t just brainless slabs of Mercyful Fate worship, but rather pillars of blackened traditional metal themselves, boasting impressive songwriting and even more impressive musicianship. Despite a 7 year gap between releases, personnel changes, and global upheaval, these tropes remain potent as ever on their latest album, Return of the Witchfinder.
From the opening devilry of “Darkest Rites”, the listener knows exactly what lies in store. Picturesque lyrics, hellish guitar work, and an infernal atmosphere dominate, while frontman Meister Cagliostro is a walking case for King Diamond having a German mistress at some point in the ’80s. Whether it be the cryptic “The Thief’s Candle”, unsettlingly anthemic “Azrael”, or gallop-laden title track, Attic nails all the moods and textures of prime Mercyful Fate, even down to the production. This is some finely executed metal, rounded out ever so excellently by the twin guitar attack of Katte and newcomer Max Povver.
The only aspect of Return that really separates it from past Attic releases are sporadic outbursts of ’90s melodic black metal. Yes, you read that correctly. Although Cagliostro’s vocals remain in King Diamond mode the whole time, one can’t ignore the blasting drums and tremolo riffing on “Hailstorm and Tempest” and especially the closing “Synodus Horrenda”. The only way I can describe these suites are as if King Diamond sat in for a session with Dissection circa ’95, which would’ve been a pretty cool pairing if you ask me. Perhaps future Attic releases will see the band further explore the frostbitten realm of second wave black metal? Only time will tell.
While the songs themselves on Return don’t immediately stick with me like those on The Invocation and Sanctimonious, I’m sure that’ll change in due time. Far from breaking the oath, Attic are upholding it to the best of their abilities, offering yet another standout musical placeholder until the next Mercyful Fate album maybe, probably, we’ll see, hopefully releases. Sorry if I’m coming off as cynical folks, but this is starting to become the underground metal version of Chinese Democracy if there ever was one. Until then, we shall “Come to the Sabbath” with Attic, so long as they invite us.
7 out of 10
Label: Ván Records
Genre: Heavy Metal
For fans of: Mercyful Fate, Portrait, Dissection