Summer Breeze Brasil took place over the last few days, on Friday the 26th, Saturday the 27th, and Sunday the 28th, with all the coverage already published here on Wikimetal .
Featuring a lineup packed with artists from different styles, the metal festival concluded with the highly anticipated return of Mercyful Fate .
The band brought one of the most elaborate stages of all the festival's shows and, even before starting, displayed a large banner with their name emblazoned on it.
Lead singer King Diamond used a goat's head as a prop when the group iconically and explosively kicked off their show with "The Oath" from the album Don't Break The Oath (1984).
Following the same fast-paced style as the first song—and which extended throughout the band's show—came "A Corpse Without A Soul," featuring an excellent and melodic guitar riff. Right from the start, it's possible to see just how skilled guitarist Hank Shermann , a feat that reappears in the track's solo.
In an exclusive interview with Wikimetal , he spoke about Mercyful Fate's new bassist, Becky Baldwin . She recently joined the group and, as the guitarist rightly said, is already very well connected and involved with the rest of the band, making her a great addition to the lineup.
“The Jackal Of Salzburg” followed. The song is a new work from Mercyful Fate, completely dark, and alternates between moments of power and others with a reduction in the instrumental, leading to something softer, but still generating tension. The song is simply sensational, and the group delivers a powerful performance.
Diamond's voice is definitely something that won't appeal to everyone. There are few moments when he sings in lower tones, with most of his singing being in high notes that can be tiring, but undeniably, they are a trademark of both his solo career and the band.
Included on one of the Danish group's most successful albums, Melissa (1983), they played "Curse of the Pharaohs," featuring a very well-executed solo by Shermann.
Another track from Don't Break The Oath , “A Dangerous Meeting” features an intro with heavy bass lines that immediately set the mood for the song. Another crucial detail of the track is the vocals, perfectly aligned with the rest of the instrumental, which complement each other very well. The guitar duo wouldn't be complete without Mike Wead , who plays the track's solo very well.
“Doomed By The Living Dead” continued, with the band delivering a performance that made it impossible not to sing along and headbang, bringing the final touch of Matt Thompson Bjarne T. Holm 's replacement , which made everything shake.
The introduction to "Melissa" is one of the best in the band's discography. Easily recognizable, hearing it live is even more exciting. Showing all his skill, Diamond shines again on this track, unleashing his voice with great ability and absolute control.
Once again, Wead delivers another solo brimming with technique and precision.
Another song that's a complete powerhouse, "Black Funeral," from the same album as the previous one, shook the very foundations of Summer Breeze, bringing a fast-paced and rhythmic riff.
Whenever possible, the audience chanted the band's name, showing how much they missed their presence here in Brazil.
The performance was going flawlessly, but it was when they played "Evil" that a switch was flipped. The guitarists delivered a performance that was completely above average.
“Come To The Sabbath” was another one that equally thrilled the audience.
The band left the stage after that song, taking a rather long break. A recurring theme in the band's music and aesthetic, the devil is present in the lengthy "Satan's Fall," which lasts over 11 minutes.
She is a perfect example of everything they are capable of doing, down to the smallest details aligned, functioning well and in perfect harmony.
It's no coincidence that Mercyful Fate was one of the most anticipated bands of the entire festival—especially considering how many years it took for them to return to Brazil. Their show is, definitively, a masterclass in how to deliver classic heavy metal, without any low points or lackluster moments.
The guitar duo is a spectacle in itself, delivering each solo and each riff with precision and technique. Baldwin was the right choice to handle the band's bass, perfectly executing his parts. Wead doesn't disappoint, and performs his role well. All of this is brought together by King Diamond, one of the greatest vocalists in metal history.
Our contributor Leca Suzuki captured the show with exclusive photos that you can see in the gallery below.
