Legendary MERCYFUL FATE Guitarists MICHAEL DENNER And HANK SHERMANN To Release 'Satan's Tomb' EP

Michael Denner and Hank Shermann, the original Danish guitar players of MERCYFUL FATE's legendary "Melissa" and "Don't Break the Oath" albums, have created a new classic in the forthcoming EP "Satan's Tomb", coming in 2015 on Metal Blade Records. These songs were crafted with the MERCYFUL FATE worldwide legion of fans at the forefront of the duo's collective minds. From the first riff to the last wail, one cannot help but feel the magic newly recaptured once again.

The band, which is simply called DENNER/SHERMANN, calls into service a formidable group of allies who were capable of helping realize this menagerie of malice, was a task carefully orchestrated by these metal mad scientists. Shermann first called upon Marc Grabowski (DEMONICA) to handle the bass guitar, followed by the only drummer that made sense for many obvious aspects, the one known as Snowy Shaw (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND, DREAM EVIL). Many voices were considered, but fate lead them to Sean Peck (CAGE, DEATH DEALER). He was not only a fan but had the versatile vocal skills to make the new songs come to life like their fans would expect.

Shermann comments: "We have been writing and recording with an incredible lineup of musicians and the fans are in for a dark, classic, heavy metal treat for sure. We wanted to get back to the essence of what we created back in the early '80s. The music inevitable sounds like you would hope it to be, fans of our early work should be very excited."

Metal Blade CEO Brian Slagel adds: "I am super excited to welcome DENNER/SHERMANN to the Metal Blade family. I have known Michael and Hank for more than 25 years. I am honored to be able to work with these two legendary musicians. Really excited to work with all the guys on this exciting new band!"

DENNER/SHERMANN is:

Michael Denner - Guitar
Hank Shermann - Guitar
Sean Peck - Vocals
Snowy Shaw - Drums
Marc Grabowski - Bass

MERCYFUL FATE's last studio album, "9", was released in 1999.

MERCYFUL FATE will be remembered for its unquestionable mark on the history of metal with its innovative sound, complex arrangements, memorable melody, and its influence on bands that later took the genre to new heights.

In 1998, METALLICA paid tribute to MERCYFUL FATE by recording a medley of classic MERCYFUL FATE songs on the album "Garage Inc." Entitled "Mercyful Fate", the medley included parts from "Satan's Fall", "Curse of the Pharaohs", "A Corpse Without Soul", "Into the Coven" and "Evil".

Lars Ulrich of METALLICA (a fellow Dane) played drums on a new version of MERCYFUL FATE's "Return of the Vampire" on the "In the Shadows" album, which came out in 1993.