Denner / Shermann is the current collaborative effort from guitarists Michael Denner and Hank Shermann from Mercyful Fate. If you remember, these guys also had a band called Force Of Evil who released two (solid) albums in the mid 2000s. The Denner / Shermann band makes music is a similar fashion, obviously going to draw parallels to Fate because Michael and Hank just have a certain chemistry when composing. It worked with Force Of Evil, and is again for Denner / Shermann. Joining the guitarists this time are Mercyful Fate alum Snowy Shaw on drums, and Cage screamer Sean Peck.

“Masters Of Evil” is everything a fan would want from a sister band to Fate. See opening track ‘Angels Blood’ and ‘Son Of Satan’… I mean, those titles alone, and that “Don’t Break The Oath” inspired artwork, you know what’s coming. Denner and Shermann still write these natural complimenting ominous leads and riffs. To complete the songs you have Sean and his vocal. Sean does have his own tone, and when it comes to those highs he has a familiarity to King Diamond. But is not a clone, luckily. Then again, it’s obvious he was chosen because of his ability to sing the highs, but it’s not a falsetto. He has a little Halford and Bruce Dickinson at times, and even strangely sounds like 70s Ozzy Osbourne on parts of ‘The Wolf Feeds At Night’.

Now I have mentioned the unavoidable similarities to Mercyfual Fate, and it is to be expected. Although, one with a well-trained ear will notice it is the 90s Fate albums the Denner/Shermann’s music has much more in connection with. Still though, the beginning to “Masters Of Evil” title track does feel like classic first three Fate albums. Elsewhere, ‘Servants Of Dagon’ moves along with a Candlemass like romp. My only complaint, the drums lack a punch in the mix. To my ear, there is more bass than drums in the bottom end.