Mercyful Fate In The Shadows - Vinyl

Mercyful Fate: King Diamond (vocals); Hank Shermann, Michael Denner (guitar); Timi Hansen (bass); Morten Nielsen (drums).
Additional personnel: Johnny Mashall (harpsichord); Lars Ulrich (drums).
Producers: King Diamond, Hank Shermann, Tim Kimsey.
Recorded at The Dallas Sound Lab, Dallas, Texas between February and April 1993.
The first album from the reunited Mercyful Fate (with studio drummer Morton Nielsen replacing Kim Ruzz), In the Shadows adopts the stripped-down sound and progressive songwriting of the group's debut Melissa. There's even a harpsichord-laced sequel to that album's title track, called "Is That You, Melissa." Despite the passage of eight years, vocalist King Diamond, guitarists Michael Denner and Hank Shermann, and bassist Timi Hansen recapture the same spark that made their first two albums classics in the metal realm. While the atmosphere is not as malevolent as that of their previous release Don't Break the Oath, Diamond's lyrics and performances are less cartoonish than before, and these songs generally feature the memorable hooks that are one of the group's trademarks. The last track, a re-recording of long-lost chestnut "Return of the Vampire," features Metallica's Lars Ulrich on drums. It may not be as classic as their first two releases, but In the Shadows is a strong addition to the Mercyful Fate oeuvre.

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Pop