In the Shadows (album)

In the Shadows is the third full-length studio album by Danish heavy metal band Mercyful Fate. It is the first offering of the band since their reunion in 1992.[4] This would be the final full-length album Timi Hansen would appear on before his death in 2019. The album was released in June 22, 1993 via Metal Blade Records.[5] Unlike previous Mercyful Fate albums, which were entirely centered around lyrical themes of Satanism and the occult, the lyrics on this album are rather focused on more conceptual horror-themes, akin to King Diamond's work with his eponymous band. The band would not return to a primarily occult/satanic lyrical approach until the band's latest album, 9, released in 1999.

In the Shadows
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 1993
RecordedFebruary and April 1993
StudioDallas Sound Lab, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
GenreHeavy metal
Length53:28
LabelMetal Blade
ProducerKing Diamond, Hank Shermann, Tim Kimsey, Brian Slagel
Mercyful Fate chronology
Return of the Vampire
(1992)
In the Shadows
(1993)
The Bell Witch
(1994)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal8/10[2]
Sputnikmusic4.5/5[3]

Some editions of In the Shadows contain a bonus track, "Return of the Vampire... 1993", that is a re-recording of the song "Return of the Vampire", present in the homonymous 1992 compilation album, featuring Lars Ulrich of Metallica on drums.

The album cover was painted by Torbjorn Jorgensen / Studio Dzyan.[citation needed]

Track listing

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All lyrics are written by King Diamond

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Egypt"Diamond4:52
2."The Bell Witch"Hank Shermann4:34
3."The Old Oak"Shermann8:55
4."Shadows"Diamond4:42
5."A Gruesome Time"Michael Denner4:31
6."Thirteen Invitations"Diamond5:17
7."Room of Golden Air" (instrumental)Denner3:07
8."Legend of the Headless Rider"Shermann7:43
9."Is That You, Melissa?"Diamond4:41
Bonus track
No.TitleMusicLength
10."Return of the Vampire... 1993"Shermann5:08

Personnel

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Mercyful Fate

Additional musicians

  • Morten Nielsen - drums, except on "Return of the Vampire... 1993"
  • John Marshall - harpsichord on track 9
  • Lars Ulrich - drums on "Return of the Vampire... 1993"

Production

  • King Diamond - production, mixing
  • Hank Shermann - production
  • Tim Kimsey - production, engineering, mixing
  • Sterling Winfield - assistant engineering
  • David Rosenblad, Thom Caccetta - digital editing
  • Eddy Schreyer - mastering at Future Disc, Los Angeles
  • Brian Slagel - executive production
  • Torbjorn Jorgensen / Studio Dzyan - cover art
  • Thomas Grondahl - photography

References

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  1. ^ Huey, Steve. "Mercyful Fate - In the Shadows review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  2. ^ Popoff, Martin (August 1, 2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. pp. 272–273. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
  3. ^ Nash, J. "Mercyful Fate - In the Shadows". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  4. ^ Biography - Hank Shermann | Official Website
  5. ^ "In the Shadows at KingDiamondCoven.com". KingDiamondCoven.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved 2024-02-09.