In the Shadows (album)

In the Shadows
Studio album by
Released22 June 1993
RecordedFebruary–April 1993
StudioDallas Sound Lab, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
GenreHeavy metal
Length53:28
LabelMetal Blade
ProducerKing Diamond, Hank Shermann, Tim Kimsey; bonus track co-produced by Lars Ulrich
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]

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 return to a primarily occult/Satanic lyrical approach the following year on the, Time album released in 1994.

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.

Track listing

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

Mercyful Fate

Additional personnel

  • 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

  • Brian Slagel: Executive producer
  • Produced by King Diamond, Hank Shermann and Tim Kimsey
  • Recorded by Tim Kimsey with assistance by Sterling Winfield
  • Mixed by King Diamond and Tim Kimsey
  • Digital editing by David Rosenblad and Thom Cacetta
  • Mastered by Eddy Schreyer at Future Disc, Los Angeles

Other Credits

  • Cover Art by Torbjorn Jorgensen at Studio Dzyan
  • Photography by Thomas Grondahl

References

  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.