''Return of the Vampire'' is a

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

of rare demo tracks by

Mercyful Fate Mercyful Fate is a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen, formed in 1981 by vocalist King Diamond and guitarist Hank Shermann. Influenced by progressive rock and hard rock, and with lyrics dealing with Satan and the occult, Mercyful Fate w ...

recorded before their first, official release in 1982. It was released on 12 May 1992 through

Roadrunner Records Roadrunner Records is an American record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock bands. Founded in the Netherlands in 1980, it is now a division of Warner Music Group and is based in New York City. History The label was launched in 1980 in t ...

. The album cover was painted by Torbjorn Jorgensen /

Studio Dzyan A studio is an artist or worker's workroom. This can be for the purpose of acting, architecture, painting, pottery (ceramics), sculpture, origami, woodworking, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, industrial design, ...

Track listing

All songs written by

King Diamond Kim Bendix Petersen (born 14 June 1956), better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Danish rock musician. As a vocalist, he is known for his powerful and wide-ranging countertenor singing voice, in particular his far-reaching falsetto s ...

(lyrics) and Hank Shermann (music) except where noted. #"Burning the Cross" – 8:49 (music by Benny Petersen) #"Curse of the Pharaohs" – 4:27 #"Return of the Vampire" – 4:50 #"On a Night of Full Moon" – 6:40 #"A Corpse Without Soul" – 8:11 #"Death Kiss" – 5:53 #"Leave My Soul Alone" (music by Michael Denner) – 3:21 #"M.D.A." (Mission: Destroy Aliens) (music and lyrics by Denner) – 4:20 #"You Asked for It" – 4:13

Personnel

*The album was recorded by three different line-ups **Tracks 1-6 *

- vocals *

Hank Shermann Rene Krolmark (born 11 July 1958), better known by his stage name, Hank Shermann, is a Danish musician best known for his work with the heavy metal band Mercyful Fate. Career Shermann started playing guitar in 1977, influenced by the likes of Ace ...

- guitars *Benny Petersen - guitars *

Timi Hansen Timi Hansen (28 October 1958 – 4 November 2019) was a Danish bass player. He played in the Danish heavy metal band Mercyful Fate from 1981 to 1985 and from 1992 to 1993, and its successor project King Diamond from 1985 to 1987. He played wi ...

- bass *

Kim Ruzz Mercyful Fate is a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen, formed in 1981 by vocalist King Diamond and guitarist Hank Shermann. Influenced by progressive rock and hard rock, and with lyrics dealing with Satan and the occult, Mercyful Fate we ...

- drums **Tracks 7-8 *King Diamond - vocals *Hank Shermann - guitars *Michael Denner - guitars *Timi Hansen - bass *"Old Nick Smith" - drums **Track 9 * King Diamond - vocals *Hank Shermann - guitars, bass *Carsten Volsing - guitars *Jan "Musen" Lindblad - drums * *Tracks 1-5: recorded in Copenhagen, Denmark, late autumn 1981, Kharma Studio - from the "Burning the Cross" demo *Track 6: recorded in Hull, England, early spring 1982 - from a 1982 session in England for Ebony Records *Tracks 7-8: "Danger Zone" demo, recorded in Copenhagen, Denmark, summer 1981 at Brenner Studio. *Track 9: Recorded in Copenhagen, Denmark, early spring 1981 - from "Demo 1" together with "Death Kiss" and "Running Away" * "On a Night of Full Moon" was the original demo of "Desecration of Souls" from the ''

Don't Break the Oath ''Don't Break the Oath'' is the second studio album by Danish heavy metal band Mercyful Fate, released in 1984. The style Mercyful Fate employed on ''Don't Break the Oath'' resembled a mixture of heavy metal with progressive elements, lyrical ...

'' album. * "Death Kiss" was the original demo of "A Dangerous Meeting" from the ''

'' album * "Leave My Soul Alone" and "M.D.A." were originally songs from Michael Denner's band. * "You Asked for It" was the original demo of "Black Masses"; the B-side of the "Black Funeral" single.

References

Mercyful Fate albums 1992 compilation albums Roadrunner Records compilation albums {{1990s-compilation-album-stub