𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…
30 years ago this week, “The Bell Witch” was hanged at “The Old Oak”, what “A Gruesome Time”!
On June 22, 1993, MERCYFUL FATE released their third full-length studio album “In the Shadows” via Metal Blade Records.
It is the first offering of the band since their reunion in 1992.
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.
Background:
In 1992, King Diamond, Hank Shermann, Michael Denner and Timi Hansen reunited to reform MERCYFUL FATE (drummer Kim Ruzz was replaced by Morten Nielsen).
The result was the album “In the Shadows”, which featured a guest appearance by Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich (a fellow Dane), on the track "Return of the Vampire*".
For the album's supporting tour, Morten Nielsen was replaced by King Diamond drummer Snowy Shaw, due to a knee injury Nielsen had sustained.
Despite Snowy Shaw being credited as the drummer, the drums on this album were actually played by Morten Nielsen. Snowy Shaw also appears in the 'Egypt' music video.
Bassist Timi Hansen was also replaced by Sharlee D'Angelo (Arch Enemy, WITCHERY), as Hansen did not want to take part in touring.
*Only some editions of “In the Shadows” contained the bonus track, "Return of the Vampire... 1993", which is a re-recording of the song "Return of the Vampire", present in the homonymous 1992 compilation album.
The album cover was painted by Torbjorn Jorgensen / Studio Dzyan.
In the Shadows Tour 93/94:
In the Shadows Tour 93/94:
(supported by Flotsam & Jetsam, Cathedral, and Anarcrusis from September 12-29)
1993 Dates & Venues:
September 8, 1993 Saratoga Winners, Cohoes, NY (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
September 9, 1993 Avalon Ballroom, Boston, MA (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
September 10, 1993 Studio One, Newark, NJ (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
September 11, 1993 Hammerjacks, Baltimore, MD (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
September 12, 1993 Trocadero Theater, Philadelphia, PA
September 13, 1993 The Bayou, Washington D.C
September 14, 1993 Toad's Place, New Haven, CT
September 15, 1993 Montreal Spectrum, Montreal, QC
September 16, 1993 Diamond Club, Toronto, ON
September 17, 1993 Connecticut Street Armory, Buffalo, NY
September 18, 1993 Fox Town City Limits, Pittsburgh, PA
September 20, 1993 Flash's Concert Club, Cleveland, OH
September 21, 1993 Newport Music House, Columbus, OH
September 22, 1993 Harpo's, Detroit, MI
September 23, 1993 Bogart's, Cincinnati, OH
September 24, 1993 Oak Theater, Chicago, IL
September 25, 1993 The Rave, Milwaukee, WI
September 27, 1993 The Mirage, Minneapolis, MN
September 28, 1993 Mississippi Nights, St. Louis, MO
September 29, 1993 Kansas City, MO
October 1, 1993 Gothic Theater, Denver, CO (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 3, 1993 Moore Theater, Seattle, WA (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 4, 1993 Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 5, 1993 Roseland Theater, Portland, OR (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 7, 1993 The Omni, Oakland, CA (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 8, 1993 The Palace, Los Angeles, CA (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 9, 1993 Iguana's, Tijuana, Mexico (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 10, 1993 Wildcat House, Tucson, AZ (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 11, 1993 Club Rio, Phoenix, AZ (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 13, 1993 Dallas City Limits, Dallas, TX (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 14, 1993 Liberty Lunch, Austin, TX (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 15, 1993 Showcase, San Antonio, TX (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 16, 1993 Tower Theater, Houston, TX (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 17, 1993 New Orleans Music Hall, New Orleans, LA (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 19, 1993 The Edge, Jacksonville, FL (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 20, 1993 The Legendary Station, Fern Park, FL (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 21, 1993 The Edge, Fort Lauderdale, FL (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 22, 1993 Ritz Theater, Tampa, FL (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 23, 1993 International Ballroom, Atlanta, GA (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 24, 1993 Raleigh, NC (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 25, 1993 Rocky's, Charlotte, NC (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 27, 1993 Peppermint Beach Club, Virginia Beach, VA (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 28, 1993 Zodiac Club, Allentown, PA (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 29, 1993 Penny Arcade, Rochester, NY (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 30, 1993 Roxy Music Hall, Huntington, NY (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
October 31, 1993 The Academy New York, New York, NY (supported by Flotsam & Jetsam and Cathedral)
(Mercyful Fate on the "In The Shadows" North American Tour)
1994 Dates & Venues:
July 2, 1994 Darupvej, Roskilde, Denmark (Roskilde Festival)
November 13, 1994 Hamburg Docks, Hamburg, Germany
November 15, 1994 Huxley's New World, Berlin, Germany
November 18, 1994 The Waiting Room, Cologne, Germany
November 20, 1994 Vosselaar Town Hall, Vosselaar, Belgium
November 21, 1994 Volksbildungsheim, Frankfurt, Germany
November 22, 1994 Charter Hall, Munich, Germany
November 23, 1994 Rock Factory, Ludwigsburg, Germany
Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:
Click this link to listen to “In the Shadows” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/in-the-shadows/60380177
Click this link to watch the official music video for “Egypt”: https://youtu.be/dvE0e3uxXtk
Click this link to follow MERCYFUL FATE on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mercyfulfateofficial
Click this link to follow King Diamond on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingdiamond
Click this link to follow Michael Denner on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.d.denner
Click this link to follow Hank Shermann on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HankShermannOfficial
Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells
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