Mercyful Fate "Return Of The Vampire: The Rare And Unreleased"

Return of the Vampire is a compilation album of rare demo tracks by Mercyful Fate recorded before their first, official release in 1982. It was released in 1992 by Roadrunner Records RRD 9184.

The album cover was painted by Torbjorn Jorgensen / Studio Dzyan.

A compilation of early 80's demo material.

All songs written by King Diamond (lyrics) and Hank Shermann (music) except where noted.

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

"On a Night of Full Moon" was the original demo of "Desecration of Souls" from the Don't Break the Oath album.

"Death Kiss" was the original demo of "A Dangerous Meeting" from the Don't Break the Oath 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.

Tracks 1-5 are from the Burning the Cross demo.

King Diamond - all vocals 

Hank Shermann - guitars 

Benny Petersen - guitars 

Timi Hansen - bass 

Kim Ruzz - drums 

Track 6 : same line-up, but from a 1982 session in England for Ebony Records, before the recordings of the EP.

Tracks 7-8 are from Danger Zone demo.

King Diamond - all vocals 

Hank Shermann - guitars 

Michael Denner - guitars 

Timi Hansen - bass 

"Old Nick" - drums 

Track 9 is from the first demo of the band as Mercyful Fate, before Michael Denner's recruitment.

King Diamond - all vocals 

Hank Shermann - guitars, bass 

C. Volsing - guitars 

Jan Lindblad- drums

All tracks recorded live in the studio, with exception of solos and vocals which were overdubbed.

Tracks 1-5: Recorded in Copenhagen, Denmark late autumn 1981 at Kharma Studio.

Track 6: Recorded in Hull, England early spring 1982.

Tracks 7+8: Recorded in Copenhagen, Denmark summer 1981 at Brenner Studio.

Track 9: Recorded in Copenhagen, Denmark early spring 1981.