Return of the Vampire (The Rare and Unreleased)

Ok, some songs on here pass as being understandable to why they were never released before, but the majoraty of them I can not understand why they were never released before, because they are just about as amazing as the songs from the mini EP and 'Melissa'.

Burning The Cross - Alright....what the fuck!?!?! What the hell is a song this fuckin' awesome doing on a 'rare and unreleased' compilation?! I read on the liner notes that it had something to do with a certain song writer who was no longer with the band so they couldn't use the song. Oh boo hoo!! So what!? This song kicks ass! Badass beat, raw, distorted and catchy riffing, one hell of a chorus "breaking religion, we're burning crossss!" and the last guitar lick at the end is a shredding, neo-classical frenzy! They SHOULD HAVE released this on 'Melissa', as if that album isn't already perfect enough, this one would have taken it beyond perfection.

Curse Of The Pharoahs - This is yet ANOTHER version, different from both the album and 'The Beginning' versions, and yes....better! It resembles early Sabbath a bit with it's doominess, is much heavier, and the galloping solo riff in the middle is infuckin'credible, something that should have been kept and put on the final version.

Return Of The Vampire - No, not the version that Lar$ plays drums on, this is the far better early version from 1982. Most people do like this version better anyway as opposed to the 1993 version, not just because this version is Lar$ free, but the sound is just overall better. The guitars are rawer, and a lot more distorted. In other words, it just kicks more ass and should have never been re-recorded.

On A Night Of Full Moon - Now if this track were re-recorded, it would defiatly be better than 'Desecration Of Souls', which is a later version of this song with completly different lyrics. I love the ylrics to this one, instead of growling "Stay away white magician" at the beginning of the song, King growls "Stay away! I am evil!" then he howls like a wolf. Too bad this wasn't recorded at 'Desecration Of Souls' sound quality, it would have ranked 'Don't Break The Oath' beyond perfection of placed on the album, just as 'Burning The Cross' would have done if it was placed on 'Melissa'.

A Corpse Without Soul - This one is not much different from the mini EP version, it's just about 2 minutes longer due to repeated verses that were ommited for the final recording. The 6 minute version is better though, no need for those extra verses. I think that this track itself should have been entirely ommited and replaced with Hard Rocker. :)

Death Kiss - Exact same song as the demo on the remastered edition of DBTO, exept this version has MUCH better sound quality. I love the little "clock" tick done with the guitar at the beginning of the song before the speed riff kicks in, that would have gone perfect on 'A Dangerous Meeting'.

Leave My Soul Alone - Straight forward, raw heavy metal in the NWOBHM vein. King doesn't use any type of vocal range in this one, even when his tone is normal. No falsettos, growls or vocal harmonies, just raw and straight forward, a lot like the way NWOBHM artists use to do it.

M.D.A. (Mission: Destroy Alien) - Space invaders!! Yup, that's what this song is about, believe it or not. No, not actually fighting aliens, this is really about the old video game from the early 80s. It begins kind of melloow and bluesy, but ends up being one of the best Mercyful Fate songs I have heard, leaving me puzzled as to why it was enver released. Perhapse the band didn't like video games anymore? ::shrugs:: Who knows...but the chorus is fuckin' kick ass..."Missiiiioooooooooooonnnnnnnnn destroy alieeeeeeeeeeeeeen".

You Asked For It - An earlier version of 'Black Masses', with much different lyrics, less brutal in fact, but the music is heavier and much better. Too bad they didn't keep the rawness of this tune and just add the 'Black Masses' lyrics to it, that would have kicked much more ass. Due to the vocal harmonies and lyrics of 'Black Masses' though, it is an overall better tune.



You don't have to be a die hard Mercyful Fate or King Diamond fan to own this, for there is a great collection of heavy metal tunes that will please any metal fan. It's rather disappointing that some of these tracks weren't released right after they were recorded but I'm just glad that they were finally released anyway. Hey, later is better than never.