Dead Again
Mercyful Fate · 1998
58 min · 10 tracks · heavy metal
Heavy metal riffs intertwine with dark, theatrical storytelling and a haunting atmosphere that defines Mercyful Fate's legacy.
Top tracks — play these first
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Torture — Opening with intense guitar work and dramatic lyrics, this track sets the album's ominous tone while showcasing the band's signature sound.
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Dead Again — The title track features an expansive structure and lyrical depth that encapsulates themes of mortality and existential dread, culminating in a powerful climax.
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The Lady Who Cries — With its haunting melodies and emotive storytelling, this song exemplifies the band’s ability to blend heavy metal with narrative-driven content.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines heavy riffs with theatrical vocals and varied tempos, creating a distinctive sound within its genre.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track featuring rapid guitar riffs and aggressive drumming, setting a dark tone that persists throughout.
- Several tracks feature tempo shifts, alternating between fast-paced sections and slower, more atmospheric passages that enhance the storytelling.
- The final track concludes with an extended instrumental section that gradually fades out, leaving a lingering sense of unease.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with emotional peaks
- dark, brooding atmosphere throughout
- theatrical vocals enhance storytelling
- wave-like pacing keeps engagement
- for late-night introspection
Maybe skip if you
- prefer quick, upbeat tracks
- dislike drawn-out compositions
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Dead Again is Mercyful Fate's fifth studio album, released after a nearly decade-long hiatus since their previous album, Into the Unknown. This period saw the band reuniting with original vocalist King Diamond, marking a significant return to form for the group. The album arrived in a time of resurgence for traditional heavy metal, as many bands from the genre were looking to reclaim their place in the music scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- King Diamond· Black Sabbath· Judas Priest
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Torture (1629) 5:03
- 2 The Night 5:51
- 3 Since Forever 4:40
- 4 The Lady Who Cries 4:18
- 5 Banshee 4:47
- 6 Mandrake 6:06
- 7 Sucking Your Blood 4:22
- 8 Dead Again 13:40
- 9 Fear 4:17
- 10 Crossroads 5:42
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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