The Dark Sides is a compilation of King Diamond

King Diamond (band)

King Diamond is the heavy metal band that King Diamond formed after the split up of his heavy metal band Mercyful Fate, and the departure of Hank Shermann. He was joined by most members of the then defunct Mercyful Fate. The Satanic focus was replaced by a focus on horror stories...

 songs, released in 1988 by Roadrunner Records. This album contains five tracks (and an outro), released on previous albums, but are mostly unrelated in their stories (as King's albums were concept album

Concept album

In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...

s).

Controversy

The album cover featured King Diamond with face paint that resembled KISS

KISS (band)

Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...

 bassist Gene Simmons

Gene Simmons

Gene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...

' "Demon". Simmons claimed that King's face paint was copyright infringement

Copyright infringement

Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...

 and sued him. The lawsuit was eventually dropped when King changed his design.

Track listing

1. "Halloween" – 4:14 (previously released on Fatal Portrait)
2. "Them" – 1:58 (instrumental track, previously released on Them)
3. "No Presents for Christmas" – 4:21 (previously released on No Presents for Christmas and as a bonus track on a limited version of Fatal Portrait)
4. "Shrine" – 4:23 (previously released as a b-side of The Family Ghost single and on a limited edition of Abigail)
5. "The Lake" – 4:13 (previously released as a b-side of Halloween single and as a bonus track on Fatal Portrait)
6. "Phone Call" – 1:38 (outro track, previously unreleased)

Credits

• King Diamond
  King Diamond
  Kim Bendix Petersen , better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Grammy Award nominated Danish heavy metal musician. As a vocalist, he is known for his extensive vocal range, in particular his usage of falsetto. He is the lead vocalist for both Mercyful Fate and the eponymous King Diamond...
  
   - all vocals
• Andy LaRocque
  Andy LaRocque
  Andy LaRocque is best known as a guitarist, songwriter, and occasional synth player for the band King Diamond.-Biography:...
  
   - guitars
• Michael Denner
  Michael Denner
  Michael Denner is a Danish heavy metal guitarist.Denner is a fourth generation musician. Denner is known for playing a Gibson Flying V guitar. He lists his inspirations as Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker and Ollie Halsall. He was a member of Mercyful Fate and King Diamond amongst others...
  
   - guitars
• Pete Blakk - guitars
• Timi Hansen
  Timi Hansen
  Timi "Grabber" Hansen is a Danish bass player. He played in the Danish heavy metal band Mercyful Fate from 1981 to 1985 and from 1992 to 1993, and King Diamond from 1985 to 1987.He plays with his finger rather than a guitar pick....
  
   - bass
• Hal Patino
  Hal Patino
  Hal Patino is a bass guitar player who has been a member of the King Diamond and Force of Evil metal bands. He also played in Blakk Totem, Maltese Falcon, Palladion and Doctor Butcher....
  
   - bass
• Mikkey Dee
  Mikkey Dee
  Micael Kiriakos Delaoglou , better known as Mikkey Dee is a drummer/songwriter in the Heavy metal band Motörhead. A Swede of Greek descent, he has been known for his speed and precision since his mid-80s stint with King Diamond.- Early life :Delaoglou began his musical career with local bands...
  
  - drums