The Awakening is the debut album by the Swedish death metal band Merciless. It was recorded in February 1989 and released later that year by Deathlike Silence Productions, making it the label's first release. The album was reissued by Osmose Productions in 1999 with a new cover artwork, and again by Black Lodge Records in 2004. The first release of Deathlike Silence Productions. Although the album was recorded and copyrighted in 1989, the album was not released until 1990. Some sources say February 1990, Merciless' official bio says March 1990. The painting in the cover art, The Vision of The Valley of the Dry Bones by Gustave Doré, was also used by Dismemberizer for their 1988 rehearsal demo, Sacred Crucifix for their 1989 demo "Realms of Darkness", and by Monastery for their 1992 EP "The Process - Church of the Final Judgement". Karlén Bass Stipen Drums Erik Guitars Rogga Vocals User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.