| Dance of the Black Tattoo | |
| Type: | Compilation |
| Artist: | Magnum |
| Cover: | Magnum - Dance of the Black Tattoo.png |
| Released: | 8 January 2021 |
| Genre: | Rock |
| Length: | 73:04 |
| Label: | Steamhammer Records/SPV |
| Producer: | Tony Clarkin |
| Prev Title: | The Serpent Rings |
| Prev Year: | 2020 |
| Next Title: | The Monster Roars |
| Next Year: | 2022 |
Dance of the Black Tattoo is a compilation album by British rock band Magnum, released on 8 January 2021. The album consists of 14 previously released tracks, the majority of them featuring former band members Mark Stanway and Harry James. Including seven live tracks, four radio edits and two bonus tracks from Sacred Blood "Divine" Lies. Dance of the Black Tattoo was meant to be the "rockier" counterpart to The Valley of Tears – The Ballads, a compilation album from 2017 that focused on Magnum's softer tracks.[1] The first official lyric video was released on 27 November for the radio edit of On Christmas Day.[2]
The album was put together during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, when Magnum had had to cancel a tour to promote their 21st studio album, The Serpent Rings. The record company had suggested that the band make a compilation album to make up for the cancelled tour, in order for the band not to "disappear for two years". While Dance of the Black Tattoo was being put together, Magnum had started recording their 22nd studio album, The Monster Roars, scheduled for release in January 2022.[3]
The album cover was drawn by Rodney Matthews, who has drawn the cover art of most of Magnum's studio albums since 2007's Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow, as well as several albums from the 1980s and 90s.[1]