"Tender Prey" is the fifth studio album by the Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on September 19, 1988, by Mute Records. Produced by Flood, the album was recorded over four months in London and West Berlin, where the band was based at the time. It is dedicated to Fernando Ramos da Silva. The album features a blend of rock, post-punk, and gothic influences, showcasing the band's characteristic lyrical depth and musical intensity.
The album opens with Nick Cave's signature song, "The Mercy Seat," which has been a staple of the band's live performances since its release and was later covered by Johnny Cash on American III: Solitary Man in 2000. "The Mercy Seat" was released as a single in May 1988, ahead of the album, followed by "Deanna" in September. The CD version includes a video mix of "The Mercy Seat" as a bonus track. "Deanna" draws loosely from The Edwin Hawkins Singers' rendition of the hymn "Oh Happy Day," and Cave later released an acoustic medley of both songs. "City of Refuge" is inspired by Blind Willie Johnson's song "I'm Gonna Run to the City of Refuge," which also appeared on Original Seeds Vol. 1.
Upon release, Tender Prey received positive reviews and charted in the UK and Greece, but it did not chart in Australia or the US. The album was remastered and reissued on March 29, 2010, as a collector's edition CD/DVD set and again in October 2010. It was featured in the book 100 Best Australian Albums, ranking in the Top 30.
Cave later reflected on the album, describing it as a nightmare, stating it represented a time when the band, especially himself, was writing songs without a cohesive vision. He noted issues with production and performance, admitting the album was created during a turbulent period in his life. In 2012, Tender Prey was included in the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia.
