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BATHORY
1984 - Bathory.
1988 - Blood Fire Death.
1996 - Blood On Ice.
more BATHORY.
way more Helter Skelter.

October 2, 1984 - 2024: 40 years of: Bathory.

Hell on Earth, again.

Building on the unholy Stonehenges of the first three VENOM LPs, under the sign of the black mark, Sweden shall now lay down it's soul to the Gods Black Metal !

Following the "Storm Of Damnation" intro, the highway to Hell becomes a rampage. A speedmetal burst in "Hades" and "Reaper", assaults every senses. From the garage to Armageddon, this is MOTÖRHEAD on speed. More crude violations are spewed on "Sacrifice" and further with the chainsaw-guitars of "War". In league with the almighty, the band proudly aligns "In Conspiracy With Satan".

A sick Scandinavian metal attack.

Now holding an Ace up his sleeve, Thomas "Quorthon" Forsberg's life-long project shall spread extreme-metal and pave the way with new horrific sounds. Issued under Black Mark Productions to zero expectations, from underground cult to worldwide worship, BATHORY is now hailed as blackmetal's creator, as they were the most raging and sick band fitting this now famous description.

But before the viking crusades, a second aural massacre shall ascend with 1985's The Return... LP.

*
Bathory = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q2-VfALvCM&list=OLAK5uy_lArZ2Qch6PI2s6C07_QzeLI8DcfWHqt-0

October 8, 1988 - 2023: 35 years of: Blood Fire Death.

The Second Chapter of evil.

Following the cacophonic carnage of 1987's Under The Sign Of The Black Mark LP, an evolution / revolution was looming ahead. Incorporating Norse-mythology to it's fullest extent, BATHORY now crafts: Viking-Metal ...a new extreme inside the deep twilight of the night.

Horses and keyboard-effects sets the mood to conquer, on the 3min-intro "Oden's Ride Over Nordland", a beautiful acoustic-guitar piece clears the sky as "A Fine Day To Die" blasts-off into Pandemonium. Ravaging and refined, this next generation blackmetal re-opens the doors into darkness.

Power and sick speed is still present, as exposed on "The Golden Walls Of Heaven" and "Holocaust", while a rock-vibe takes control on "For All Those Who Died", a laid-back mid-paced metal-monster. The title-track, the 10min+ maelstrom of "Blood Fire Death" is a gloomy mature juggernaut of blackened metal with Eurometal undertones. A forbidden voyage into from beyond extremities.

The lavish cover-painting is from Peter Nicolai Arbo's 1872 epic "The Wild Hunt Of Odin". In a twist of hate, almost custom-made for BATHORY, this historic work of art, matches perfectly with Blood Fire Death's historic work of art, concept and morbid-mood.

This acid Nordic trek would further bloom with 1990's Hammerheart CD. Yet in the meantime, behind the curtains during 1988-89 and eventually released in 1996, the Blood On Ice CD was actually put to tape ...another sign of Quorthon's expressive atypical musical aspirations.

*
Blood Fire Death = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zVmT_txUA0&list=PLIX5wZiD7pgaUjeVW_V6r50GYdo93rRk1

May 27, 1996 - 2026: 30 years of: Blood On Ice.

BATHORY heads North.

At the end of the decade, Quorthon audaciously crafted another adventurous venture: 1990's Hammerheart vikingmetal CD. Yet recorded in 1989, some elusive material was deemed too far-ahead musically and was shelved for seven long years. The mature Blood On Ice concept finally sees the light of night.

The epicness swarms in with the solemn "Blood On Ice". Midpaced metal with accompanying supporting choir. Metal made by a King, for Kings. The lonely folk-piece "Man Of Iron" sets a moon-lit Celtic campfire-mood, while the explosive rock meeting with the "One Eyed Old Man" is the blueprint for actual vikingmetal.

The thrashy intro-riff of "The Stallion" gallops into greatness, a track not written by MANOWAR. More cold dungeon-related metal is exposed with the becoming of "The Woodwoman" ...a dangerous meeting.

Under the sign of the twilight we find: Nordic-Metal.

Thru their fire & death legacy, BATHORY paved the way to most of the extreme scene. All of this grandiose heavymetal is signed in blood by the great Ancient One, the visionary of: Quorthon.

During the new millennium, BATHORY's presence shall loom over the scene, with 2001's Destroyer Of Worlds CD.

RIP Quorthon (1966-2004)
RIP Boss Forsberg, label manager (1944-2017)

*
Blood On Ice = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98Bk4SJDCWg&list=OLAK5uy_n6j2EnXN_sKo7yffYb6sycvFEAzwZRE4k
Interview in 1997
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aXhIjkvi-s

more BATHORY:

#Black-Metal 84-90