BATHORY ( Black Metal , Sweden ) Vinyl Discography and Album COver Photo Gallery

BATHORY was the first Black Metal band and is from Vällingby, Sweden. This web-page provides photos and detailed information on albums they released during the 1980s

Album Front Cover Photo of BATHORY ( Black Metal , Sweden )

  Bathory was a Swedish black metal band formed in 1983 by its sole member, Thomas Forsberg, who went by the pseudonym Quorthon. Despite being one of the earliest pioneers of the genre, Bathory has had a profound and lasting impact on the development of black metal, as well as heavy metal as a whole.

 Bathory's early work, released between 1984 and 1986, is widely considered to be the blueprint for the Scandinavian black metal style. These albums, "Bathory", "The Return..." and "Under the Sign of the Black Mark", feature raw, chaotic and aggressive music, with Quorthon's raspy vocals, buzzsaw guitar riffs and pounding drums, all set against a backdrop of grim and often occult-themed lyrics.

 One of the most distinctive features of Bathory's early work is the sense of atmosphere it creates. Quorthon's lyrics often evoke images of pagan rituals, war and death, while the music itself is unrelenting and abrasive, painting a bleak and hostile sonic landscape. This sound, combined with the band's aggressive and anti-religious stance, set the stage for the emergence of black metal as a sub-genre of heavy metal.

 As Bathory's career progressed, Quorthon's musical vision evolved and matured. While the raw energy and intensity of the early work remained, the band's sound became more structured, incorporating elements of folk music, classical music, and even opera. This new direction was first showcased on the 1988 album "Blood Fire Death", which is widely regarded as one of the greatest black metal albums of all time.

 Bathory's influence can be seen in the work of many of the black metal bands that followed in its wake, including Mayhem, Burzum, Immortal, and Darkthrone. These bands took the raw, aggressive sound of early Bathory and refined it, creating a more sophisticated and layered sound that continues to inspire new generations of metal musicians.

 Quorthon's death in 2004 marked the end of an era for Bathory, but the band's legacy lives on. Its music continues to be celebrated and revered by fans of extreme metal, and its influence can be heard in the work of countless bands to this day.

Index of BATHORY - Vinyl Albums Discography
BATHORY - Self-Titled 12" LP
Thumbnail of BATHORY - Self-Titled album front cover

Under One Flag FLAG 8 , 1984 , United Kingdom

To comprehend the significance of Bathory's debut, one must delve into the band's origins. Formed in 1983 by the enigmatic Quorthon, Bathory emerged from the Swedish underground

Learn more
BATHORY - Blood Fire Death 12" LP
Thumbnail of BATHORY - Blood Fire Death album front cover

Under One Flag FLAG 26 , 1988 , France

"Blood Fire Death" seamlessly fuses black metal aggression with epic Viking metal anthems. Tracks like "A Fine Day to Die" and "Blood Fire Death" showcase Bathory's ability

Learn more
BATHORY - Hammerheart 12" LP
Thumbnail of BATHORY - Hammerheart album front cover

  Noise International N 0153-1 , 1990 , Germany

Quorthon, the mastermind behind Bathory, meticulously crafted "Hammerheart." Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden, the album's production retained a sense of rawness, paying homage to the band's roots

Learn more
BATHORY - The Return 12" LP
Thumbnail of BATHORY - The Return album front cover

 Under One Flag FLAG 9 , 1987 , United Kingdom

The production work by Quorthon (Thomas Börje Forsberg) and Boss (Börje Forsberg) adds to the album's raw and unfiltered aesthetic. The intentionally lo-fi production enhances the album

Learn more
BATHORY - Under the Sign of the Black Mark 12" LP
Thumbnail of BATHORY - Under the Sign of the Black Mark  album front cover

Under One Flag FLAG 11 , 1987

Released in 1987, "Under the Sign of the Black Mark" stands as a sonic manifesto, capturing the primal essence of black metal. Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden, Bathory, led by the enigmatic Quorthon

Learn more