BATHORY - BLOOD FIRE DEATH GATEFOLD RARE FRANCE release incl lyrics sheeT 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Blood Fire Death: A Saga of Black and Viking Metal

Bathory's 'Blood Fire Death,' unleashed in October 1988, melds black metal ferocity with the birth pangs of Viking metal. Recorded in France, its epic compositions like 'A Fine Day to Die' forge a sonic saga. A pivotal moment, shaping the trajectory of both black and Viking metal.

Album Front Cover Photo of BATHORY BLOOD FIRE DEATH FOC GATEFOLD RARE FRANCE incl lyrics sheet

"Blood Fire Death" Album Description:

Bathory's fourth opus, "Blood Fire Death," released in October 1988, is a monumental chapter in the band's legacy. With its unique blend of black and Viking metal, this gatefold vinyl LP not only solidified Bathory's position as black metal innovators but also marked the birth of Viking metal.

Origins Unveiled: Bathory's Evolution

After three groundbreaking albums, Bathory, led by the visionary Quorthon, embarked on a sonic journey that would transcend the boundaries of black metal. "Blood Fire Death" saw the band delving into Norse mythology, a theme that would become synonymous with Viking metal. The album art, featuring the iconic Bathory goat, hinted at the darker, mythic undertones awaiting listeners.

Forge of Creation: Recording in France

The album was released in France, adding an extra layer of mystique to its creation. This marked a departure from the band's previous recordings in Sweden, emphasizing Bathory's desire to explore new realms in both sound and inspiration. The studio alchemy resulted in a crisp yet ominous production, enhancing the grandeur of the Viking metal elements.

Black Meets Viking: Musical Alchemy Unleashed

"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 to craft intricate compositions that transcend conventional metal genres. The inclusion of choral elements and acoustic passages adds a majestic quality, painting a sonic tapestry that echoes through the corridors of time.

Legacy Carved in Metal: Influence on Viking Metal

This album's significance extends beyond its release; it laid the foundation for Viking metal as a distinct subgenre. Bathory's exploration of Norse themes set a precedent for bands seeking to infuse metal with ancient sagas and mythic imagery. "Blood Fire Death" became a cornerstone, inspiring subsequent generations of Viking metal artists.

Music Genre:

  Swedish Black Metal, Viking Metal 

Album 
Production information:

The album: "BATHORY - Blood Fire Death FOC Gatefold" was produced by: Boss and Quarthon

 Stig Börje "The Boss" Forsberg was a record label owner, music producer and drummer. He was father of Quorthon ( Thomas Forsberg ) and has produced several of Bathory's as well as albums for "The OZ".

Sound/Recording Engineer(s): Andy Dacosta at the CBS Studio, London, Great Britain

This album was recorded at: Heavenshore Studio, Stockholm, Sweden

Album cover design: The front cover comes from a painting by Peter Nicolai Arbo: Åsgårdsreien (1872).

Album cover photography: Pelle Matheus

Record Label & Catalognr:

Under One Flag FLAG 26
Packaging: Gatefold (FOC) cover design with artwork / photos on the inside cover pages

Media Format:

  12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 280 gram  

Year & Country:

  1988 Made in France
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: BATHORY - Blood Fire Death FOC Gatefold
    Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • Quorthon - vocals, guitars
  • Vvornth - Drums
  • Kothaar - Bass
Complete Track-listing of the album "BATHORY - Blood Fire Death FOC Gatefold"

The detailed tracklist of this record "BATHORY - Blood Fire Death FOC Gatefold" is:

    Track-listing Side One:
  1. "Odens Ride Over Nordland" 2:59
  2. "A Fine Day to Die" 8:35
  3. "The Golden Walls of Heaven" 5:22
  4. "Pace 'til Death" 3:39
  5. "Holocaust" 3:25
  6. "For All Those Who Died" 4:57
  7. "Dies Irae" 5:11
  8. "Blood Fire Death" 10:28
  9. "Outro" 0:58
High Quality Photo of Album Front Cover  "BATHORY - Blood Fire Death FOC Gatefold"
High Quality Photo of Album Front Cover  "BATHORY - Blood Fire Death FOC Gatefold"
Album Back Cover  Photo of "BATHORY - Blood Fire Death FOC Gatefold"
Album Back Cover  Photo of "BATHORY - Blood Fire Death FOC Gatefold"  
Inner Sleeve   of "BATHORY - Blood Fire Death FOC Gatefold" Album
Inner Sleeve   of "BATHORY - Blood Fire Death FOC Gatefold" Album
Photo of "BATHORY - Blood Fire Death FOC Gatefold" Album's Inner Sleeve  

Photo of "BATHORY - Blood Fire Death FOC Gatefold" Album's Inner Sleeve  

Large Hires Photo

Large Hires Photo

Close-up Photo of "BATHORY - Blood Fire Death FOC Gatefold" Record Label
Close-up Photo of "BATHORY - Blood Fire Death FOC Gatefold" Record Label  

Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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