"Under the Sign of the Black Mark" had a major influence on the black metal genre, specifically the Norwegian black metal scene that emerged in the early 1990s. The song "Woman of Dark Desires" is a tribute to the band's namesake, Erzsébet Báthory, and has become one of their most recognized early tracks.
Album Description & Collectors information:
This album "BATHORY - Under the Sign of the Black Mark" includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by and photos.
"Under the Sign of the Black Mark" had a major influence on the black metal genre, specifically the Norwegian black metal scene that emerged in the early 1990s. The song "Woman of Dark Desires" is a tribute to the band's namesake, Erzsébet Báthory, and has become one of their most recognized early tracks.
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Music Genre: |
Swedish Black Metal / Viking Metal |
Album Production information: | The album: "BATHORY - Under the Sign of the Black Mark" was produced by: Boss and Quorthon 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". This album was recorded at: Heavenshore, Stockholm, Sweden |
Record Label Information: |
Under One Flag FLAG 11 |
Media Format: |
12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram |
Year & Country: |
1987 |
Band Members and Musicians on: BATHORY - Under the Sign of the Black Mark |
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Track Listing of: "BATHORY - Under the Sign of the Black Mark" |
The Songs/tracks on "BATHORY - Under the Sign of the Black Mark" are
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Album cover photos of : BATHORY - Under the Sign of the Black Mark |
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Back Cover Photo of "BATHORY - Under the Sign of the Black Mark" Album |
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Inner Cover of "BATHORY - Under the Sign of the Black Mark" Album |
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Close-up Photo of "BATHORY - Under the Sign of the Black Mark" Record Label
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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. |
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.