So today would be Thomas Börje "Quorthon" Forsberg's 59th's birthday; he's better known as the mastermind behind Bathory, an incredibly important band in the extreme metal genre. A multitalented fellow who sat there and helped invent genres, he left behind a ton until his way-to-young-passing.
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Yeah, now I think we’re reaching the peak of the Viking metal. The Nordland saga would mark Quorthon’s final works, starting with Nordland I. I feel like this is where he’s reached his viking/folk apex, or at least started to, but I kinda think the albums are good to listen to-
One wonders what might have come after these, or how they'd have continued.
I'd listen to them in order if you give them a go. Any buddies who never heard these into that style of metal probably don't want to skip them.
So we have a mix of…viking, thrash and heavy. This is an album I like that I can’t quite explain fully like I can the older ones, but I just kinda do. Maybe it’s because it’s kinda all over? The production is a little weird but I’d say give it a listen and see.
Quorthon went with to the Viking sound here(though with a touch of thrashy and heavy metal), however, this was finished years before '96 but it was felt it was too much of a departure from the black sound. This one’s very solid, and a themed concept album, following a nameless-
This might be Bathory’s lowest point. Granted, Quorthon STILL managed, IMO, to release a slightly above average thrash album, only with strange production and a weird sound. Try if you’re a type that needs to hear it all, but you could live your life without this one just as easily.
We’re into Bathory’s ‘Weird Phase.’ What’s funny about this is the ‘Weird Phase’ was just…thrash metal. I think the album is a bit above average thrash album, but a weaker Bathory album. I guess he was experimenting in his own way? Give it a listen and judge for yourself.
More Viking Metal, I felt Hammerheart was stronger. But it's solid and is another suggested pick-up for genre fans. It dips slower and even goes into some doom riffing(with more epic-length songs). Favorite songs might be Blood and Iron and Under the Runes.
Now fully into Viking metal, while I don't spin it as much, it’s probably one of my fav albums of said genre, hence the high rating and a “Buy if you like this genre” note. These songs go to Epic Length territory. Home Of Once Brave and One Rode to Asa Bay are fantastic cuts.
This was the album that started Quorthon’s move into viking metal, though this one is still mostly old style.It’s nonetheless a great example of the beginnings of a ‘transition album’, most notable in Oden’s Ride and the title track. It’s still a great album(1/2)
What more can I say about Bathory's '87 album that happens to be my 2nd favorite album of all time. This album took everything from the first 2 and combined it into a wonderful, scathing wall of sound with Quorthon's trademark spiteful snarl, turning it 1/2
If I'm DJing and you fail to hear "Enter the Eternal Fire", wake me up or check my pulse, put the song on if necessary, and then cart me out when it's done.
Another top-tier album, The Return took the S/Ts rawness and added in even more grooves and some mid-tempo stuff, all while keeping the chainsaw guitars and spitting, spite-filled vocals. Songs like Bestial Lust, The Winds of Mayhem and especially Born for Burning make it a must-have.
The legendary goat album(in more ways than one), starting their theme of "Side Darkness" and "Side Evil." Fun fact: There was an original printing of this with a yellow(meant to be gold) goat, of only 1,000 copies-this is now a collector's item.
The self-titled was probably one of(1/2)
I highly suggest you give them a listen if you like this genre, and see what your favs are.
In any case, I did want to do a Bathory retrospective for this month due to his birthday!