Under the Sign of the Black Mark is the third album by Swedish metal band Bathory. It was a milestone for the entire black metal genre and continues to be influential to extreme underground metal. The style of music on this album became the blueprint for 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, Elizabeth Báthory, and has become one of their most recognized early tracks. "Enter the Eternal Fire" was the band's first epic, reaching nearly seven minutes in length which was unheard of for a band of this style at the time this was recorded. The album also became a turning point for the music of Bathory, and presaged the turn towards what would become known as Viking metal, which Bathory would then take on their next three records.
Lyrically, the song "Equimanthorn" makes several references to Norse mythology, including Odin's "eight-legged black stallion" Sleipnir.
The painting on the cover was shot by Gunnar Silins from a painting in the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm. The model used was Leif Ehrnborg, a then top class Swedish bodybuilder.
"Call from the Grave" was featured in the 2009 video game Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned on the station Liberty City Hardcore.
[edit] Track listing
All songs written and composed by Quorthon.
| 1. |
"Nocternal Obeisance (Intro)" |
1:28 |
| 2. |
"Massacre" |
2:38 |
| 3. |
"Woman of Dark Desires" |
4:06 |
| 4. |
"Call from the Grave" |
4:53 |
| 5. |
"Equimanthorn" |
3:41 |
| 6. |
"Enter the Eternal Fire" |
6:57 |
| 7. |
"Chariots of Fire" |
2:46 |
| 8. |
"13 Candles" |
5:17 |
| 9. |
"Of Doom" |
3:44 |
| 10. |
"(Outro)" |
0:25 |
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Total length:
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35:55 |
[edit] Credits
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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| Studio albums |
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