Bathory (band): Difference between revisions
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Bathory formed in [[Vällingby]] in 1983. [[Quorthon]] (then known as Ace, after [[Ace Frehley]] of [[Kiss (band)|KISS]]), a 17-year-old guitarist, was joined by bass guitarist Fredrik Melander and drummer [[Jonas Åkerlund]]. According to Quorthon, he settled on the name 'Bathory' after a visit to the [[London Dungeon]], although Jonas says that it was taken from the [[Venom (band)|Venom]] song "[[Black Metal (album)|Countess Bathory]]".{{sfn|Johannesson|Klingberg|2011|pp=52–62}} Before settling on 'Bathory', the band considered several names; including Nosferatu, Natas, Mephisto, Elizabeth Bathory and Countess Bathory.<ref name=Santos>{{cite book |last=Santos |first=José Carlos |year=20009 |title=Terrorizer's Secret History of Black Metal |publisher=Dark Arts Ltd |pages=10–11}}</ref> Quorthon worked part-time at the small record label Tyfon, which was owned by his father, Börje Forsberg.{{sfn|Johannesson|Klingberg|2011|pp=52–62}} In late 1983, the label was putting together a compilation of songs by [[Scandinavia]]n metal bands.{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p=29}} However, at the last minute, one of the bands backed out. Tyfon agreed to let Bathory appear on the record as a replacement. The album, called ''[[:fi:Scandinavian Metal Attack|Scandinavian Metal Attack]]'', was released in March 1984 and was Bathory's first appearance on record.{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p=30}} Unexpectedly, the Bathory tracks drew a great deal of fan mail.<ref>{{cite web |last=McManus |first=Peter |date=1987 |title=Stranger than Strange – Quorthon Uncloacks His Secrets in an Exclusive Interview... |work=Power Metal |url=http://ritesoftheblackmoon.tripod.com/interview_bathory.html |accessdate=8 September 2012}}</ref> Soon afterward, Tyfon asked Quorthon to record a full-length album.{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p=30}} His bandmates having moved away, Quorthon recruited Rickard Bergman as bassist and Stefan Larsson as drummer. On 22 May 1984, they had their first and only rehearsal together before recording the album.{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p=30}} The debut album, ''[[Bathory (album)|Bathory]]'', was recorded in June at Heavenshore Studio (a converted garage) in [[Stockholm]]{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p=30}} and released in October that year. Over the next four years, Bathory released a further three albums: ''[[The Return……]]'' (1985), ''[[Under the Sign of the Black Mark]]'' (1987) and ''[[Blood Fire Death]]'' (1988). |
Bathory formed in [[Vällingby]] in 1983. [[Quorthon]] (then known as Ace, after [[Ace Frehley]] of [[Kiss (band)|KISS]]), a 17-year-old guitarist, was joined by bass guitarist Fredrik Melander and drummer [[Jonas Åkerlund]]. According to Quorthon, he settled on the name 'Bathory' after a visit to the [[London Dungeon]], although Jonas says that it was taken from the [[Venom (band)|Venom]] song "[[Black Metal (album)|Countess Bathory]]".{{sfn|Johannesson|Klingberg|2011|pp=52–62}} Before settling on 'Bathory', the band considered several names; including Nosferatu, Natas, Mephisto, Elizabeth Bathory and Countess Bathory.<ref name=Santos>{{cite book |last=Santos |first=José Carlos |year=20009 |title=Terrorizer's Secret History of Black Metal |publisher=Dark Arts Ltd |pages=10–11}}</ref> Quorthon worked part-time at the small record label Tyfon, which was owned by his father, Börje Forsberg.{{sfn|Johannesson|Klingberg|2011|pp=52–62}} In late 1983, the label was putting together a compilation of songs by [[Scandinavia]]n metal bands.{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p=29}} However, at the last minute, one of the bands backed out. Tyfon agreed to let Bathory appear on the record as a replacement. The album, called ''[[:fi:Scandinavian Metal Attack|Scandinavian Metal Attack]]'', was released in March 1984 and was Bathory's first appearance on record.{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p=30}} Unexpectedly, the Bathory tracks drew a great deal of fan mail.<ref>{{cite web |last=McManus |first=Peter |date=1987 |title=Stranger than Strange – Quorthon Uncloacks His Secrets in an Exclusive Interview... |work=Power Metal |url=http://ritesoftheblackmoon.tripod.com/interview_bathory.html |accessdate=8 September 2012}}</ref> Soon afterward, Tyfon asked Quorthon to record a full-length album.{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p=30}} His bandmates having moved away, Quorthon recruited Rickard Bergman as bassist and Stefan Larsson as drummer. On 22 May 1984, they had their first and only rehearsal together before recording the album.{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p=30}} The debut album, ''[[Bathory (album)|Bathory]]'', was recorded in June at Heavenshore Studio (a converted garage) in [[Stockholm]]{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p=30}} and released in October that year. Over the next four years, Bathory released a further three albums: ''[[The Return……]]'' (1985), ''[[Under the Sign of the Black Mark]]'' (1987) and ''[[Blood Fire Death]]'' (1988). |
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Bathory's early work was dark, fast, heavily distorted and raw recording ([[lo-fi]]). Quorthon's vocals were [[death growl|harsh]], high-pitched and raspy with occasional shrieks and screams. The band's lyrics focused on 'dark' topics and included anti-Christian and '[[Satanism|Satanic]]' references.<ref name=bathory-lyrics>{{cite web |url=http://bathory.nu/08/08_writing_the_deeds_of_darkness_and_evil.htm |title=Writing the deeds of Darkness and Evil |publisher=Official Bathory website |accessdate=29 October 2012}}</ref> These traits came to define [[black metal]]<ref name=Santos/> and the band used this style on their first four albums. Quorthon said that the band were not Satanists but used 'Satanic' references to provoke and attack Christianity. With the third and fourth albums he began "attacking Christianity from a different angle", realizing that Satanism is a "Christian product" and seeing them both as "religious hocus-pocus".<ref name=bathory-lyrics/> The term 'black metal' came from Venom's 1982 [[Black Metal (album)|album of that name]]. Many fans and reviewers have claimed Venom was an influence on Bathory,<ref>{{cite book |author=Moynihan, Michael |author2=Søderlind, Didrik |title=Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground |edition=first |location=Venice |publisher=Feral House |year=1998 |pages=16-18}}</ref> or even accused Bathory of copying Venom;<ref>Götz Kühnemund: ''»Heavy Metal ist was für Weicheier!«''. ''Die erste Generation des Black Metal''. In: ''Rock Hard'', no. 269, October 2009, p. 72.</ref><ref name=lahtinen>Luxi Lahtinen: [http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/Bathory.htm ''BATHORY - An Epic Interview with Quorthon''], accessed on 28 December 2012.</ref> however, Quorthon said that the band's early work was influenced primarily by [[Black Sabbath]], [[Motörhead]] and [[Charged GBH|GBH]], and that he "heard Venom for the first time in late 1984 or early 1985" and never owned a Venom album.<ref name=lahtinen/> Bathory's early sound also have always been associated with [[Slayer]] but Quorthon denied to be influenced by them.<ref name="anus">{{cite web |
Bathory's early work was dark, fast, heavily distorted and raw recording ([[lo-fi]]). Quorthon's vocals were [[death growl|harsh]], high-pitched and raspy with occasional shrieks and screams. The band's lyrics focused on 'dark' topics and included anti-Christian and '[[Satanism|Satanic]]' references.<ref name=bathory-lyrics>{{cite web |url=http://bathory.nu/08/08_writing_the_deeds_of_darkness_and_evil.htm |title=Writing the deeds of Darkness and Evil |publisher=Official Bathory website |accessdate=29 October 2012}}</ref> These traits came to define [[black metal]]<ref name=Santos/> and the band used this style on their first four albums. Quorthon said that the band were not Satanists but used 'Satanic' references to provoke and attack Christianity. With the third and fourth albums he began "attacking Christianity from a different angle", realizing that Satanism is a "Christian product" and seeing them both as "religious hocus-pocus".<ref name=bathory-lyrics/> The term 'black metal' came from Venom's 1982 [[Black Metal (album)|album of that name]]. Many fans and reviewers have claimed Venom was an influence on Bathory,<ref>{{cite book |author=Moynihan, Michael |author2=Søderlind, Didrik |title=Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground |edition=first |location=Venice |publisher=Feral House |year=1998 |pages=16-18}}</ref> or even accused Bathory of copying Venom;<ref>Götz Kühnemund: ''»Heavy Metal ist was für Weicheier!«''. ''Die erste Generation des Black Metal''. In: ''Rock Hard'', no. 269, October 2009, p. 72.</ref><ref name=lahtinen>Luxi Lahtinen: [http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/Bathory.htm ''BATHORY - An Epic Interview with Quorthon''], accessed on 28 December 2012.</ref> however, Quorthon said that the band's early work was influenced primarily by [[Black Sabbath]], [[Motörhead]] and [[Charged GBH|GBH]], and that he "heard Venom for the first time in late 1984 or early 1985" and never owned a Venom album.<ref name=lahtinen/> Bathory's early sound also have always been associated with [[Slayer]] but Quorthon denied to be influenced by them.<ref name="anus">{{cite web|url=http://www.anus.com/metal/about/interviews/quorthon/ |title=Quorthorn (Bathory) Interview at anus.com - Death/Black Metal Interviews Section |work=anus.com |accessdate=8 September 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728052812/http://www.anus.com:80/metal/about/interviews/quorthon/ |archivedate=28 July 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> |
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Bathory stopped performing live in 1985, with Quorthon viewing organizing concerts as too much hassle.<ref name=Santos/> |
Bathory stopped performing live in 1985, with Quorthon viewing organizing concerts as too much hassle.<ref name=Santos/> |
Revision as of 08:43, 28 October 2016
Bathory | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Vällingby, Sweden |
Genres | Black metal, thrash metal, viking metal[2][3] |
Years active | 1983–2004 |
Labels | Black Mark, Noise |
Past members |
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Bathory was an extreme metal band formed in Vällingby, Sweden, in 1983 named for Hungarian countess Elizabeth Báthory. The band's frontman and main songwriter was Quorthon (Tomas Forsberg). Considered to be one of the most influential acts in heavy metal, Bathory's first four albums are considered to be "the blueprint for Scandinavian black metal".[4] The band departed from this style on their fifth album, Hammerheart (1990), which is often cited as the first Viking metal album.[5] Bathory continued in the Viking metal style throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, although the band returned to thrash metal with the albums Requiem (1994) and Octagon (1995). Bathory ended when Quorthon died from heart failure in 2004.
History
Early years (1980s)
Bathory formed in Vällingby in 1983. Quorthon (then known as Ace, after Ace Frehley of KISS), a 17-year-old guitarist, was joined by bass guitarist Fredrik Melander and drummer Jonas Åkerlund. According to Quorthon, he settled on the name 'Bathory' after a visit to the London Dungeon, although Jonas says that it was taken from the Venom song "Countess Bathory".[6] Before settling on 'Bathory', the band considered several names; including Nosferatu, Natas, Mephisto, Elizabeth Bathory and Countess Bathory.[7] Quorthon worked part-time at the small record label Tyfon, which was owned by his father, Börje Forsberg.[6] In late 1983, the label was putting together a compilation of songs by Scandinavian metal bands.[8] However, at the last minute, one of the bands backed out. Tyfon agreed to let Bathory appear on the record as a replacement. The album, called Scandinavian Metal Attack, was released in March 1984 and was Bathory's first appearance on record.[9] Unexpectedly, the Bathory tracks drew a great deal of fan mail.[10] Soon afterward, Tyfon asked Quorthon to record a full-length album.[9] His bandmates having moved away, Quorthon recruited Rickard Bergman as bassist and Stefan Larsson as drummer. On 22 May 1984, they had their first and only rehearsal together before recording the album.[9] The debut album, Bathory, was recorded in June at Heavenshore Studio (a converted garage) in Stockholm[9] and released in October that year. Over the next four years, Bathory released a further three albums: The Return…… (1985), Under the Sign of the Black Mark (1987) and Blood Fire Death (1988).
Bathory's early work was dark, fast, heavily distorted and raw recording (lo-fi). Quorthon's vocals were harsh, high-pitched and raspy with occasional shrieks and screams. The band's lyrics focused on 'dark' topics and included anti-Christian and 'Satanic' references.[11] These traits came to define black metal[7] and the band used this style on their first four albums. Quorthon said that the band were not Satanists but used 'Satanic' references to provoke and attack Christianity. With the third and fourth albums he began "attacking Christianity from a different angle", realizing that Satanism is a "Christian product" and seeing them both as "religious hocus-pocus".[11] The term 'black metal' came from Venom's 1982 album of that name. Many fans and reviewers have claimed Venom was an influence on Bathory,[12] or even accused Bathory of copying Venom;[13][14] however, Quorthon said that the band's early work was influenced primarily by Black Sabbath, Motörhead and GBH, and that he "heard Venom for the first time in late 1984 or early 1985" and never owned a Venom album.[14] Bathory's early sound also have always been associated with Slayer but Quorthon denied to be influenced by them.[15]
Bathory stopped performing live in 1985, with Quorthon viewing organizing concerts as too much hassle.[7]
Although Bathory's fourth album, Blood Fire Death (1988), largely followed in the style of the albums before it, some songs had a very different style. These songs have a much slower tempo, acoustic passages, choral background singing, and lyrics about Vikings and Norse mythology. Music critic Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic describes this 'epic' style as "possibly the first true example" of Viking metal.[16]
Viking metal years (1990s–2000s)
After Blood Fire Death, the band shed its early black metal style. Their fifth album, Hammerheart (1990), was the first "archetypical Viking metal album".[17] This was said to have been influenced by the American power metal band Manowar, although Quorthon described this rumour as "another total misconception".[15] A music video was made for the song "One Rode to Asa Bay". The style of Hammerheart was continued on Twilight of the Gods (1991) and Blood on Ice (recorded in 1989 but completed in 1996).
With Requiem (1994) and Octagon (1995), Bathory changed style once more, this time turning to retro-thrash in the vein of 1980s Bay Area thrash bands. However, the 2001 release Destroyer of Worlds was a transitional release that led to a full return to the Viking metal style with the releases of Nordland I (2002) and Nordland II (2003). These were meant to be the first two volumes of a four-album saga, but Quorthon did not live long enough to complete it.
Quorthon's death
In June 2004, Quorthon was found dead in his home, apparently due to heart failure.[7] He was known to suffer from heart problems in the past. On 3 June 2006, Black Mark Records released a box set in tribute to Quorthon, containing three CDs of his favorite Bathory and Quorthon songs, a 176-page booklet, a DVD with his long-form video for "One Rode to Asa Bay", an interview and some rare promo footage and a poster.
Several Bathory tribute albums have been compiled by black metal artists, such as In Conspiracy with Satan: A Tribute to Bathory and Voices from Valhalla - A Tribute to Bathory.
In popular culture
The Swedish band Watain played a live tribute to Quorthon and the band Bathory at the Sweden Rock Festival 2010. The resulting recording was the limited-edition album Tonight We Raise Our Cups and Toast in Angels Blood: A Tribute to Bathory with 7 tracks, and was released on February 23, 2015. It was also released as 12" album, the latter in 1300 numbered copies with four tracks, "A Fine Day to Die" (10:48), "The Return of Darkness and Evil" (4:36), "Rite of Darkness" (2:19) and "Reaper" (2:46) on Side A and three tracks "Enter the Eternal Fire" (7:14), "Sacrifice" (4:06) and "Born for Burning" (7:11) on Side B.
The release proved very popular with Swedish public, with the limited vinyl edition reaching number 1 on the vinyl chart. The album made it also to number 2 on the national Sverigetopplistan chart, the official Swedish Albums Chart in February 2015.[18]
Band members
- Final lineup
- Quorthon (Thomas Börje Forsberg) – vocals, all instruments (1983–2004; died 2004)
- Previous members
- Freddan/Hanoi (Frederick Melander) – bass guitar (1983–1984)
- Vans McBurger (Jonas Åkerlund) – drums (1983–1984)
- Ribban – bass guitar (1984)
- Stefan Larsson – drums (1984–1986)
- Adde – bass guitar (1985)
- Christer Sandström – bass guitar (1986–1987)
- Paul Pålle Lundburg – drums (1986–1987)
- Kothaar – bass guitar (1988–1996)
- Vvornth – drums (1988–1996)
- Timeline
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/7rmu9vipyh2msgod5uwx64yyu1ilnke.png)
Discography
Studio albums
- Bathory (1984)
- The Return…… (1985)
- Under the Sign of the Black Mark (1987)
- Blood Fire Death (1988)
- Hammerheart (1990)
- Twilight of the Gods (1991)
- Requiem (1994)
- Octagon (1995)
- Blood on Ice (1996) – recorded in 1989
- Destroyer of Worlds (2001)
- Nordland I (2002)
- Nordland II (2003)
Compilation albums
- Jubileum Volume I (1992)
- Jubileum Volume II (1993)
- Jubileum Volume III (1998)
- Katalog (2001)
- In Memory of Quorthon (2006)
References
- ^ "Bathory - Under the sin". Bathory.nu. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ^ Ulrey, Jeremy (27 February 2013). "Essential Black Metal Listening: BATHORY Under the Sign of the Black Mark". Metal Injection. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
- ^ "Bathory". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
- ^ Moynihan, Michael; Søderlind, Didrik (2003) [1998]. Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground (revised and expanded ed.). Venice: Feral House. p. 21.
- ^ Maisano, Anthony. "Today in Metal: 'Hammerheart' by Bathory turns 24 years old". Metal Insider. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
- ^ a b Johannesson & Klingberg 2011, pp. 52–62.
- ^ a b c d Santos, José Carlos (20009). Terrorizer's Secret History of Black Metal. Dark Arts Ltd. pp. 10–11.
{{cite book}}
: Check date values in:|year=
(help)CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ Ekeroth 2008, p. 29.
- ^ a b c d Ekeroth 2008, p. 30.
- ^ McManus, Peter (1987). "Stranger than Strange – Quorthon Uncloacks His Secrets in an Exclusive Interview..." Power Metal. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Writing the deeds of Darkness and Evil". Official Bathory website. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- ^ Moynihan, Michael; Søderlind, Didrik (1998). Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground (first ed.). Venice: Feral House. pp. 16–18.
- ^ Götz Kühnemund: »Heavy Metal ist was für Weicheier!«. Die erste Generation des Black Metal. In: Rock Hard, no. 269, October 2009, p. 72.
- ^ a b Luxi Lahtinen: BATHORY - An Epic Interview with Quorthon, accessed on 28 December 2012.
- ^ a b "Quorthorn (Bathory) Interview at anus.com - Death/Black Metal Interviews Section". anus.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Blood Fire Death - Bathory : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
- ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Hammerheart - Bathory : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ Watain hit national chart in Sweden with limited lp
Bibliography
- Ekeroth, Daniel (2008). Swedish Death Metal. Bazillion Points Books. ISBN 978-0-9796163-1-0.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Johannesson, Ika; Klingberg, Jon Jefferson (2011). Blod Eld Död - En svensk metalhistoria. Alfabeta Bokförlag AB. ISBN 978-9-1501133-4-1.
{{cite book}}
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External links
- Bathory tribute website
- Bathory on Black Mark Production
- Bathory at AllMusic
- Bathory discography at Discogs
- Bathory discography at MusicBrainz