In 1982, Venom released their magnum opus "Black Metal", where they would coin the term black metal. At that point, though, black metal was used more for a thematic definition, so any album that had themes of Satanism and the occult would be classified as such. As for the musicality, Venom's "Black Metal" was still mainly thrash/speed metal, and sounded a lot like Motörhead. Regardless, Venom was considered the best black metal band you could listen to, and that no one would top them in their extremes. That is, until a certain band from Sweden came into the picture...
That's right, folks, if Venom wasn't the pioneer for the black metal sound, then Bathory's eponymous debut definitely pioneered it. Now while I may not be the first to acknowledge that, the self-titled album was revolutionary in many ways. Everything from the production, the riffs, the vocals, and even the lyrical themes were much more darker and rawer than anything Venom could've dreamed of. With all due respect to Venom, it wasn't them that started black metal. It was Bathory.
But enough of me rambling about Venom and Bathory. Let's get straight into the album itself. Right off the bat, you can tell this record is gonna be different from all the other records in 1984 from the first track "Storm of Damnation". The soft sounds of the winds and the subtle sound of bells and thunder create an atmosphere of darkness and mystery, a theme that would be present a lot in this album. We then move on to the next track "Hades", and things take on an even darker turn. One of the first things you'll notice is the production. "Bathory" used some raw and unfiltered production, so the guitars sound very distorted and quiet in the mix. The drums also have a thin sound in them, and their constant beating takes up much of the mix. The bass is pretty much nonexistent, as it's largely buried in the mix. This all sounds like a recipe for disaster, but its execution makes it all sound great. The noisy riffs sound fitting to the fast composition, and the chaotic drumming only enhances the raging atmosphere. The more technical riffs that play in the middle of the track even adds in a more powerful feeling in the tone. Despite clocking in at less than 3 minutes, "Hades" still packs a punch, and the same can be said to just about every track in this album. "Bathory" would use its raw production as an advantage, and it makes the instruments sound more darker than anything else at the time.
But what about the vocals? How are they gonna sound in this mix? Well let me introduce you to Quorthon, who's here to show off some terrifying vocals. His shouts are contained with shrieks and grunts, and he even growls at certain portions of the songs. One of the stronger examples of this would be in the track "Raise the Dead". The track's more doomful and gloomy composition gives the vocals more power, as Quorthon sounds more anxious and irate. His emphasis on some lines like "Raise the Dead!" also makes it sound more urgent, as he sounds like he's calling for his troops to bring back the dead. Unlike Cronos, who used more chants, Quorthon's screaming would be a game-changer in the new black metal sound.
And then there's the lyrics. Venom's lyrics were dark, but Bathory would take the dark themes to a whole new level. A great example of this would be in the track "Armageddon", where this verse quotes:
I swear the oath of blood
And tear the virgin's flesh
I gash the wounds of heaven
And rides the wings of death
This verse talks about Quorthon swearing an oath of blood, presumably raping someone, and then riding to heaven to create some destruction. The descriptions of this verse sound more brutal and extreme than anything else at the time, and its wording makes it sound less angsty and more evil. Furthermore, the instrumentals and vocals would further execute these lyrics. This specific track goes for a slower, yet chaotic tone, and Quorthon's vocals sound more agonizing and terrorized. This gives the tone of the lyrics a more wicked tone, and makes the actions done feel even worse. The lyrics are written brilliantly, and the execution in the tracks makes it all sound ludicrous.
So yeah, what else can be said about this album besides being a game-changer? The instrumentals and production are more raw and chaotic, the vocals are more grueling and aggressive, and the lyrics are given more darker descriptions. Bathory would go on to release two more black metal albums named "The Return......" and "Under the Sign of the Black Mark", the former being more darker and the latter being more atmospheric. Even though Bathory later dropped the black metal style to create a new genre named viking metal, there is no doubt that Quorthon had revolutionized the black metal sound. Even if you prefer Bathory's later works, I still heavily recommend you give this historic album a listen.
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