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[great web site]
Reviewed:
  1. Blood Fire Death (1988)
  2. Twilight of the Gods (1991)
  3. Blood on Ice (1996)
 Remarks:

Country: Sweden. That's right: nobody knows Quorthon's real name and who cares?

Blood Fire Death (1988, Under One Flag)

Sometimes black and sometimes viking metal, this is an odd mixture that is a premonition of the viking trilogy. Quorthon does some singing for a change but the sound is lousy.

Steeped in Norse mythology, this is the precursor of the Viking cycle that marked the first (of many) stylistic turns of Bathory. It begins with the foreboding "Odin's Ride over Nordland." When I first heard it (BFD was my virginal experience with Bathory), this Wagnerian song drew pictures in the sky: mighty Norsemen riding in ecstatic chaos, with Odin on Sleipnir towering above them all. The Norwegian Peter Nicolai Arbo has painted the airborne frenzy of the Valkyries with Thor presiding over the Wild Hunt (reproduced on the cover). The music sets the picture in motion, just look at the cover and hear the riders approach, pass by, and disappear into the advancing dusk. "Wow," I thought, "this stuff is amazing."

Unfortunately, this is quite an uneven CD. The overture is followed by another great song, but the album then slips into obscurity. Quorthon can't really sing very well and the imitation of Black Sabbath is too obvious to be tolerable. The fluff in the next few songs can be skipped without losing anything. The last song redeems Bathory to a large extent though. "Blood Fire Death" is brilliant, the music retains all the fury of the lyrics and the clean vocals fit so much better the viking metal.

The production sucks, which some BM purists find authentic and admirable. I am not thrilled by music that sounds like the KGB has recorded it through the bathroom sink. This detracts from the enjoyment of the last song, which is really a pity because it is worth it.

 

Twilight Of The Gods (1991, Black Mark)

The second of the Viking cycle, TOTG is perhaps one of the best outings that Quorthon has produced. Very slow and sombre music with long winding story lines captures the pagan spirit of the Viking era (or at least what I think that spirit was like). I am no Scandinavian, but the place and its history fascinates me, and this music is the perfect backdrop to fantastic daydreaming. This album is also nicely produced for a change (by Bathory standards anyway) and has a deep booming sound that rattles through my speakers to give the music even more dignity. Quorthon sings slightly off-key now and then but after so many battles and honey beer, can one really expect perfection from a tired warrior? Very nice cover design. 		 

Blood On Ice (1996, Black Mark)

Even though it's only now being released, most of this album was originally recorded in the late 1980s (during the Viking cycle). With 11 songs and clocking in at 53 minutes, this is a welcome addition to your Bathory shelf.

Quorthon manages to sing in a wonderfully off-key tonality and sounds like his voice will give in at any moment. Surprisingly enough, he manages to finish most musical phrases without choking. Amazingly, it all falls in rather well. The production is very underground, if you're into this type of thing. The drums sound hollow and amateurish, but did you really expect Vikings to worry about sound quality? I did not think so. Musically, this should not surprise anyone that has had even the remotest inkling of Bathory. Long epic songs that utilize a lot of repetitive riffs, wailing guitars, and choral anthems thrown in for good measure. "Man of Iron" is actually a ballad (and a good one too). The pervasive presence of "the one eyed old man" can be felt throughout the album, with the song of same name being quite standard metal fare.

"The Woodwoman" is another lengthy piece, and I could swear the rustling of leaves is heard from the forest. "The Lake" must be the crown jewel of the entire album. Beginning with an acoustic guitar playing by the bubbling creek, it evolves majestically into a metal hymn with Quorthon reciting the lyrics (giving the song a further medieval feeling).