GET TO KNOW: Bathory (Ahead of Incineration Festival)
- Will Freeman
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
BATHORY has long defined the extreme side of metal. Being one of the founding fathers of the first wave of black metal, their legacy rings through the sound of many bands, with their sound still coming through today.
BATHORY was founded in Sweden in 1983 and during its time active featured frontman and the only songwriter of the band, Thomas "Quorthon" Forsberg. Their debut self-titled album was released in 1984 and became arguably the first truly black metal album to be released. The sound of the album is raw due to being recorded on such a low budget - so low budget in fact that no true distortion pedals were used to record the album. The album pushed forward the sound of metal into darker and more caustic places whilst drawing on the sound of speed metal with heavy influence drawn from the band Venom. The album has become a cult classic within metal, and you’ll often see a patch of this album specifically on many people’s jackets.
Bathory’s influence is arguably larger than the band itself; they defined many of the same black metal elements that still appear today. Satanic and pagan imagery, brutal, eerie atmosphere and a new approach to DIY music pushing past the standard set-up by punks. Bathory are metal through and through. They have become such a part of the scene that you are guaranteed to see many Bathory patches at any gig and even online, with the knock-off patches being sold as ‘Ratlord’.
As the band kept making music through the years, their sound changed and became more set in stone. The band’s most beloved release is Blood Fire Death, which builds on much of what happened within the band’s debut yet still carves its own musical identity. Featuring acoustic elements blended in with the black metal sound the band is known for, this album is truly special within metal history. The track A Fine Day to Die shows the band pushing song length further, which allows the relenting atmosphere to be built. As an album, this is the last of their first four releases, which are seen as being a blueprint for many of the later Scandinavian black metal albums that form most of the general perception of the genre.
Unfortunately, the band came to a complete halt in in 2004 with the passing of Thomas "Quorthon" Forsbergaged just 38. After his passing and the cessation of the band, their legacy only grew. The band became a rite of passage for young metal heads taking a dive into the more extreme side of metal. The demand for the band’s music to be seen live has grown and grown. The band never played live during the time they were active, so they had an entire fanbase hungry to witness the band. Within recent years, however a tribute act built from musicians across the Scandinavian scene was born. Named Blood Fire Death. They are currently the closest thing that has ever existed to a true touring outfit for the band.
Bathory as a band have a legacy that has simply grown over the years. Built up a fan base from every generation. They remain so popular because they define so much of what makes black metal. They existed as a unique vision within the genre, and their tracks still feel as sinister as ever. A truly legendary act that has a legacy that only burns stronger.
Words: Will Freeman
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