Bathory – Bathory (1984)

May 27, 2020

Bathory…. Bathory….. Bathory. What can I say about a record that is so influential to the black metal worlds? Copies of this have sold on Discogs for up to £1600, which should say a lot for its influence and historical value. However, how does Bathory’s self titled sound?

This is proto black metal through and through. It’s not as NWOBHM as say, Venom, whose album helped cement the term ‘Black Metal’, but aurally, this is much closer – in spirit and in sound – to what would sweep Norway and then the world in the 90s. Its like watching the pilot episode of a TV show that would eventually go on to become a worldwide sensation.

I haven’t got much more “big brain” style things to say about this release. I think it needs to be heard for what it is.