What makes Bathory by Bathory notable?

Bathory is considered a cornerstone of the black metal genre, influencing countless bands that followed. Its raw production and thematic focus on darkness and mythology helped define the sound of extreme metal in the late '80s and beyond. When Bathory was released in October 1984, the band was at the start of their pioneering journey in the extreme metal genre. This debut marked their emergence from Sweden's underground scene, setting the stage for future innovations in both black and viking metal.

How many songs are on Bathory?

Bathory has 9 tracks, running approximately 26 minutes.

Released 42 years ago this October

Bathory

Bathory · 1984

26 min · 9 tracks · black metal

Raw and aggressive, Bathory's debut melds thrash metal energy with black metal's dark themes and primal intensity.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Storm of Damnation / Hades — This opening track showcases Bathory's signature blend of speed and grim atmosphere, establishing the album's dark tone right from the start.
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In Conspiracy With Satan — With its relentless pace and chilling lyrics, this track exemplifies Bathory's early approach to combining aggressive music with occult themes.
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Raise the Dead — This song encapsulates the band's thematic exploration of death and resurrection, featuring a haunting melody that contrasts with its brutal instrumentation.
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Sacrifice — The track's driving rhythm and intense energy highlight Bathory's thrash influences while foreshadowing their later evolution into viking metal.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

53 /100

Foothills

Higher than 40% of albums we've rated

Bathory's raw energy and thematic focus laid foundational elements for black metal's evolution.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of fast tempos and aggressive guitar riffs, with most tracks clocking in under four minutes.
Vocals are delivered in a harsh, raspy style that complements the raw production quality throughout the record.
The thematic elements revolve around darkness and mythology, with titles like 'In Conspiracy With Satan' and 'Raise the Dead' reflecting this focus.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 8/10

Defined its genre or moment. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Storm of Damnation / Hades 5:49
2 Reaper 2:44
3 Necromansy 3:39
4 Sacrifice 3:16
5 In Conspiracy With Satan 2:28
6 Armageddon 2:30
7 Raise the Dead 3:40
8 War 2:16
9 [untitled] 0:23

What to play next

Listen next

Scandinavian Metal Attack

1984

Go back to

The Return

1984

Full Bathory discography Artists like Bathory

black metal thrash metal viking metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata