Bathory – s/t Debut (Review)

I never was a big fan of Black Metal in general, but especially some of the old records from the 80s I hold in high esteem. This goes especially for Bathory's first output.
From the very beginning of the record, it is perfectly clear why Bathory are sometimes credited as the real first Black Metal band. Sure, there were other bands that had had a very similar sound in the beginning of the eighties, but Bathory sums up most of the things that a general audience would later define as Black Metal (minus the here absent corpse painting perhaps). Bathory starts with atmospheric sounds of storm and a distant church bell. The emptiness and grimness of a dark, northern landscape directly come to mind. Definitely a Black Metal trademark. It doesn't take long though, and all hell breaks loose for the next 26 minutes.
And this puts it quite well, as Bathory barely take a break from the ongoing mayhem. Each song has a  raw energy and power, not unlike the early work of Sodom or Destruction. But Bathory's approach may even be a bit more fierce than the afore mentioned bands, also thanks to the characteristic vocals that would become typical for the genre. Although the production is lo-fi, we still get the idea that there is a talented musicianship behind the recording, a talent that would later unfold on the following records. The high-speed assault might get a little bit monotonous, but still, every song has its distinctive groove to it.
The simple, yet menacing cover artwork and the dark lyrics perfectly complement the music.

Bathory's debut certainly is still a diamond in the rough, but still a great listen for lovers of extreme metal. 

(Artwork courtesy of Black Mark Production)