13 November 2023
Bathory was founded 4 years after Venom. Celtic Frost was formed 1 year after Bathory. Black metal, the invention of Venom, grew a lot thanks to these 2 giant bands. Venom influences on Bathory and CF are undeniable, but especially Bathory was accused of being a Venom imitator in its early years, and they were very battered by the metal press. In the end, the late Quorthon (real name Tomas Börje Forsberg) did not give up and did such great things that when he died of a heart attack in 2004, he left behind a great legacy that stretches into eternity.
Blood Fire Death is not only a black metal album; it is also considered to be the first example of the viking metal genre. By fathering this new genre, Quorthon was at the same time shutting mouths of those who had been blaming him for being a imitator.
The album cover is by Norwegian painter Peter Nicolai Arbo, and it is really marvellous. It’s called ‘Wild Hunt’. Emperor used old time mythological/religious works on many of their covers as well and I guess they inherited this culture from Quorthon. It should be appreciated that the bands did not waste the artworks, they added value to these paintings.
Blood Fire Death is very harsh and energetic from the beginning to the end. The album opens with a 3-minute intro called Odens Ride Over Nordland. Odin, on his screaming horse, is galloping through the northern sky. And the hunt begins. The first song after the intro, A Fine Day To Die, opens with acoustic guitar and Quorthon’s clean vocals, which are used sparingly throughout the album, and then enters the main subject with the screams that follow. It’s a great first song with a very steady rhythm and harsh vocals. The track ends with an acoustic section towards the end and a screaming guitar solo.
The next track is The Golden Walls Of Heaven and this song is one of the 2 tracks in the acrostic structure. If the lyrics are analysed in fifths, it can be seen that the initials correspond to the word SATAN. The track, which opens with Quorthon’s screams and a drum rhythm reminding a brass band, has a very moving structure with its thrash-like parts. Pace ‘Till Death, which follows, is one of the heaviest tracks of the album with its extreme chaos structure connected to a melodic introduction and Quorthon’s effect vocals. Personally, I love the tempo of this track. Another song Holocaust, like Pace Till Death, draws attention with its short duration and wild structure. Those who like their music heavy will definitely like it.
For All Those Who Died, number six, is a mid-tempo song. This song is the most reminiscent of Venom on the album. Dies Irae, another acrostic song, comes right after it. The first letters of the lyrics are read as ‘CHRIST THE BASTARD SON OF HEAVEN’ from top to bottom. Dies Irae is also one of the hardest songs of the album with its thrash/death structure, with its chaotic entrance and very fast continuation. This short song has Slayer-like screaming guitar solos and galloping drums.
Let’s come to the last song before the outro, Blood Fire Death. With its general structure, it is one of the 2 songs with the most dominant Viking Metal atmosphere together with A Fine Day To Die. With its 10+ minutes duration, enthusiastic structure with plenty of effects, beautiful solo, acoustic part towards the end, it is a great epic that contains everything in it and progresses at a medium tempo in general. I think this song is the right address for those who haven’t listened to the album yet. It is a work that summarises the general structure of the album. After this beautiful epic, the album closes with a short and calm outro.
I tried to describe this masterpiece by an epoch-making musician Quorthon as much as possible. After all, we are talking about a milestone and there are many things to say about it. I strongly recommend it to those who have not listened to it yet, at least to see how a man with a not so beautiful voice can make his voice listenable when he sings with spirit.
“Even the heavens shall burn when we are gathered
Now when the flames reach for the sky”
10/10
