### Bathory: Nordland I

#### 05/04/13 || BamaHammer

Bathory, granddad of all things kvlt and tr00, Released this unholy shit back in 2002. The production was crisp, the cover was ace, And songs hit eardrums with the pow’r of a mace.

I shouldn’t like this “viking metal” shit, But somehow Quorthon had penned a hit. At least the record is a hit with me, It’s majesty many fuckos may never see.

Each track is lengthy and quite epic too, Resulting in the best album like this that a band could do. The tempos gallop and are all pretty slow, And it gives the album life and a very catchy flow.

Nothing about this record is grim or black, Though we all know that was Quorthon’s songwriting knack. Well, except for “Heimfard” and that opener, “Prelude”. These two atmospheric tracks really maintain a mood.

Guitar leads soar and move and leave me in awe, While the riffs are repetitive but strong, primitive, and raw. It’s music so good it needed a sequel like Wrath of Kahn, And it’s also so good it made us forget about “Octagon”.

In the end, this is not quite Bathory’s best. But alas, I assure you, color me impressed, Not quite deserving to be a black metal hallmark, Or in the same class with “Under the sign of the black mark”.

This is the best slab of “viking metal” there’s ever been. Even if you don’t normally like stuff like this, give it a spin. So, this has just been my ode to Quorthon’s Nordland One. But rejoice, my shitty-ass poem about Bathory is done.

- Information
- Released: 2002
- Label: Black Mark
- Website: www.bathory.nu
- Band
- Quorthon: vocals, guitars, bass, drums, everything else

- Tracklist
- 01. Prelude
- 02. Nordland
- 03. Vinterblot
- 04. Dragons Breath
- 05. Ring of Gold
- 06. Foreverdark Woods
- 07. Broken Sword
- 08. Great Hall Awaits a Fallen Brother
- 09. Mother Earth Father Thunder
- 10. Heimfard