Search - Bathory :: Under The Sign Of The Black Mark

Classic Bathory

Blauth | West Africa | 11/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ahhh, Nocturnal Obeisance . . . classic Quorthon before all the operatic powermetal stuff (What the hell was that "One Rode to Asa Bay" video about?). This album was a great influence upon Mayhem, Burzum and Dark Throne. "Woman of Dark Desires" is still one of the greatest metal tracks ever laid down."

Chapter III: Hail the Sign of the Black Mark and of Doom...

emperorcaligula | Glen Burnie, MD. | 12/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On 'Under the Sign of the Black Mark', everyone's favorite Swedish meatball Quorthon combines the dark, nightmarish monotone of 'The Return...' with a new, industialized percussive sound (he insists it's not a drum machine) and generally tighter playing, creating an almost robotic-sounding death metal that doesn't even seem tangible; something completely outside of even traditional underground metal music. In addition to this are Quorthon's vocals; he sounds a lot more vitriolic and bloodthirsty this time around, while at the same time, you can make out the lyrics on even the ultra-fast tunes without the liner notes.Which brings me to another point: before the advent of the (stupid) blastbeat grindcore scene, Bathory were the fastest thing on the dragstrip by FAR. Take for example track 7, "Chariots of Fire" (no, not a Vangelis cover!). Anyone remember the blindcore joke "Hang the Pope" by Nuclear Assault? Try to picture an ENTIRE verse/chorus/verse/chorus/lead/verse/chorus song played THAT FAST with PERFECT precision. Yeah, I thought that might get your attention...Elsewhere however, Quorthon slows down and delivers doom par excellence on "Call From The Grave" and the epic "Enter the Eternal Fire"...an early precursor to the "melodic death metal" so popular these days. "Woman of Dark Desires", "Equimanthorn", "Massacre"...this whole thing is just immense. There's even a cool song about Bathory fans here, so what more could you want?Perhaps the most ironic thing about 'Under the Sign...' is that Quorthon himself claims to absolutely hate it. Why? I have no idea. But it's an album that those in the black metal scene still holds close to their black hearts. And the best was still yet to come..."

OK, but not Bathory's best.

W. C Donovan | Boston, MA | 10/19/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This one simply isn't as enjoyable as the self-titled debut LP or "Blood Fire Death." "Woman of Dark Desires" is cool, but most of the other tracks don't grab me. ... The production on "Under The Sign Of THe Black Mark" isn't as solid as the aforementioned albums, although early Bathory discs aren't known for their sound clarity..."