Albums Ranked Episode XV: BATHORY

[@Ceolskog]

Ah you did do a Bathory list, so my mind wasn't playing tricks on me! Haha. 3rd of June this year marks the 20th anniversary of Quorthon's passing. (It's already the 4th for us Kiwis, but we're half a day ahead of Sweden).

[@Loonah365]

Oh, now I'm exactly where I wanted to land. I just ordered Blood On Ice for my fifth Bathory vinyl. I'm REALLY curious about your opinion on it, if it hasn't changed during the past two years. Might write another comment afterwards. For now, I would like to rank all albums, but in the end, Bathory does have different eras in terms of sound and genre. We have the raw Black Metal era with Self-Titled and "The Return", we have the prime Black Metal era with "Under The Sign Of The Black Mark" and "Blood Fire Death". we have the pioneer viking era with "Hammerheart", "Twilight Of The Gods" and lastly "Blood On Ice". We have the weird Post-Thrash Metal era with "Requiem", "Octagon" and weirdly "Destroyer Of Worlds" and we have the Peak Viking era with the Nordland Records. Most of these eras and albums have their ups and downs, some more than others and it's really hard to compare some of the eras with one another, because they all are very special and different in terms of genre... So I'll do another personal "tops" and "flops", just like I did with Metallica Songs earlier today. Bathory Top: Bro they all sound alike so hard. It's a really cool album to listen to from start to finish, but imo you notice its the first album Quorthon did. Flop: The Return (I didn't listen to it in its entirety, but I've come to really like/dislike some of the songs) Top: The Rite Of Darkness / Return of Darkness And Evil (especially the Jubileum version) Flop: Total Destruction (I dislike Blast Beats in BM a lot usually) Under The Sign Of The Black Mark (This Album means a lot to me on a personal level. My father gifted me his first press :> ) Top: Call From The Grave / Woman Of Dark Desires Flop: Massacre Blood Fire Death Top: A Fine Day To Die / Blood Fire Death (obviously) Flop: Holocaust / The Golden Walls Of Heaven (not bad, but not the strongest on the album either) Hammerheart Top: One Rode To Asa Bay (They all belong on there. I swear this album doesn't have a singular bad song. I even like "Baptise In Fire And Ice" which usually is considered to be the weakest track on this album) Flop: - Twilight Of The Gods Top: Through Blood By Thunder (One of my absolute favorite songs of Bathory in general) Flop: To Enter Your Mountain / Bound of Blood (also not bad songs, but imo the weakest ones compared to the others on the album) Requiem Top: - Flop: (don't get me wrong. The last few songs on the album have some cool riffs, but I can't listen to that. That's a terrible album) Octagon Top: - Flop: (This one is even worse) Blood On Ice (Currently on repeat 24/7) Top: Gods Of Thunder Of Wind And Of Rain / The Woodwoman Flop: The Sword (Also not a bad song, but weaker than the others) Destroyer Of Worlds (This album is very weird, because it's 50% Requiem and Octagon stuff that's REALLY terrible to listen to, then there is 30% songs from Quorthon's Thrash Metal era that don't sound "too" bad, then there is the rest that's kind of back to viking, but in a weird way.) Top: Lake Of Fire / Pestilence / Ode / White Bones Flop: Bleeding / 109 / Kill Kill Kill / Liberty & Justice / Krom / Sudden Death Nordland I Top: Mother Earth Father Thunder / Nordland Flop: Dragon Breath (The only one I dislike from the album) Nordland II Top: Blooded Shore Flop: There is nothing to say here. Quorthon sounds a little forced on "The Messenger" for example, but it doesn't ruin the song for me at all R.I.P Quorthon. You are a legend

[@RustyDarlington]

Amazing comment my man thank you so much 🤘🏻🤘🏻 yeah I remember enjoying blood on ice and the story behind it is amazing too - great concept album for sure! Must jam it again!

[@Loonah365]

@RustyDarlington When I first heard the albums finale, going back to the very first song riff-wise, hearing the choir from blood fire death and the story of the lone warrior fighting the evil beats.... I don't know what Quorthon is doing up there in Valhalla, but I cried like there's no tomorrow

[@horrormaster1980]

Nice video mate!!! I might do Bathory for my next rank em all

[@RustyDarlington]

DO IT! Haha would love to see that!

[@Ceolskog]

Cool ranking! I'm more partial to the "Viking" style albums myself.

[@RustyDarlington]

Haha awesome stuff! What would your top 3 be??

[@Ceolskog]

@@RustyDarlington Probably third place Nordland, then Nordland II, and Blood on Ice as the top one.

[@danielcastagna1941]

Fantastic Ranking! Under The Sign Of The Black Mark is on a whole league of its own, absolutely nothing can stand against that albums cataclysmic nature.

[@RustyDarlington]

Haha awesome man thank you so much! But yea I completely agree with Under the sign being in a whole world of its own 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@Edyime]

I agree with your ranking of Hammerheart, the vocals kill it for me. Twilight of the Gods was the perfect follow up. I wish there was a Nordland III