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Ok its over a year ago that Quorthorn (the guy behind the band bathory) died. I didn’t find out till a few months ago, when I went to look at the website that you can buy his music from:
http://www.blackmark.net/ - there is also a tribute song you can listen to under the 'In memmory to ACE/Quorthorn' link(Song to hall up high - from Hammerheart, an excellent song)
“The latest tragedy in Black metal was the death of Quorthorn from the founding black metal band Bathory. He was found dead in his appartment this monday, suspected heart failure. This is a terrible death because that man pretty much founded Scandinavian black metal.
Bathory influenced thousands of bands, not just black metal bands, Bathory influenced bands such as dimmu borgir, slayer, metallica, drowning pool and even the smashing pumpkins.
So much respect is due to this recently departed forefather of Metal. His music will live on in the sound of thousands of bands for years to come.” - from this forum: (i found on google! enter if you dare!)
You can hear another one of his songs here(its from the Hammerheart album, and not his best, but appropriate as a tribute):
I first heard his music about 12 years ago – It was the album Hammerheart.
Now from my point of view, I’m not a typical blackmetal fan, and I only like a specific selection of this guys music. It’s the stuff that has been called his ‘viking’ music, which is why I got interested in Bathory
So if there are any people who think Viking themed metal(combined with folkish/medieval music and more than a nod to the classical composers) might be for them I’ll give you the low down.
His first album that touched on this was ‘Blood Fire Death’, the opening track(Odins ride over nordland) was to set the scene for what was to become this ‘viking’ music in later albums. Much of the rest of this album is very heavy and hard like his earlier albums(Bathory started out as a kinda pure death metal band and at a certain point produced this Viking metal). Still it’s a powerful album and I’m glad I have it.
The beginning of the main Viking theme starts with ‘Hammerheart’ – its my second favourite album, lots of dynamic shifts in the music(you’ll see what I mean when you listen to some!), and plenty of great viking themes in the lyrics.
Next we have ‘Twilight of the Gods’, philosophers may recognise the title. This is my personal favourite albumn – its like a modern social commentary(negative) mixed with powerful Nordic songs(positive). I just find it the most interesting albumn to listen too that i own, musically and lyrically.
After the previous two albums Quorthorn needed a break and it was a good few years before the next ‘viking’ music would come out.
‘Blood on Ice’ is an odd album, not as powerful or poignient as the two previous. It was meant to be in the style of an saga – a continuous story following a character through a period of his life, in this case a chosen warrior. It pays tribute to the old European style of hero saga’s – its just a shame that the music isn’t on par with the two previous titles.
‘Nordland I’ and ‘Nordland II’ was a kind of double album concept, but with the second album coming out a year after the first. Again the albums don’t quite have the vibe of either Hammerheart or Twilight of the Gods, but Nordland I is pretty close to being as good.
Nordland II is the last Viking album(maybe even last work) that Quorthorn made before he died last year of a heart problem aged 39.
So in quick chronological list form if anyone is interested in his Viking music albums:
1. Blood Fire Death(a little Viking, but mostly death metal)
2. Hammerheart(excellent)
3. Twilight of the Gods(special genius)
4. Blood on Ice(a few good songs)
5. Nordland I(good – its grown on me)
6. Nordland II(about on par with NordlandI)
All the rest of his many works as Bathory are pretty hard core death metal. Still he has released some stuff under Quorthorn, which I have yet to try.
Anyway I thought I’d share this info with people, as I feel sad at this loss of my favourite musician(when in his Viking mode.) and a mostly unknown founding father of the metal movement.
Anyone else know of viking metal bands as good as Bathory?(and i got Man O War already).
http://www.blackmark.net/ - there is also a tribute song you can listen to under the 'In memmory to ACE/Quorthorn' link(Song to hall up high - from Hammerheart, an excellent song)
“The latest tragedy in Black metal was the death of Quorthorn from the founding black metal band Bathory. He was found dead in his appartment this monday, suspected heart failure. This is a terrible death because that man pretty much founded Scandinavian black metal.
Bathory influenced thousands of bands, not just black metal bands, Bathory influenced bands such as dimmu borgir, slayer, metallica, drowning pool and even the smashing pumpkins.
So much respect is due to this recently departed forefather of Metal. His music will live on in the sound of thousands of bands for years to come.” - from this forum: (i found on google! enter if you dare!)
You can hear another one of his songs here(its from the Hammerheart album, and not his best, but appropriate as a tribute):
I first heard his music about 12 years ago – It was the album Hammerheart.
Now from my point of view, I’m not a typical blackmetal fan, and I only like a specific selection of this guys music. It’s the stuff that has been called his ‘viking’ music, which is why I got interested in Bathory
So if there are any people who think Viking themed metal(combined with folkish/medieval music and more than a nod to the classical composers) might be for them I’ll give you the low down.
His first album that touched on this was ‘Blood Fire Death’, the opening track(Odins ride over nordland) was to set the scene for what was to become this ‘viking’ music in later albums. Much of the rest of this album is very heavy and hard like his earlier albums(Bathory started out as a kinda pure death metal band and at a certain point produced this Viking metal). Still it’s a powerful album and I’m glad I have it.
The beginning of the main Viking theme starts with ‘Hammerheart’ – its my second favourite album, lots of dynamic shifts in the music(you’ll see what I mean when you listen to some!), and plenty of great viking themes in the lyrics.
Next we have ‘Twilight of the Gods’, philosophers may recognise the title. This is my personal favourite albumn – its like a modern social commentary(negative) mixed with powerful Nordic songs(positive). I just find it the most interesting albumn to listen too that i own, musically and lyrically.
After the previous two albums Quorthorn needed a break and it was a good few years before the next ‘viking’ music would come out.
‘Blood on Ice’ is an odd album, not as powerful or poignient as the two previous. It was meant to be in the style of an saga – a continuous story following a character through a period of his life, in this case a chosen warrior. It pays tribute to the old European style of hero saga’s – its just a shame that the music isn’t on par with the two previous titles.
‘Nordland I’ and ‘Nordland II’ was a kind of double album concept, but with the second album coming out a year after the first. Again the albums don’t quite have the vibe of either Hammerheart or Twilight of the Gods, but Nordland I is pretty close to being as good.
Nordland II is the last Viking album(maybe even last work) that Quorthorn made before he died last year of a heart problem aged 39.
So in quick chronological list form if anyone is interested in his Viking music albums:
1. Blood Fire Death(a little Viking, but mostly death metal)
2. Hammerheart(excellent)
3. Twilight of the Gods(special genius)
4. Blood on Ice(a few good songs)
5. Nordland I(good – its grown on me)
6. Nordland II(about on par with NordlandI)
All the rest of his many works as Bathory are pretty hard core death metal. Still he has released some stuff under Quorthorn, which I have yet to try.
Anyway I thought I’d share this info with people, as I feel sad at this loss of my favourite musician(when in his Viking mode.) and a mostly unknown founding father of the metal movement.
Anyone else know of viking metal bands as good as Bathory?(and i got Man O War already).
).
for Sava's picture - its what vikings have to look like these days to fit in 
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