Best Bathory Albums?

[Mayhem_MetalHead]

What are like the top 5 or 10 Bathory albums? Im debating which ones I should get.

Im getting into black metal and I heard this is a band to seriously check out. haha

 

[Slayed Necros]

For someone just getting into black metal start with the first four albums. After Blood Fire Death the style changes immensely.

 

[waif]

Bathory
Under The Sign Of The Black Mark
Blood Fire Death
Hammerheart
Nordland I

Also, top 10 Bathory albums? There were 12 in total...so you mean the worst 2?

 

[A1a23]

My top 5:
Under the Sign Of the Black Mark
The Return
Blood Fire Death
Bathory
Hammerheart

Worst 2:
Requiem
Octagon

 

[waif]

The Return really lacks the charm of the debut and the quality songs of Under The Sign. It's really pretty skipable, to be honest.

 

[Master_Yoda77]

Lies. A1a23 nailed the list BTW. Just listen to his first 6 in order.

 

[JontRevolting]

Bathory
Under The Sign Of The Black Mark
Blood Fire Death
Hammerheart
Nordland I

Also, top 10 Bathory albums? There were 12 in total...so you mean the worst 2?

Nordland I

 

[VelociBrad]

All Bathory is good Bathory, except for Octagon.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

I think we can all agree that Under The Sign Of The Black Mark, Blood Fire Death and Hammerheart are mandatory Bathory albums. The other two may just depend on whether you prefer black metal (first two albums) or epic folk metal (later albums).

I'm in the latter camp, so I'd go with Twilight of the Gods and Blood on Ice, which are pretty great aside from a couple tracks each. The Nordland albums are good, but not as memorable imo.

 

[Einherjar86]

I'd actually say that Nordland I is mandatory, once you've listened to the earlier records.

 

[waif]

Nordland I and Hammerheart are by far the best of the Viking era stuff. Nordland I has the better songwriting and is more consistent, but Hammerheart has absolutely amazing atmosphere and of course contains One Rode To Asa Bay.

 

[A1a23]

The Return really lacks the charm of the debut and the quality songs of Under The Sign. It's really pretty skipable, to be honest.

The Return is fucking bone crushing and evil in its purest form. It was this album where Quorthon did away with some of his Venom influences adding to the black metal sound we know today.

This album is an essential, not skipable.
Good thing Master Yoda seems to agree with me.

 

[Manic Ferocity]

Under the Sign of the Black Mark is their best and easily one of the best black metal albums of all time. I would agree that their first four albums are essential, though.

 

[Cythraul]

In order from best to worst of the top 5:

Under the Sign of the Black Mark
Hammerheart
The Return
Blood Fire Death
Bathory

 

[Thoth-Amon]

I think we can all agree that Under The Sign Of The Black Mark, Blood Fire Death and Hammerheart are mandatory Bathory albums.

 

[Tennyson]

Nordland I and Hammerheart are by far the best of the Viking era stuff. Nordland I has the better songwriting and is more consistent, but Hammerheart has absolutely amazing atmosphere and of course contains One Rode To Asa Bay.

.

 

[J.]

i prefer Twilight of the Gods

 

[waif]

I will never understand what people see in that album...so bloated and overdone and utterly lacking in the amazing atmosphere of Hammerheart.

 

[Unfaithfully Metalhead]

but Hammerheart has absolutely amazing atmosphere and of course contains One Rode To Asa Bay.

To me Oden's Ride/Fine Day to Die was more atmospheric then Asa Bay... i loved Emperor's version of this song..