Metal Storm logo
Bathory - Under The Sign Of The Black Mark



8.5 | 561 votes |
Release date: 11 May 1987
Style: First wave of black metal

Owners:

580 have it
55 want it
3 trade it


01. Nocternal Obeisance
02. Massacre
03. Woman Of Dark Desires
04. Call From The Grave
05. Equimanthorn
06. Enter The Eternal Fire
07. Chariots Of Fire
08. 13 Candles
09. Of Doom......
10. Outro

Top 20 albums of 1987: 13

Additional info
Produced by Boss & Quorthon
Recorded at Heavenshore Studio, Stockholm Sweden
Album cover design by Quorthon
Album front cover photo by Gunnar Silins

Guest review by
Axe Argonian
Rating:
8.5
Under the Sign of the Black Mark was, in many ways, one of the first great releases to incite the black metal genre. Yes, I am aware that Bathory's two previous records are black metal; however, it was Under the Sign of the Black Mark that created a standard by which all black metal releases should be judged. That standard was, however, not contrived by larger than life orchestrations or in-depth atmospheres but by the very soul of black metal which was truly defined in this record: dark, aggressive, and haunting music that would scare even Michael Myers on his unholy rampage. Indeed, Under the Sign of the Black Mark is the definitive black metal album.

Read more ››
published 04.01.2011 | Comments (29)

Found in 38 lists
Top lists



Comments

Comments: 19   Visited by: 865 users
03.07.2011 - 02:49
Cuca Beludo
Account deleted
The best Black metal album from Bathory!
Loading...
12.01.2012 - 18:01
Cuca Beludo
Account deleted
Written by I Eat God on 12.01.2012 at 17:55

Written by Guest on 03.07.2011 at 02:49

The best Black metal album from Bathory!


Only Cuca ears are in perfect condition.
Definitely UTSOTBM is the best of Bathory (but still even not the top 20 album in BM) !
Blood Fire Death and Hammerheart are so much overrated, I simply can not catch his directions in these 2 albums.


I'm not a great fan of black metal, so I can't say if this album deserves an place in the top 20's... But not the best album from bathory, only the best album from bathory's black era. I would say "Twilight Of The Gods" is the best Quorthon's release.
And yes, I think Blood Fire Death and Hammerheart are overrated, but Hammerheart is Amazing, BFD is just good.
Loading...
06.04.2012 - 17:28
Rating: 9
musicalkaratekid

The perfect example of traditional black metal. No wonder Bathory are widely hailed as the forefathers of the genre. UTSOTBM has everything that people attribute to early Black Metal-outrageously epic songs ('Enter the eternal fire'), powerful bursts of raw, punk-fuelled energy ('Massacre' and 'Chariots of fire') and menacing yet meaningful tributes to some of the most prominent serial kilers ever ('Woman of dark desires'). What we call black metal nowadays may well be more varied (or not), but this is probably one of bathory's defining statements as a successful extreme metal band.
Loading...
07.04.2012 - 00:39
RavenKing

Written by musicalkaratekid on 06.04.2012 at 17:28

The perfect example of traditional black metal. No wonder Bathory are widely hailed as the forefathers of the genre. UTSOTBM has everything that people attribute to early Black Metal-outrageously epic songs ('Enter the eternal fire'), powerful bursts of raw, punk-fuelled energy ('Massacre' and 'Chariots of fire') and menacing yet meaningful tributes to some of the most prominent serial kilers ever ('Woman of dark desires'). What we call black metal nowadays may well be more varied (or not), but this is probably one of bathory's defining statements as a successful extreme metal band.


That's also why, among the so-called first wave, the only band I consider really as Black Metal is Bathory.
And this album is great.
----
They shake your hand and they smile and they buy you a drink
They say we'll be your friends we'll stick with you till the end
But everybody's only looking out for themselves
And you say who can you trust I'll tell you nobody
Loading...
07.04.2012 - 19:03
Rating: 9
musicalkaratekid

Written by RavenKing on 07.04.2012 at 00:39

Written by musicalkaratekid on 06.04.2012 at 17:28

The perfect example of traditional black metal. No wonder Bathory are widely hailed as the forefathers of the genre. UTSOTBM has everything that people attribute to early Black Metal-outrageously epic songs ('Enter the eternal fire'), powerful bursts of raw, punk-fuelled energy ('Massacre' and 'Chariots of fire') and menacing yet meaningful tributes to some of the most prominent serial kilers ever ('Woman of dark desires'). What we call black metal nowadays may well be more varied (or not), but this is probably one of bathory's defining statements as a successful extreme metal band.


That's also why, among the so-called first wave, the only band I consider really as Black Metal is Bathory.
And this album is great.


Yeah same here actually. Venom and Mercyful fate were musically more on the heavy metal side of things, and celtic frost i think veered towards thrash. Its the soundscapes ans atmospheric noise that made bathory truly a representation of black metal in my view.
Loading...
16.12.2012 - 16:41
megadeath13
Account deleted
This is probably the first Black metal record ever. Great, but the beginning of their epic albums, would come one year later.
Loading...
06.01.2013 - 16:33
Cuca Beludo
Account deleted
Written by Guest on 16.12.2012 at 16:41

This is probably the first Black metal record ever. Great, but the beginning of their epic albums, would come one year later.


Probably not What about venom?
Loading...
07.01.2014 - 18:40
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Only think what i like here was idea abuot Elizabeth bathory and song Women In dark Desire, more idea, lyrics, not music, week shit, totaly overated, venom rip off,
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
08.01.2014 - 07:08
Lit.
Account deleted
I like Venom, but this album absolutely blows. Bathory's viking era shits over this.
Loading...
20.03.2014 - 09:22
Rating: 6
M C Vice
ex-polydactyl
Equimanthorn sounds a lot like Pace Til Death.
----
"Another day, another Doug."
"I'll fight you on one condition. That you lower your nipples."
" 'Tis a lie! Thy backside is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!"
Loading...
25.03.2014 - 08:56
Rating: 6
M C Vice
ex-polydactyl
Written by deadone on 25.03.2014 at 03:40

Written by M C Vice on 20.03.2014 at 09:22

Equimanthorn sounds a lot like Pace Til Death.

Surely you mean it the other way around as Blood Fire Death came out after Under The Sign Of The Black Mark?

Yes, but since I only got this one a week ago, I'll compare it this way around.
----
"Another day, another Doug."
"I'll fight you on one condition. That you lower your nipples."
" 'Tis a lie! Thy backside is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!"
Loading...
30.06.2014 - 05:28
ElMarcado
Account deleted
Best Black Metal album ever
Loading...
26.07.2015 - 18:10
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Guest on 08.01.2014 at 07:08

I like Venom, but this album absolutely blows. Bathory's viking era shits over this.


epic era is much better a sblack era, but that black era inspired many bands, good we have it but I don't like it poorm I prefer epic, be epic needs more talent as be ''raw'' and sing about what bm sings, epic needs more talent to write lyrics, be more open minded
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
11.05.2021 - 09:08
The Galactician

I love what came after, but this is still my favorite. The birth of black.
Loading...
11.05.2021 - 21:55
nikarg

34th anniversary. Still mind-blowing.
Loading...
12.05.2021 - 12:53
Rating: 10
gavdann

Written by Bad English on 07.01.2014 at 18:40

Only think what i like here was idea abuot Elizabeth bathory and song Women In dark Desire, more idea, lyrics, not music, week shit, totaly overated, venom rip off,

What nonsense.

Like others have said, I like what he did after but this is easily the best Bathory album for me.
Loading...
07.07.2021 - 01:50
Rating: 8
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
This album is terrific stuff! Sure the production is out dated now, and the vocals are nothing to shout about, but to Hell with that! "Chariots Of Fire", "13 Candels", "Call From The Grave" and "Enter The Eternal Fire" were seriously hellish songs for back then, and to be fair they still are now!
Loading...
01.09.2021 - 12:57
Rating: 10
BennyMetGer

This is one the best things ive ever heard.
Loading...
07.07.2023 - 17:51
Rating: 10
gavdann

Written by Guest on 07.10.2022 at 17:35

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 07.07.2021 at 01:50

Sure the production is out dated now, and the vocals are nothing to shout about...

That's a very weird thing to say when talking about black metal.

I get what Andy's saying because DIY recording techniques have improved greatly since 1987, but for me this still sounds perfect.

It basically sounds like it's been recorded in a sewer and that's just the way it should be. I effing love this album!
Loading...

Hits total: 16360 | This month: 51