Bathory
"Jubileum Volume 2"
© Black Mark
December 25 - 31, 2022
Year of Release: 1993
Rating:
The Return Of
The Darkness And Evil
Burnin' Leather
One Rode To Asa Bay
The Golden Walls Of Heaven
Call From The Grave
Die In Fire
Shores In Flames
Possessed
Raise The Dead
Total Destruction
Bond Of Blood
Twilight Of The Gods
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From Goodwill Collection - Another find from the Goodwill used CDs section...
And, we continue through the harder Rock style, as we did with last week's album, by
Seismic Anamoly (Ramifications). This week, we take a look at the Swedish hard rock band, Bathory. Travelling through the darker corners of hard
rock, Bathory's music takes us darker lyrics and themes. Heavy Metal Rock, Hard Rock, Bathory's music is definitely for the fans of these genres. Jubileum
Volume 2 is the second of three greatest hits compilations from this band, as they have recorded 12 studio albums, from 1984 to 2003. Jubileum Volume 2
chronicles the years 1984 to 1991. 12 tracks from their first six albums, this is Hard Rock Gloom & Doom, at its finest. [Definition of Jublieum: "A celebration
of a special anniversary (especially the 25, 50th or 60th) of some event, eg the succession of a king or queen."; Bathory was formed in 1983, and the Jublieum Volume
2 compilation was released in 1993 - the band's 10th anniversary together.] However they stopped performing live early on and never toured. Frontman, founder and
main songwriter Tomas "Quorthon" Forsberg was the sole constant member and at times responsible for all instruments. Bathory ended when Forsberg died from heart
failure at the age of 38 in 2004.
Bathory is from Vallingby, Sweden; a "black metal band" (meaning much darker, both lyrically and musically) formed in 1983. The band was named after Elizabeth
Bathory, a Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer. Her span of crimes were from the years 1590 to 1610. Bathory was also known as a "Viking metal band."
And, being from Sweden, and myself being Danish, this obviously has sparked my interest.
The beginning drumming of "The Return Of The Darkness And Evil" tends to sounds like Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher," but it turns into it's hard
rock/metal vibes. Metallica'ish. More like speed metal has the next track, "Burnin' Leather," and it's brash sounding "singing." (ok, it's really
screaming.) "One Rode To Asa Bay" slows down the musical space, as it has the atmosphere of music for a western soundtrack. Or maybe their equivalence
to Metallica's "Unforgiven" ? It's not as loud and brashing as the first two tracks. Yet, "One Rode To Asa Bay" works well, in winding things
down, musically. And, it is quite an impressive tune. Next, is "The Golden Walls Of Heaven," as it returns to its basic hard rock/metal style.
"Call From The Grave" proves to be a very, very good Rock track. It's not as brash as the others heard already, yet it does have the darker sound of
rock that they are famous for. This song compares to Black Sabbath, rather than Metallica. Another impressive tune. "Die In Fire" returns to the speed
metal, fast-driving rock. "Shores In Flames" is another good track, as it is another soft-sounding song, with gentler sounding vocals. Another Metallica
"Unforgiven" ? I would say so. It does kick into its own rock vibe, just as "Unforgiven" did. Another comparison of this song, is that of Alice
Cooper, from his later years, in his harder rock phase.
"Possessed" is LOUD BRASH ROCK, with its brash-and-harsh-souding vocals, just as in previous songs. Again, it's the gloom and doom of rock. The
hypnotizing "Raise The Dead" truly is hard rock metal to the core. "Total Destruction" is even more HEAVIER, much heavier, and possessed, evil sound.
And yes, it slowly builds into another great instrumental Rock track, drums and all. It even has some background vocalization, or is it all guitar'd effects?
It does kick into high gear, as expected. "Kick In The Nuts" returns to the hard rock instrumental, as heard similar to the first two tracks, "Broken
Dreams" and "Julie's Tune." (With that song's track title, it has to be another good hard rocking instrumental!) "You Don't Know How" sounds
more of a Rock-styled track, more on the Rock side, than the "heavy metal" heard previously throughout this album. It's energetic, and could be a theme song for
someone's opening or closing show. Ending the album is another impressive tune, "My Love For You." It's another powerful, loud, energetic hard rock track.
"Bond Of Blood" has its dark sound, yet it is another good and impressive sounding track, in this particular nature. Ending the album, is "Twilight Of
The Gods." another good hard rock track. It has a great sound for a battle in a movie. It also has a Progressive Rock sound, as heard from Emerson,
Lake & Palmer. A near-close 14 minute track, it is it's own "Rock Opera."
Bathory's Jubileum Volume 2 defines the darker corners of hard rock and metal, with its gloom and doom themes. It's not for everyone, of course.
Yet, it's looking (and hearing) another band that can define hard rock and metal in a much heavier and darker atmosphere. I'm sure there are fans of this kind
of music that will enjoy it, as much as us old folks who enjoy the basic Rock & Roll. Fans of such groups as (the early) Metallica, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper
(all mentioned earlier) will spark their interest. Bathory's Jubileum Volume 2 highlight songs: "The Return Of The Darkness And Evil," "One Rode To
Asa Bay", "Call From The Grave," "Shores In Flames," "Bond Of Blood," "Twilight Of The Gods." These highlighted songs does define Bathory as a very good hard
rock/metal band. These songs, and its sound, does the trick for me. Their Jubileum Volume 1 will be reviewed at a later date.
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