Bathory are legendary within the music scene for not only being part of then Black Metal scene but also kicking off and virtually inventing Viking Metal as we know it.
In our ‘classic review’ we come to Nordland I’ an epically scaled album, full of tunes to set the heart on fire!
Ten tunes, some over eight minutes long to not just be music, but to draw the listener into a world, a masterfully created world. The production is of its time, but goddamn it; it works.
The guitars, with no crystal clear edge like you hear in modern metal, so fuzzy in their distortion overlaid with synths that soar, bass struggling through, drums, galloping! vocals layered, hidden, for the listener to pick out, discern, for themselves.
Soaring tales of dragons and valhalla allow this music to paint a world.
It’s got one of the only intro tracks on an album worth your time (Prelude) and goes into the epic scope that is ‘Nordland’, that though grand in scale, never feels bloated or it’s welcome outstayed.
For someone like myself that revels in nature based BM this is nothing short of a gem, possibly inspiring those that continue the tradition (Agalloch, Gallowbraid).
The fuzziness at oftentimes gives the guitars a crushing element, Dragon breath having neo-Pantera-esque riffage in them, making it a head banging classic, nestled in between these alternations of stunning soaring vocals and Black Metal (Winterblot) comes ‘Ring of Gold’ the beautiful, haunting acoustic tune that I could listen on repeat over and over again. The Black Metal of the tunes inspires and counjours, rather than modern day teenagers in face paint with goats and pigs blood on stage, Lord of the Rings and of mighty epic battles.
If you’re going to own the record, do just that, vinyl is the way forward with this particular album, play Nordland I, grab your favourite mead and forget all that ‘trv and br00tal’ BM shit, just lose yourself in the riffage.
10/10
-J.
IFuckingLoveHeavyMetal.com 