Customer Reviews

Blood Fire Death

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

When one think's of black metal they have one of two thoughts, their hatred for it or their favorite bm band's/album's. For me, Bathory is one of those band's and Blood, Fire Death is one of those album's. This is classic black metal for a few reasons, the music is incredible and it has influenced many bm band's I love today. Quorthon was/is one of the most respected men in the Viking/BM scene. Well, with music of this caliber, why wouldn't he be?


1. Odens Ride Over Nordland: An intro which does what an intro is supposed to do, get you excited for the rest of the album. Filled with a ton of atmosphere. 4/5


2. A Fine Day To Die: CLASSIC black metal song. The intro carries over into this song and then some acoustic guitar which stunned me when I heard it, they were that good. At 1 minute and 44 seconds, the rest of the song kicks in full speed, showing why Quorthon takes no prisoner. 10/5

3. The Golden Walls of Heaven: Following up a track such as "A Fine Day To Die" is by no means an easy task. However, this song does well. Between the great drums and guitar solo that rips, this song is quite good. 4.5/5

4. Pace 'til Death: A fast paced, in your face metal song. One of the shorter tracks. For some reason, i always thought Slayer would have done a great cover of this. 4/5


5. Holocaust: A good song but if I had to pick, I probably listen to this one the least out of the whole album, even though most of the time I find myself listening to this one all the way through. The guitar work is impressive. 4/5

6. For All Those Who Died: What can I say? This could be my favorite old school BM song EVER. This song has classic written all over it, the lyrics are full of passion and they come off as such in Quorthon vocal's. The music is also the best here. Every aspect is perfect. When he screams the lyrics for all those who died, about a minute into it then the drums roll back in, chills go down my spine. Mandatory BM listening. 50/5

7. Dies Irae: Reminds me of a longer version of Pace 'til Death. The guitar work in the last minute or so is one of the best part's in this song. 4/5


8. Blood Fire Death: obviously, he wanted the last full length song, to be one that would not be forgotten anytime soon. This is up there with "For All Those Who Died" and "A Fine Day To Die" as the best song's here. The guitar work is some of the best on here and when those drums REALLY start to get going about 1 minute and 15 seconds into it. You know you're in for a ride, haunting vocals. 10/5

9. Outro: Simply an outro, nothing more.



So, as you may probably be able to asume, I am a big fan of this band and this album. For anybody who thought Dimmu Borgir (NOT trying to insult them) ruled the fiery pits of Black Metal you need to get this.

For all those who cried aloud
But whose tears were never heard
For questioning one almighty father
Of a heavenly distanced world

Beloved thee who submit
The holy writings assured
The golden cross stained with innocent blood
But stand yet a thousand heavenward

Burning naked but smiling
Not full of fear but pride
Knowing death alone could cleanse them
Of the reasons for which they all die

For all those who died

For all those whose great beauty
Stirred their tortures to rage
And for all those whose great ugliness
Did the same

For all those who cried aloud in vain
For mercy on the rack
But whom of dying naked in scorn
Not ashamed

Burning naked but smiling
Not full of fear but pride
Knowing death alone could cleanse them
Of the reasons for which they all died

For all those who died

Pleas for mercy signs of guilt
Naked bodies broken on the wheel
Tears sign the confession
With crusted blood lips sealed

Trial by water

"For all Those Who Died"

- Bathory

R.I.P. Quorthon

This cd contains what is probably the GREATEST Black Metal song ever recorded! And that would be "A Fine Day To Die" following the incredible symphonic intro "Oden's Ride Through Nordland."
Not an exaggeration. It's that good. So all of you who think Cradle Of Filth is all there is to Black Metal (not that they're bad)or think that Mayhem and Darkthrone invented BM, do yourself a favor and pick this up. You'll love yourself for it.

I feel bad leaving a one-star review for an album that really is great, but I have to echo the previous commenter about the poor quality of the Kraze Records album available here on Amazon. The production quality of this cd is extremely low: bad sound, poorly scanned art, no album information, etc. The sound is really inexcusable. I hope no other metal fan buys this album from Kraze. The albums available from Black Mark are the way to go. Bottom line: great album, but this version is the pits.

I am 32 old years now, and I remember I hear this album for the first time when I was in high school... I can tell you I have not stopped listening 'til now. This is the best Black Metal Album so far. The atmosphere is unbelievable from the first intro and the classic anthem A FINE DAY TO DIE, then the records takes you to a journey of speed, really fantastic, a lesson on how to play fast and heavy but with endless variants, special mention to GOLDEN WALLS OF HEAVEN amd PACE TIL DEATH that will make you sweat just by listening... and the journey ends with another masterpiece of melancholic roughness with BLOOD FIRE DEATH that ends as the record begins, so by the time it ends, you start feeling addicted to speed and will push play again and again and again. The album is consistent and intense, hard to pick just one song, definitely you have to listen the journey from the beginning to the end every time you play it.

Listen closely to this album. Hear that? It's simplicity itself.

Yep, nothing complicated or overly technical here, just a damned fine metal album. Quorthon kept the recipe simple. The riffs are basic but memorable. The solos are used sparingly, but effectively. Most of the drumming is simple snare/kick with the odd fill, and played at different tempos. Quorthon will never be an opera singer, but he put everything into the vocals. There is the odd atmospheric bit, like galloping horses and spectral choirs, but overall, it is all pared back to the absolute basics of metal.

You can hear the origins of much of the raw Black Metal sound of Darkthrone and Mayhem here. Perhaps the biggest difference is Bathory's warmer, fuller production. It seems like Motorhead's philosophy of "everything louder than everything else" was put into practice here. There is a noticeable static/white noise edge to a number of the guitar parts. When Quorthon lets rip with a throaty growl, like at the beginning of "For All Those Who Died", you can almost imagine the studio sound engineer pulling his hair out as needles and gauges across the studio console overload and redline.

Moreover, perhaps because the music has been kept so simple, it has an air of majesty. It demands attention. This is not an album you can listen to quietly while reading a book. You have to notice it; you just don't have a choice. It seems like everything here is mighty Nordic imagery and Viking warriors on a quest for Valhalla, war axes raised high in battle, and on a couple of the tracks, like "Holocaust" and the title track this is true. A peek at the lyric sheet though, hints at a vein of humour hidden in plain sight.

Check "Pace Til Death" for example. It is an ode to playing fast and living fast and almost seems like it was lifted from a Motley Crue album. It is impossible to tell from the delivery. In addition, Quorthon has had fun with acrostics on some of the other tracks- take the first letter from each line of the lyrics and you get a message. "The Golden Walls Of Heaven" spells out SATAN repeatedly, while "Dies Irae" gives us the message "CHRIST THE B*STARD SON OF HEAVEN".

Minor silliness aside, 'Blood Fire Death' is an essential album for fans of Black and Death Metal. It is one of those odd releases with a foot firmly in both camps, and can be equally appreciated by fans of both genres.

In 1983, a young man named Quorthon hauled his 12w amplifier, drum machine and four-track down to the basement and recorded the first of what would come to be enigmatic, raw and harsh-sounding, blasting metal. Four years later, he reached his artistic peak with an album that combines acerbic, intense riffing with the epic song structures and neoclassical leanings of the more progressive heavy metal of the day. Melodic composition underlies each song, producing a narrative of sound that eventually states itself in final form, but not after some fireworks and rough, aggressive riffing that is reminiscent of Slayer "Reign in Blood." There are few more lucid expressions of what it is to black metal in music, culture and values than this album. If one had to pick the best of Bathory, it would probably be his work on "The Return" and "Blood, Fire, Death," which balance heaviness against intricacy in a deathgrip.

This album is great, but the sound is crummy! Avoid this version released by "Kraze" records. Seek out the official release by BLACK MARK. There was no booklet and no factory seal, the whole packaging looks like a bootleg to be quite frank. Like I said the sound is "fuzzy"/"muddled" and not in a good kvlt BM way, but in a crummy bootleg sounding way. Hey Amazon, your customers deserve better! AVOID!

This is the album that probably represents all of the imagery that exists in Bathory albums. The satanic, warlike, as well as the Viking themes. The midsection speed songs are probably not needed, but the other songs are brilliant metal songs. Great songs include "Odens ride over Nordland", "A fine day to die", "the golden walls of heaven", "dies irae", and "Blood fire death".

Well, where to start on this monumentus release? I first brought this album in 1993 and I was blown away by it. It starts with the fantastic intro 'Odens Ride Over Nordland' full of atmosphere, choir & horse noises, which really takes me away to another place, and reminds me of ancient times. This then blends effortlessly into 'A Fine Day To die'. You are lulled along by the soothing acoustic guitar and Quorthons crooned delivery, and then suddenly it hits you. Bah dar dadi-dar! You are awake! The massive crunching METAL riff takes over your speakers & the drums start to pound. This track is simply fantastic. Majestic, epic heavy/black metal at its best! By the time it has ended you want it to begin again, but then its on to 'The Golden Walls of Heaven'. This track smashes its way into you from the start and then doesn't let go until the end. The drumming is frantic & the guitars fast & heavy, with wild wailing solos, more death/thrash in overall sound that the previous 'Fine Day...'
Then you are hit with 2 short sharp bursts of controlled aggression of 'Pace Til Death' & 'Holocaust'. Both superbly crafted, with the nice 'ner ner-ner ner ner-ner' whining riff at the start of 'Pace' (i think!) 'For All Those Who Died' starts off the second side of the album (I got this on tape first). A fantastic song, a cross perhaps, of 'Fine Day' & 'Golden Walls', keeping the speed, but sounding epic still. 'Dies Irae' is the next superb track, more than a little reminiscent of 'Golden Walls' perhaps (same fast beginning, and early solo) but none the worse for it. Then, last, but in no way least, the fantastic title track, and best song on the album 'Blood Fire Death'. This track simply oozes class from the acoustic guitar start, to the acoustic guitar/choir ending this really is msic at its very best. And of course it between sound of the best mid-paced pounding Epic Metal you are ever likely to hear in your brief existence! There is simply not a bad moment on this song, soaring guitars, the roared powerful & harsh vocals and wonderful softer middle section. This song almost defies belief it is that good! It never fails to impress me, and always lifts me when I feel a little bit down, you just cannot fail to be moved by the emotion of it. Blood Fire Death, the greatest song ever written. Blood Fire Death, the greatest album ever written. Blood Fire Death the movie... unfortunately not yet. Quorthon, you are a musical genius, your place in Valhalla in ensured! Hail!!!!

This is possibly the most influential black metal albums ever. Even though this album is almost twenty years old, it blows all mallcore crap away! No poseur is safe from the mighty Bathory!

This is the album that heavily influences many styles like Death Metal, Black Metal, Power Metal and Viking Metal. The songs are fast paced and really heavy for the most part, the title track and the intro being the only exceptions. Quality wise, this album sounds terrible; its obviously a vinal transfer (ie. you can hear the needle sometimes; especially during the intro, and its mono sound) but it sort of adds a bit of atmosphere to it and it does not really affect the album. There is an obvious Slayer influence since some of the songs sound similar to Hell Awaits which came out the same year this album did. The high points of the album are The Golden Walls of Heaven, Pace 'Till Death, Holocaust, and the ten and a half minute Viking epic Blood Fire Death. IF YOU'RE A TRUE METAL FAN, BUY THIS GREAT ALBUM!!!!!!