Bathory- Nordland I

Band Homeland: Sweden

Band Homepage: None Found (but check out http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palladium/6646/twilight.htm which is an excellent fan page)

Label Homepage: http://www.blackmark.net/main.asp

Released late in 2002, Nordland I is a mighty offering from one of the more amazing Metal bands to ever come along. Bathory has seen it all, and is credited with many “firsts”. Particularly Viking Metal, which is the lifeblood of this album, and I fully expect this to be a milestone for the genre that will be referred to for all time to come.

Consisting of 10 songs with a total spin time of just less than 1 hour, “Nordland I” tells an epic saga of the Northlands, and specifically of two brothers who follow their path from everyday life to the battlefield. There is more to it, but I’ll let you read along with the lyrics and find the triumphs and tragedy for yourself. Lyrically, this album just crushes me. It creates landscapes of sheer beauty, battlefields of abject horror, and glory beyond that of this world.

Musically, Bathory once again proves to be the epitome of Metal. Just about everything you could want is represented here. From sweeping epic sojourns to blasting and attacking brutality, from ancient instruments to neo-classical arrangements, Bathory covers the entire spectrum of that which makes Bathory, Bathory.

Overall, I find the entire album to be an incredible journey, both musically and emotionally. I won’t call it a Black Metal album per se; I’ll just call it really good.

Track Listing

Prelude
Nordland
Vinterblot
Dragons Breath
Ring Of Gold
Foreverdark Woods
Broken Sword
Great Hall Awaits A Fallen Brother
Mother Earth Father Thunder
Heimfard