Review by Jeger on November 23, 2025.

The mighty Bathory! There has been no other project to have been so revered by the Black Metal community as Quorthon and his precious brainchild. Quorthon was a pioneer of both Black and Viking Metals. Many consider Bathory's self-titled debut to be the very first Black Metal record, although I would say that it is Bathory's third album, "Under The Sign Of The Black Mark", that has best served as the blueprint for BM as we know it today. There would be no Greek scene whatsoever if not for Bathory! The project's influence stretches far and wide upon every National Black Metal scene, from Sweden to Brazil and one can only imagine what kind of music Quorthon would be creating today had he not passed. I'm sure we'd have a few more sub-genres in the books than what we have now… An eccentric and a true Artist was He - Black Metal's opener of the first seal.

When you think "Under The Sign Of The Black Mark", so too shall you think of Darkthrone's "A Blaze in the Northern Sky", Mayhem's "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" and Rotting Christ's "Thy Mighty Contract". An album that was way ahead of its time and yet all too classic to boot. There was a time when Black Metal was but a spark upon the kindling of Extreme Metal's vast fire pit. Albums like this one helped to ignite the initial blaze along with the collective works of other bands such as Celtic Frost, Venom and Mercyful Fate. "Under the Sign of the Black Mark" was released in May of '87 via Under One Flag.

It's in everything from its stripped-down production quality, blast rhythms and just the tone of the guitar. It all screams Black Metal. From the baser elements of the vulgar, "Massacre", as it plays out to a steady, unrelenting onslaught of blasts and simple yet high energy riffs, to "Equimanthorn" with its Enthroned - "Towards the Skullthrone of Satan"-foreshadowing mayhem, all the way through to the maniacal "Of Doom……" and the brief but impactful "The Winds of Mayhem" (the cut that inspired Mayhem to take their name), "Under The Sign Of The Black Mark" is juicy, medium rare Black Metal… Even the cover art is like an old Sinbad movie (not the comedian…). Classicism meets ingenuity here under the Black Mark with Bathory and their album that inspired every Black Metal band from Immortal to Varathron.

Bands like Watain have homaged Bathory with epic songs like "They Rode On", compilations have been made and to say that Bathory gets their due cred would be an understatement. Bathory would take one step away from BM and one towards Viking Metal with its following album, "Blood Fire Death", and would proceed down that path until the end; the march subsequently serving as inspiration for bands like Amon Amarth and Unleashed.

"Under The Sign Of The Black Mark" - BM's catalyst to future greatness - the harbinger, the oracle… Just casually setting the foundation for an entire genre of music was Quorthon during this particular era. An organic innovator who just naturally exceeded the status-quo with everything he did. Nonchalantly inspiring Hordes the world over, as he touched the lives of everyone he met with not only his wicked poses for photos but also with his sparkling personality. Gone WAY too soon. It tickles me to hear how this album has influenced so many bands. You can literally pick 'em out as you listen: shades of the aforementioned Immortal, Mayhem, Darkthrone, Rotting Christ and Varathron. From BM to VM and then the grave - Quorthon - may your music never be forgotten… Hail!

Rating: 10 out of 10