Balthory

Bathory was an extreme metal band formed in Vällingby in 1983 and named after the infamous Hungarian countess, Elizabeth Báthory. The band's frontman and main songwriter wasQuorthon (Tomas Forsberg). Bathory's first four albums are considered to be "the blueprint for Scandinavian black metal".[4] The band departed from this style on their fifth album,Hammerheart (1990), which is often cited as the first Viking metal album. Bathory continued in the Viking metal style throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, although the band returned to thrash metal with the albums Requiem (1994) and Octagon (1995). Bathory ended when Quorthon died from heart failure in 2004. Influenced by Kiss.
The band's lyrics focused on 'dark' topics and included anti-Christian and 'Satanic' references.[10] These traits came to define black metal[6]
Quorthon said that the band's early work was influenced primarily by Black Sabbath, Motörhead, and G. B. H. Bathory's early sound also have always been associated with Slayer but Quorthon denied to be influenced by them.[14]
Allmusic called them the "first true example" of Viking metal. Influenced by Manowar. Member Quorthon was found dead in 2004. This resulted in a tribute album to Balthory composed by several Viking metal bands.
== Genres ==
Viking Metal
Black Metal
Category:Viking Metal
Category:Black Metal
Category:Hard Rock
Category:Eighties