Blood Fire Death  by Bathory

Blood Fire Death by the Swedish band Bathory is considered one of the most influential albums in the history of extreme sound, as it served as the bridge from early black metal to epic viking metal. It was released on October 8, 1988, and was the band's fourth studio album.

The recording took place in February 1988 at Heavenshore Studio in Stockholm, an improvised studio located in a garage. For the first time, session musicians participated, who were credited with the pseudonyms "Kothaar" (bass) and "Vvornth" (drums). All music and lyrics were written by the band's leader, Quorthon. The iconic cover of Blood Fire Death depicts the painting "The Wild Hunt of Odin" (1872) by Norwegian painter Peter Nicolai Arbo. This image established the "Wild Hunt" motif in metal culture.

Blood Fire Death is the manifesto of transition. With the ten-minute title track and the epic A Fine Day To Die, Quorthon proved that metal can be both barbaric and poetic. It is considered the birth of viking metal, inspiring countless bands to explore their history and traditions.