We were so proud holding that SCANDINAVIAN METAL ATTACK compilation album in our hands first time. We knew none of our friends in bands had ever even been close to record anything properly. There was this other band we knew somewhat that got a record contract around that time, and went on to record an album later. But all the other musicians and bands we knew or would meet up at parties or in clubs, were still mumbling about finding the right style some day, maybe getting a deal next week or boasting about getting to play the Budokan Hall any day now.
We remembered the many times people had come down our rehearsal place and basically told us what a load of crap and utter noise we were playing, and that we'd never get a contract or a gig. It's true we sucked as musicians, and nothing of what I had written up to that point was truly original but basically Motörhead styled material bordering to traditional Oi-punk.
And although we hadn't exactly made up a plan or were doing all the right things you were suppose to do in order to get somewhere, or were anyway near going anywhere anyway, those two tracks on that compilation album made quite a difference when we summarized BATHORY's first year of existence.
We couldn't have cared less though if people that heard us thought we actually sucked. And it mattered little that we didn't take the band too seriously at that point. We had a ball. We were the guy's with no ambitions and who didn't spend every evening at home rehearsing our instruments for hours. We were just meeting up two or three times a week playing for our own good fun, sometimes not even picking our instruments up but being quite happy to just kick back in the sofa all evening long, just talking and making jokes. And now we were the one's who could say that we were a recording band.
Bathory.nu History Archive
Tyfon Grammofon (the label which later formed Black Mark) released the five band compilation LP, Scandinavian Metal Attack, on this day in 1984. Best known as the first appearance of BATHORY on record!
Below is Bob Muldowray's review in issue 26 (July 1984) of Kick Ass. Possibly the first appearance of BATHORY in print:
One of the two heavy metal compilation albums that I'm reviewing in this issue, this one is definitely the better of the two. Containing five HM bands, two songs each, this disc has only one weak band, only two weaks numbers, and the rest ranges from quite heavy to solid HM rock 'n' roll.
Choosing the top group on this album is no problem, as Bathory's two tracks demonstrate a very heavy sound, killer vocals, and a desire to do some damage. Best described as "musical Venom", the vocals are rather coarse with an echo effect and the music is fast and heavy. "Sacrifice" and "The Return Of The Darkness and Evil" are both fast, powerful heavy metal songs.
Coming in second place would probably be Oz, with two songs from their fine "Fire In The Brain" LP, the title track (good up-tempo metal rocker, with a great guitar solo) and "Searchlights" (a fast metal number). The other above-average band is Trash, whose two entries ("Watch Out" and "No More Rock Tonight") are both good up-tempo metal rockers with Klaus Meine-type vocals.
Spitfire deiveres two adequete heavy metal numbers, "Eyes Of The Storm" and "Cray Living", while Zero Nine proves to be the only lame band on the album, with "Under The Sun" and "Walk Away".
If you're into HM compilation albums, looking for some of tomorrow's top metal bands, "Scandinavian Metal" is a winner.