Bathory "Under the Sign of the Black Mark"

Under the Sign of the Black Mark is the third studio album by Swedish extreme metal band Bathory. It was recorded in September 1986 and released on 11 May 1987 through New Renaissance Records and Under One Flag. It was a key album in the development of the black metal genre, and greatly influenced the Norwegian black metal scene that emerged in the early 1990s.

The painting on the cover was by Gunnar Silins, from a painting in the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm. The model used was Leif Ehrnborg, a then-top class Swedish bodybuilder.

The song “Woman of Dark Desires” is a tribute to the band’s namesake, Elizabeth Báthory. “Enter the Eternal Fire” was the band’s first epic, reaching nearly seven minutes in length, with lyrics referring to a deal with the Devil. The song “Equimanthorn” makes references to Hell as well as to Norse mythology, including Odin’s “eight-legged black stallion” Sleipnir.

On the album’s impact, Daniel Ekeroth, author of the book Swedish Death Metal, commented in an interview with Decibel magazine in 2012: “Even by Bathory’s standards, this was a masterpiece, on par with both Bonded by Blood and Reign in Blood. The songs were perfected, and the sound more atmospheric and uncanny than before. Bathory were now the most extreme and one of the very best metal bands out there.” The song “Call from the Grave” was featured in 2009 game Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned

Released with a printed inner sleeve. 

Track A1 is titled "Nocternal Obeisance (Intro)" on the center label. ('Nocturnal' consistently misspelled 'Nocternal').

Some promo copies were distributed with a gold stamp on the cover that says: "For promotion only - Not for sale - CBS Records, Sweden" - which is the only difference to the retail copies. 

Leif Ehrnborg, a then-top class Swedish bodybuilder, posed for the cover of this album, at the Swedish National Opera. 

"Equimanthorn" was included on the Gummo soundtrack.

"Call from the Grave" was used in Grand Theft Auto IV: Lost and Damned.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Quorthon.

Side 'Darkness'

1. "Nocternal Obeisance" 1:28
2. "Massacre" 2:38
3. "Woman of Dark Desires" 4:06
4. "Call from the Grave" 4:53
5. "Equimanthorn" 3:41

Side 'Evil'

1. "Enter the Eternal Fire" 6:57
2. "Chariots of Fire" 2:46
3. "13 Candles" 5:17
4. "Of Doom......" 3:45
5. "Outro" 0:25

Total length: 35:56

Outro track introduced on 2003 remastered edition.

The inner edge of the vinyl itself (around the sticker on the center) has a laser inscription in bold letters that says HAIL SATAN on both sides of the record.

Recording information:

Recorded at Heavenshore Studio, Stockholm, Sweden in September 1986.

Mixed at Heavenshore Studio, Stockholm, Sweden.