The Lord of Darkness and Evil Returns (The Return - Bathory)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	The Return - Bathory
Date:	17/02/08 (14 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: More classic early black metal.

Disadvantages: A little too similar to the first album, and in places not as good.

Bathory's second album is much the same as the first, only ever so slightly more refined. The forefather of black metal, Bathory's style continues in the vein of an evil Motörhead, with grisly guitar riffs and relentlessly crashing drums and cymbals echoing around whichever tomb or recording studio Quorthon hired for this despicable spectacle. Quorthon's snarled, guttural vocals are still as effective even in the wake of the hordes of imitators, and perhaps the most singularly vile aspect of this first-wave black metal is how incessantly catchy it is.

While later bands Mayhem and Emperor arguably committed greater sin when killing people in woods and stabbing each other in the back in a metaphorical as well as literal sense, at least their depraved music was confined to a select audience of impressionable youths. Here, Bathory continue to make accessible evil that, while not exactly being Top 40 material, could cause even the most ardent Calvinist to unconsciously tap his foot along to the catchy beat.

A little longer than the debut release, 'The Return......' also has greater artistic aspirations, with its partitioned songs and amusingly elaborate album title, which Quorthon admits was more or less a gimmick to encourage curious onlookers to turn the album over for reasons of closure. The music is still the same as that of the first album though, and while the most aggressive moments don't quite hold up to the bar already established by 'Armageddon,' and nothing is quite as incessantly addictive as 'Reaper,' it's more consistent on the whole. Most songs come in at just under three minutes, and some use this short allotted time to a surprisingly creative extent, particularly 'Bestial Lust' with its cackling vocals and squealing guitar solo, and the more atmospheric backing lead guitars of 'Possessed' that really show off Quorthon's speed, but the longer songs tend to follow a steadier pace accordingly.

'Revelation of Doom' is the typical Bathory ominous intro, vaguer than the wind-swept churchyard of its predecessor in 'Storm of Damnation' but similarly effective at establishing the evil mood before the blaring opening chords of 'Total Destruction' rear their delightfully ugly heads, and the remainder of this seven minute incantation consists of consistently changing guitar riffs and a mess of cymbals, all captured in the nostalgic fuzz of the low production values that give these albums much of their charm. A similar cacophony is built up throughout the similarly ambitious 'The Rite of Darkness / Reap of Evil,' while the closing title song is less vicious and more atmospheric, but still disturbing enough even before the murdered girl's scream tears through the speakers.

1. Revelation of Doom / Total Destruction
2. Born for Burning
3. The Wind of Mayhem
4. Bestial Lust
5. Possessed
6. The Rite of Darkness / Reap of Evil
7. Son of the Damned
8. Sadist (Tormentor)
9. The Return of the Darkness and Evil
10. Outro

Summary: Bathory's second album (1985).