Under The Sign Of The Black Mark album cover

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Bathory ‎– Under The Sign Of The Black Mark

Genre:
Rock
Style:
Black Metal
Year:
1987
Notes:
Recorded in September 1986 and released on 11 May 1987.

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 90s. In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked it as 81st on their list of 'The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.

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

"Woman of Dark Desires" is a tribute to the band's namesake, Elizabeth Báthory 1560-1640.

"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.

"Equimanthorn" makes references to Hell as well as to Norse mythology, including Odin's "eight-legged black stallion" Sleipnir.

"Of Doom......" - dedicated to You!

"Outro" introduced on 2003 remastered edition.

Tracklist

Side Darkness
Nocternal Obeisance
Massacre
Woman Of Dark Desires
Call From The Grave
Equimanthorn
Side Evil
Enter The Eternal Fire
Chariots Of Fire
13 Candles
Of Doom......

Credits (3)

Versions (63)

Cat# Artist Title (Format) Label Cat# Country Year
FLAG 11 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album) Under One Flag FLAG 11 UK 1987 Sell This Version
FLAG 11 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, W/Lbl) Under One Flag FLAG 11 UK 1987 Sell This Version
T FLAG 11 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album) Under One Flag T FLAG 11 UK 1987 Sell This Version
C2370 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album) Under One Flag C2370 France 1987 Sell This Version
NRC33 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album) New Renaissance Records NRC33 US 1987 Sell This Version
NRR-33 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album) New Renaissance Records NRR-33 US 1987 Sell This Version
2370 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album) N.E.W Musidisc 2370 France 1987 Sell This Version
FLAG 11 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, Ast) Under One Flag FLAG 11 UK 1987 Sell This Version
NRR-33 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, TP) New Renaissance Records NRR-33 US 1987 Sell This Version
2370 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, TP) N.E.W Musidisc 2370 France 1987 Sell This Version
BMCT 666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE) Black Mark Production BMCT 666-3 Germany 1990 Sell This Version
OR-028 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE, Unofficial) Orion (4) OR-028 Poland 1990 Sell This Version
BMCD 666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM) Black Mark Production BMCD 666-3 Germany 1991 Sell This Version
MG 0633 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE, Unofficial) MG Records (2) MG 0633 Poland 1991 Sell This Version
989 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE, Unofficial) Takt Music 989 Poland 1991 Sell This Version
MG 0633 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE, Unofficial) MG Records (2) MG 0633 Poland 1991 Sell This Version
MG 0633 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE, Unofficial) MG Records (2) MG 0633 Poland 1991 Sell This Version
989 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE, Unofficial) Takt Music 989 Poland 1991 Sell This Version
BMCD 666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM) Black Mark Production BMCD 666-3 Germany 1993 Sell This Version
KPL-3055 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, RE) King Record KPL-3055 South Korea 1993 Sell This Version
666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE, Dol) Morbid Noizz Productions 666-3 Poland 1994 Sell This Version
HEL: 022 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, RE) Hellion Records HEL: 022 Brazil 1995 Sell This Version
WBM 200.141 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE) Wizard (4) WBM 200.141 Bulgaria 1997 Sell This Version
none Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE, Unofficial) Global Music (4) none Russia 1997 Sell This Version
AI-98-125 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, Unofficial) Audi AI-98-125 Russia 1998 Sell This Version
666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE) Morbid Noizz Productions 666-3 Poland 1999 Sell This Version
BMCD666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE) Black Mark Production BMCD666-3 Germany 2003 Sell This Version
BMCD666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM, RP) Black Mark Production BMCD666-3 Europe 2003 Sell This Version
BMLP666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, RE) Black Mark Production BMLP666-3 Sweden 2003 Sell This Version
BMLP666-3, BMLP 666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, RE, Cle) Black Mark Production, Black Mark Production BMLP666-3, BMLP 666-3 Sweden 2003 Sell This Version
BMLP666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, RE, Red) Black Mark Production BMLP666-3 Sweden 2003 Sell This Version
IROND CD 04-715 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM) Irond IROND CD 04-715 Russia 2004 Sell This Version
BMDP666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, Ltd, Pic, RE) Black Mark Production BMDP666-3 Sweden 2007 Sell This Version
BMDP666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Ltd, Pic, RE) Black Mark Production BMDP666-3 Sweden 2007 Sell This Version
BMCD-6663OBI Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM) Disk Union BMCD-6663OBI Japan 2009 Sell This Version
BMCD666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, RP) Black Mark Production BMCD666-3 Europe 2009 Sell This Version
BMCD666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM, RP) Black Mark Production BMCD666-3 Europe 2010 Sell This Version
BMLP666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, Ltd, RE, Blu) Black Mark Production BMLP666-3 Sweden 2010 Sell This Version
BMLP6663 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, Ltd, RE, RM, RP, Gol) Black Mark Production BMLP6663 Sweden 2012 Sell This Version
BMPD666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, Ltd, Pic, RE) Black Mark Production BMPD666-3 Sweden 2014 Sell This Version
BMLP666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, RE, RP) Black Mark Production BMLP666-3 Sweden 2014 Sell This Version
BMCD666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE) Black Mark Production BMCD666-3 Europe 2018 Sell This Version
CFM-042 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE, Unofficial) Cryptic Fan Musick CFM-042 Canada 2018 Sell This Version
BMDP666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, Pic, RE) Black Mark Production BMDP666-3 Germany 2018 Sell This Version
FLAG 11 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, Unofficial) Under One Flag (2) FLAG 11 2019 Sell This Version
BMCD666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, Unofficial) Black Mark Production BMCD666-3 Russia 2019 Sell This Version
none Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE, Unofficial) Not On Label (Bathory) none Thailand 2019 Sell This Version
none Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE, Unofficial) Not On Label (Bathory) none 2020 Sell This Version
BMLP-666-III Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, RE, Unofficial) Black Mark Production (2) BMLP-666-III Asia 2020 Sell This Version
BMLP-666-III Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, RE, Unofficial, Gol) Black Mark Production (2) BMLP-666-III Asia 2020 Sell This Version
none Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(10xFile, MP3, Album, RE) Black Mark Production none Unknown
BMCD666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM) Black Mark Production BMCD666-3 Europe Unknown Sell This Version
BMCD666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM) Black Mark Production BMCD666-3 Germany Unknown Sell This Version
BMCD 666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM) Black Mark Production BMCD 666-3 Germany Unknown Sell This Version
BMCD666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM) Black Mark Production BMCD666-3 Germany Unknown Sell This Version
BMCD 666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM, RP) Black Mark Production BMCD 666-3 Germany Unknown Sell This Version
BMCD666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM, RP) Black Mark Production BMCD666-3 UK Unknown Sell This Version
BMCD666-3, BMCD 666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, RP) Black Mark Production, Black Mark Production BMCD666-3, BMCD 666-3 Sweden Unknown Sell This Version
BMCD666-3 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(CD, Album, RE, Unofficial) Black Mark Production BMCD666-3 Russia Unknown Sell This Version
OR-046 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE, Unofficial) Orion (4) OR-046 Poland Unknown Sell This Version
MG 0633 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE, Unofficial) MG Records (2) MG 0633 Poland Unknown Sell This Version
686 Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(Cass, Album, RE, Unofficial) Takt Music 686 Poland Unknown Sell This Version
none Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ‎(LP, Album, Ltd, Num, Pic, RE, Unofficial) Bathory Records none Unknown Sell This Version

Recommendations

Reviews Show All 24 Reviews

Add Review

hal.fowkes

hal.fowkes

January 14, 2021
referencing Under The Sign Of The Black Mark, LP, Album, RE, RP, BMLP666-3
Does anyone else have a mispelling for track one as "Nocternal Obeisance" as well? I know this was a mispress with a previous version but my copy matches this barcode
Reply Notify me Helpful
xblackthorn

xblackthorn

November 30, 2020
referencing Under The Sign Of The Black Mark, LP, Album, NRR-33
I have the test pressing of this version with an 8x10 autograph of Quorthon. How rare is it? It comes with a PR flyer...see my profile picture.
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shadow9911

shadow9911

April 22, 2020
referencing Under The Sign Of The Black Mark, LP, Album, FLAG 11

This vinyl sounds way better than any release of this album.
Reply  See 1 reply Notify me 1 Helpful
Thellius

Thellius

March 31, 2020
referencing Under The Sign Of The Black Mark, LP, Album, RE, RP, BMLP666-3
As taedium mentioned below, this is a superb repressing for those of us who are reluctant to sell an arm or leg for an original copy of this masterpiece album. The production on this one, while intentionally raw and lo-fi of course, is a full notch above "The Return..." with the bass guitar sounding far heavier and muddier, drums blasting through the speaker like a battering ram, and the guitars loud and razor sharp. Everything on this outing sounds thicker, somehow, and more akin to a raging blizzard on tracks like "Massacre" and "Equimanthorn". Highly recommend this version for any fans of Bathory.
Reply Notify me 2 Helpful
SHARV

SHARV

November 2, 2019
referencing Under The Sign Of The Black Mark, LP, Album, RE, KPL-3055
Nice piece to own if you are a Bathory fan as the rear sleeve design is very different than the regular pressings
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taedium

taedium

October 15, 2019
edited about 1 year ago
referencing Under The Sign Of The Black Mark, LP, Album, RE, RP, BMLP666-3
If, like me, you draw the line at 60 euro for an original copy of this album in reasonable condition (and I'm not debating the value of said article) then do not hesitate to buy this! I've been going back and forth for years, wondering whether to risk this or pay up for an 80's edition...thus I've never owned a vinyl copy. I do have a vinyl rip (mp3) of Under One Flag, and this is not worlds away from that, sonically. If you're ok with the darker shades on the front sleeve, a scaled back insert - this actually sounds amazing. Given all of the negativity surrounding these reissues, I'm blown away with how good this is.
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blood_fire_death_666

blood_fire_death_666

October 2, 2019
referencing Under The Sign Of The Black Mark, LP, Album, TP, NRR-33

I will pay a very good price for a copy of this record.
Send me a message if you wold considering selling
Reply Notify me Helpful
blood_fire_death_666

blood_fire_death_666

October 2, 2019
referencing Under The Sign Of The Black Mark , LP, Album, W/Lbl, FLAG 11

the same - I will pay a very good price for a copy of this record.
Send me a message if you wold considering selling
Reply Notify me Helpful
Marco_Dismemberizer

Marco_Dismemberizer

September 25, 2019
referencing Under The Sign Of The Black Mark, CD, Album, RE, Unofficial, FLAG 11

Masterpiece Album released in the absolute best Version ever! Top Quality and Sound! Get it before its too late!
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Unmakable

Unmakable

July 11, 2019
referencing Under The Sign Of The Black Mark, CD, Album, RE, Unofficial, FLAG 11
This is the version to get if you want this album on CD. It's unofficial, so you can't buy it here, but it's well worth hunting down. It sounds just like the original vinyl release, and is all round well done. Ditch those terrible sounding remastered CDs and pick this up along with the self titled and The Return....... You won't regret it.
Reply Notify me 3 Helpful