I love the title of this CD and the cover painting is quite glorious as well. This is the first Bathory album that dealt with the Viking theme that would go on in the following albums: Hammerheart, Twilight Of The Gods and Blood On Ice. Blood Fire Death merely touched on the theme while later it would develop as a main theme. It was the last real harsh album before opting for a more cleaner vocal and musical approach (years later on the Requiem album, a Slayerish brand of thrash takes the spotlight). This album still cranked out some pretty powerful tunes. Quite an intense album and even a bit more mature than the previous efforts. An album that would please all the hardcore metalheads out there.

Blood Fire Death opens with 'Odin's Ride Over Nordland' and it is a decent opening piece especially when it's acoustic section sets you up for the battle charge of 'A Fine Day To Die'. A mid-paced trek through battle torn terrain. 'The Golden Walls Of Heaven' crumble against the strains of that song's speed attack. 'Pace Til Death' is more neck breaking full steam ahead speed metal though it has a guitar lick that grates on my nerves. When you hear it you'll know what I mean. 'Holocaust' (hold on to your britches Jew-boy it's not that holocaust) is fucking heavy and I mean fucking heavy. 'For All Those Who Died' is a powerful anti-Christian rant. There is no let down in intensity with 'Dies Irae'. We are talking fast, man. Last but not least , we have the title track. It finishes things off in a slower more epic fashion.

© 1999 malphas