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How To Spot A Fake Yellow Bathory LP (BMLP-666-1)

Bathory- Bathory LP 1984 Black Mark Production BMLP 666-1

The self-titled Bathory LP (Bathory – Bathory LP 1984 Black Mark Production – BMLP 666-1) with the “yellow goat” album cover is considered one of the “holy grail” scores for heavy and black metal record collectors the globe over. But, unfortunately, it is also one of the most counterfeited records out there because of its value. So let’s find out how not to get fooled into buying a fake, or if you don’t have thousands to spend — what a replica is worth.

Why Is This Album So Valuable?

The first album from Bathory is a landmark album from the metal genre. While it sounds recorded in a garage, it became the template for countless black metal bands afterward. The first thousand copies were pressed independently on Quarthon’s Black Mark Productions with a gold-colored goat on the front cover before being picked up by Combat and Under One Flag for broader distribution. The first press with a yellow goat can fetch $5,000 or some for an authentic copy.

FUN FACT: The original goat was supposed to be gold, but due do budget issues, the fledgling Black Mark Productions label had to settle for yellow.

How To Spot A Fake Bathory Album

The iconic artwork for this album is very simple. Therefore there are some very convincing knockoffs available in various markets. Listed below are the main things to be looking for:

  • Examine the dead wax or the “runout matrix” on the album. It is the engraving in the vinyl after the playing surface. The engraving in a real copy should read as follows on Side A (“Darkness”): 840905GP with BMLP 666 1 A PD-CR Pentagram image] [666 image in pyramid shape] and then on Side B will have this etching 840905GP BMLP 666 1 B PD-CR [Cross image]
  • The most prolific bootlegs came out in Europe in the mid-1990s. The most common runouts are 666-1, or you may see some copies with nothing in the dead wax at all.
  • Most of the original pressings came with a printed inner sleeve. However, these can also be faked. Also, some authentic copies may be short an inner sleeve if the original owner lost it.
  • If the album looks “too new” you should look more carefully. Remember that this album came out in 1984 and is 37 years old at this point. You should expect to see some wear.
  • If the color looks “wrong”, it is likely a fake. This is a common problem among cheap bootlegs.

Marketplace Safety

Despite how rare this album is and eBay’s policy to not allow the sale of counterfeit albums, there always seem to be 2-3 copies available for $2200-$2500 at any given time. Most likely, they are not authentic, but here is how you stay safe if you want to spend big money.

  • Contact the seller and inquire about the runout matrix. If they don’t respond or refuse to provide it, you should hard pass. You can also request they provide pictures, though they can be difficult to see.
  • Whether on Discogs or eBay, look for a reputable seller that has many reviews and a lot of items for sale — not someone who could pack up and disappear overnight.
  • If the seller does not accept returns, you should not buy from them.

Album Artwork

As I said, this iconic album artwork is quite basic. Here are some pictures from one of the common European bootleg pressings. Notice how tough it is to tell if it is fake or authentic.

How Much Is A Yellow Goat Bootleg Worth?

If you want to have a yellow goat Bathory, but don’t feel like forking out two grand, it is totally understandable. If you can get past the moral dilemma of not paying the Quarthon estate, you can get replica copies for 50 bucks, sometimes less.

Have A Copy You Want To Sell?

Contact me at the link below, here is the info.

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Bathory – Return of the Darkness and Evil CD 1992 Produced by Quorthon – Black Mark Reissue

BATHORY BLACK METAL BAND QUORTHON
Bathory Thre Return – $19.99
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Everything You Wanted To Know About BATHORY “THE RETURN” 1986, But Were Afraid To Ask

Quorthon from Bathory band photo

How On Guy From Sweeden, Some Lawnmowers, and Poor Production Became A Template For “Real Black Metal” Sound

The Return (of the Darkness and Evil) was the second album by Swedish black metal “band Bathory”. Bathory was not a “band” in the true sense of the word. Bathory was “the Foo-Fighters of black metal”. Quarton played every instrument, including drums. The Return was released on May, 27 1985.

I can remember listening to “The Return”. I was like 13 and still lived with my parents. I was scared I was in the presence of Satan, my Catholic guilt made me hide the album under my bed. The Return later spawned a slew of copycat bands, especially in the Norwegian “true black metal” scene.

Band Photos (Even Though There Was No Real Bnd)

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FROM MY PLAYLIST OF METAL BAND THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BIGGER
THE FULL BATHORY “THE RETURN” LP

“The Return” Album Cover

Tracklist

Side ‘Darkness’

1.”Revelationof Doom (Intro)” -3:27
2.”Total Destruction” – 3:50
3.”Born for Burning” – 5:13
4.”The Wind of Mayhem” – 3:13
5.”Bestial Lust (Bitch)” – 2:41

Side ‘Evil’

1. “Possessed” – 2:42
2. “The Rite of Darkness” – 2:05
3. “Reap of Evil” – 3:28
4.”Son of the Damned” – 2:48
“Sadist (Tormentor)” – 3:00
5.”The Return of the Darkness and Evil” -3:49
5. “Outro” -0:25

quarchon from Bathory
Quarton from Bathory

Art Work and Inner Sleeve

Who Was Actually In The Bathory Band

Many people don’t this, but Bathory was a one-man band. Hence, the lack of live performances over the years. For some odd reason, other musicians credited even though Quarton himself, played guitar, bass, drums and did vocals. You listen to that album it is quite apparent, as you can hear the tempo-shifting in the drums.

  • Quorthon (Thomas Börje Forsberg) – guitars, vocals, additional bass guitar, production, recording, mixing, album cover design
  • Andreas Johansson – bass ??
  • Stefan Larsson – drums ??

The Bathory Production Sound

This is the style of raw production was copied by Bands like Darkthrone who wanted that “scary” lo-fi the first 2 Bathory albums. Quarton would later admit that this was not by design. He said the reason the album sounded that was is because of “lawnmowers passing the studio and a poor budget”.

The Death Of Quarton

Quarton died of a heart attack on June 7th 2004 in Stockholm, Sweden. Although never confirmed, drug use was suspected to be a contributing factor. He was 39 years old.

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Bathory Under The Sign Of The Black Mark LP 1987

Quorthon from Bathory

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. (Source: Wikipedia)

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VOTED A BLACK METAL CLASSIC

Tracklist:

  1. 00:00 Nocternal Obeisance
  2. 01:27 Massacre
  3. 04:05 Woman of Dark Desires
  4. 08:09 Call From The Grave
  5. 13:04 Equimanthorn
  6. 16:46 Enter The Eternal Fire
  7. 23:45 Chariots of Fire
  8. 26:29 13 Candles
  9. 31:44 Of Doom…
  10. 35:34 Outro

UNDER THE SIGN OF A BLACK MARK ALBUM ART