Episode 607 is BATHORY. A pioneer of Scandinavian black metal and Viking metal, this Swedish outfit’s first four albums laid the groundwork for these genres. However, the recording quality was poor, and it’s like listening to them through several thick curtains. But I sense that this audio inscrutability, combined with the frontman’s anonymity and the Satan-heavy lyrics, succeeded in giving the band the appeal of mystery. The quality did improve, and they moved into a thrash phase before coming back to Viking. I do like understanding bands cited as influences by others. But as a listening experience, I found it wanting.

Favorite album: Blood Fire Death

Favorite song: A Fine Day to Die

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: Blood Fire Death is the best of their “black” era, but you can also seek out Requiem which has some good thrash

(January 2023) Episode 470 is ULTHA, a black metal group from Germany. If Hell had a house band, it might sound like Ultha. It’s a double-pedal propelled wall of dark sound. There are vocals in there somewhere but they are mixed so far down they resemble distant screams of a person being tortured in a dungeon. Admittedly this music has niche appeal, and it’s not my favorite subgenre of metal. But I do find myself drawn to audacity of music at the extremes (fast, slow, loud, minimal, chaotic, experimental). 

Favorite album: All That Has Never Been True

Favorite song: The Seventh Sorrow

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: not for a general audience but the curious should check it out