The Return of the Darkness and Evil

The Return...... is the second album by Bathory. It was released in May 1985 and had an influence on the then-emerging death metal and black metal genres.

Title

Quorthon explained the album title as such:

We wanted people to just read out "The Return..." – as in a second album or a follow-up – and then flip the album over to look for a tracking list. Not finding one, what they got was this apocalyptic poem with the song titles woven into it. Only after listening through the album to the end would you get the full title of the album; The Return of the Darkness and Evil.

The apocalyptic poem

When the sacred oath is broken

and the lie is spoken out loud
when the angel is POSSESSED
and the virgin is stolen her pride

When the flame of love and pureness
have turned to BESTIAL LUST
when the walls of gold in heaven
close in and turn to dust

When THE WIND OF MAYHEM whispers
through the vale of tears and death
when the golden river is empty
and the SADIST tear the angels' flesh

When the SON OF THE DAMNED strides the earth
and THE RITE OF DARKNESS is done
when the REVELATION OF DOOM comes closer
and the battle just begun

When the beauty is BORN FOR BURNING
and the TOTAL DESTRUCTION draws near
when the disciples under the sign of the black mark gathers
and the REAP OF EVIL is here

Then the clouds of death shall gather
then the night shall always burn
then the ancient prediction comes true
and the bells of fate chime

THE RETURN ......

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Quorthon. 

The 2003 remastered edition combines tracks 1 and 2, and tracks 7 and 8.

Credits

• Quorthon – guitar, vocals, additional bass
• Andreas Johansson – bass
• Stefan Larsson – drums

References