QUORTHON

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Ace Thomas "Quorthon" Forsberg (February 17, 1966 – June 7, 2004) was the founder and song writer of the pioneering Swedish black metal band Bathory. He is credited with largely helping in the creation of Black Metal, and evolving it from its thrash origins into what is identified as black metal today, and also creating the genre Viking Metal, the latter having a more evolved and operatic style. He composed the music and wrote the lyrics on all of Bathory's albums.Quorthon formed Bathory in 1983 when he was 17 years old. Always underfunded, his albums had a rough quality which many black metal bands would later emulate, and which would come to characterize this genre of music. He recorded in a garage, on a 4 track recorder, with mechanics working around him, and neighbors mowing their lawns, also known as Heavenshore Studios.Quorthon also personally paid for the production of Bathory's music video for "One Rode to Asa Bay" in 1990. The video was shown on MTV's Headbanger's Ball, though he had not yet seen it at the time he was interviewed for the program.Beginning in the 1990s, he took full control of Bathory, choosing to forego performing live in order to spend time recording music with hired musicians. He also played a bass guitar on almost all of his albums, and mostly used a drum machine or a session drummer.In 1993 Quorthon set Bathory aside and recorded and released two albums under the name "Quorthon". First was called Album released in 1994, and Purity of Essence in 1997. The albums were more rock oriented than Bathory's black/viking metal style. While working on these albums he found new inspiration to continue composing music for Bathory.Bathory's next albums were in a retro-thrash metal style, unlike previous releases. But in 1996 Quorthon released Blood on Ice, a concept album which he began recording in 1989 but didn't finish. Blood on Ice returns to Bathory's viking metal style. His next albums followed in that vein as did the Nordland saga. It was planned as a four-album set, but only two were finished.He was found dead in his apartment on 7 June 2004, apparently from heart failure. He was 38 years old and was known to suffer from heart problems.His father, Börje "Boss" Forsberg, is the owner of Black Mark Productions, an independent record label that Quorthon founded.Discography With BathoryBathory (1984) The Return (1985) Under the Sign of the Black Mark (1986) Blood Fire Death (1988) Hammerheart (1990) Twilight of the Gods (1991) Requiem (1994) Octagon (1995) Blood On Ice (1996) Destroyer of Worlds (2001) Nordland I (2002) Nordland II (2003) As QuorthonAlbum (1994) Purity of Essence (1997)In Memory of Quorthon (2006) 3 CDS, DVD of 'One Rode To Asa Bay', plus interview and Promotion of 'Hammerheart', Poster and Detailed Book on Bathory with history, Discography, tributes and photos (Contained in Box Set), Compiled by Quorthon and BossVarious Tribute Albums, including:BETHOR- 'The Return of Darkness and Evil-Tribute to Quorthon' (2007) BATHORLORD- 'A Tribute To The Hordes From Bathory' (2006)