Countess Bathory (song)
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"Countess Bathory" is a song by English heavy metal band
Venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...
. The song originally appeared on the band's 1982 album ''
Black Metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with tr ...
'' as well as their 1986 live album ''
Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major), K. 525, is a 1787 composition for a chamber ensemble by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791). The German title means "a little night music" and is one of Mozart's most famous works. The serena ...
''.


Writing and recording

"Countess Bathory", like all songs on the album were written by vocalist and bassist Conrad "Cronos" Lant and guitarist Jeffrey "Mantas" Dunn. It was written when band drummer Tony "Abaddon" Bray was late for a session, so Dunn began jamming some new riffs while Lant would work the lyrics out. The band's roadie came in the room and began drumming for them, and soon after "Abaddon" would come in and tried to make up a new drum pattern, but Lant and Dunn felt the roadie's drum pattern worked best. Lant also explained the origin of the song's opening riff, saying that it was inspired by the opening theme song of the children's show ''
The Magic Roundabout ''The Magic Roundabout'' is an English-language children's programme that ran on BBC Television from 1965 to 1977. It used the footage of the French stop motion animation show '' Le Manège enchanté'' but with completely different scripts a ...
''. The songs riff also bears resemblance to the intro of the 1991
Nirvana Nirvana, in the Indian religions (Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism), is the concept of an individual's passions being extinguished as the ultimate state of salvation, release, or liberation from suffering ('' duḥkha'') and from the ...
hit song "
Smells Like Teen Spirit "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band's second album, '' Nevermind'' (1991), released on DGC Records. Having sold over 13 million units worldwide, it i ...
". Years later, Lant had the opportunity to ask Nirvana drummer
Dave Grohl David Eric Grohl (; born January 14, 1969) is an American musician. He founded the rock band Foo Fighters, of which he is the lead singer, guitarist, principal songwriter, and only consistent member. From 1990 to 1994, he was the drummer of th ...
, whom he collaborated with on Grohl's heavy metal
side project In popular music, a side project is a project undertaken by one or more people already known for their involvement in another band. It can also be an artist or a band temporarily switching to a different style. Usually these projects emphasize ...
Probot, if they had taken inspiration from the band's 1982 song. Grohl did not give Lant a response. The song, along with the entire album was recorded in just 7 days, with Lant working long hours recording alongside the studio engineer and then mixing the tracks on his own.


Music and lyrics

Like other tracks on ''Black Metal'', it is described as "speed, catchy speed, rhythmic explosions and cutting riffs". The song tells of the ominous deeds and crimes of the Hungarian noblewoman Countess Elizabeth Báthory, the most prolific female murderer. Elizabeth Bathory tortured and killed hundreds of young girls and women between 1590 and 1610. Stories began circulating of her vampiric tendencies including tales of her bathing in the blood of the virgin girls and women she murdered to retain her youth. The final verse of the song describes Elizabeth at the end of her life and that there is "no blood to turn time back" as she is "crippled now with age". The Grim Reaper comes to collect her soul as she "welcomes death with open arms", the Reaper then "turns the page".


Reception

Regarded by critics and fans alike as one of Venom's best songs, it has since become a staple at Venom shows.
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
reviewer Eduardo Rivadavia referred to the song along with another track, "Bloodlust", as "absolute classics".


Legacy and influence

The song has been covered by numerous artists including
Blitzkrieg ''Blitzkrieg'(Lightning/Flash Warfare)'' is a word used to describe a combined arms surprise attack, using a rapid, overwhelming force concentration that may consist of armored and motorized or mechanized infantry formations, together with ...
,
Macabre In works of art, the adjective macabre ( or ; ) means "having the quality of having a grim or ghastly atmosphere". The macabre works to emphasize the details and symbols of death. The term also refers to works particularly gruesome in natu ...
, Isegrim, Kazjurol, Messiah Marcolin,
Necrodeath Necrodeath is an Italian extreme metal band from Liguria. It is one of the first extreme metal bands originating in Italy. They take inspiration from Slayer, Dark Angel (band), Dark Angel, Possessed (band), Possessed, Venom (band), Venom, Kreat ...
and Unleashed. Drummer
Jonas Åkerlund Hans Uno Jonas Åkerlund (; born 10 November 1965) is a Swedish filmmaker and musician who is best known for his work in music videos. Åkerlund was a member of the Swedish black metal band Bathory. He has directed well-known videos for artists ...
, of Swedish
extreme metal Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. It has been defined as a "cluster of metal subgenres characterized by sonic, verbal, and visual tran ...
band Bathory, cites the track "Countess Bathory" as the inspiration for the band's name.


Credits

*
Venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...
– producer, performers ** Conrad "Cronos" Lant – bass, vocals ** Jeffrey "Mantas" Dunn – guitars ** Tony "Abaddon" Bray – drums *Keith Nichol – producer, engineer


References

{{authority control Venom (band) songs 1982 songs Cultural depictions of Elizabeth Báthory