One Rode to Asa Bay
Encyclopedia
"One Rode To Asa Bay" is a song by Bathory
about the Christianization of Scandinavia
and appears on the 1990 album Hammerheart
.
Cover versions of the song have been recorded by Fearbringer, Opera IX
, Mystic Circle
and Folkvang(Band).
Quorthon
dedicated the song to C. Dean Andersson, who had earlier sent some of his books to Quorthon. The village's name in the song, Asa Bay, comes from pseudonym Asa Drake which Andersson used in some of his books.
to complement the story idea of the song. The video contains scenes of the band performing and a back story of settlers bringing a new religion to the land. The singer / guitar player for Bathory, Quorthon
, paid $5,000 out of his own pocket to film the music video. Quorthon explained, "I have never seen it and I didn’t get to see any of the 60 hours of film we had worked on for several weeks." He elaborated, "the guy who was responsible for the whole filming just went on holiday once the last shot was made and he was unheard from and impossible to reach." After several months later "he eventually did send us something," but it was 18 minutes of the 60 hours that were filmed. Meanwhile, it was assumed "the rest of the material is probably erased" and the final product was to remain the edited video that did not represent Quorthon's song idea. Ultimately, it became the first and last video Bathory would make. Even so, the video received play of MTV's Headbanger's Ball, which got Quorthon interviewed on MTV and introduced the band to American audiences. The video has only been available as a bootleg until 2006, when Black Mark Records released a tribute to Quorthon which contains a DVD with Quorthon footage and the video itself.
Bathory (band)
Bathory was a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by Quorthon in 1983. They are regarded as pioneers of both black metal and viking metal. Quorthon remained the main songwriter and member of Bathory for more than two decades. Bathory was permanently ended after Quorthon's death in 2004...
about the Christianization of Scandinavia
Christianization of Scandinavia
The Christianization of Scandinavia took place between the 8th and the 12th century. The realms of Scandinavia proper, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, established their own Archdioceses, responsible directly to the Pope, in 1104, 1154 and 1164, respectively...
and appears on the 1990 album Hammerheart
Hammerheart
Hammerheart is the fifth album released by Bathory. It continued Blood Fire Deaths transition away from black metal to what would become recognized as Viking metal, and is considered a cornerstone work of the genre.-Track listing:...
.
Cover versions of the song have been recorded by Fearbringer, Opera IX
Opera IX
Opera IX is an Italian pagan symphonic black metal band, founded in the city of Biella by the guitarist Ossian, in 1988.- Early years: 1990-1995 :...
, Mystic Circle
Mystic Circle
- History:Mystic Circle was formed in 1992 in Ludwigshafen. They released several EPs before their debut LP was issued in 1997. Following their 1998 release they toured with Marduk and Old Man's Child and played several large rock festivals...
and Folkvang(Band).
Quorthon
Quorthon
Tomas Forsberg, better known as "Quorthon" , was a multi-instrumentalist and the founder and songwriter of the pioneering Swedish black metal band Bathory. He is also credited with creating the Viking metal genre...
dedicated the song to C. Dean Andersson, who had earlier sent some of his books to Quorthon. The village's name in the song, Asa Bay, comes from pseudonym Asa Drake which Andersson used in some of his books.
Music video
The music video was filmed in a suburb of StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
to complement the story idea of the song. The video contains scenes of the band performing and a back story of settlers bringing a new religion to the land. The singer / guitar player for Bathory, Quorthon
Quorthon
Tomas Forsberg, better known as "Quorthon" , was a multi-instrumentalist and the founder and songwriter of the pioneering Swedish black metal band Bathory. He is also credited with creating the Viking metal genre...
, paid $5,000 out of his own pocket to film the music video. Quorthon explained, "I have never seen it and I didn’t get to see any of the 60 hours of film we had worked on for several weeks." He elaborated, "the guy who was responsible for the whole filming just went on holiday once the last shot was made and he was unheard from and impossible to reach." After several months later "he eventually did send us something," but it was 18 minutes of the 60 hours that were filmed. Meanwhile, it was assumed "the rest of the material is probably erased" and the final product was to remain the edited video that did not represent Quorthon's song idea. Ultimately, it became the first and last video Bathory would make. Even so, the video received play of MTV's Headbanger's Ball, which got Quorthon interviewed on MTV and introduced the band to American audiences. The video has only been available as a bootleg until 2006, when Black Mark Records released a tribute to Quorthon which contains a DVD with Quorthon footage and the video itself.