A Swedish heavy metal band named for a Hungarian countess who was accused of murdering and torturing as many as 650 young girls, Bathory's run began 1n 1983 and ended in 2004 when Quorthon (frontman and songwriter Tomas Forsberg) suffered a fatal heart attack. Their early albums were critically acknowledged as "the blueprint for Scandinavian black metal. Their fifth recording, Hammerheart, broke new ground, becoming known as the first Viking metal album. Their songs often drew from Norse and Viking folklore. Popular with Swedish fans, they kept their sound fresh, changing styles frequently (within the metal framework), as they moved deeper and deeper into their Scandinavian heritage.