Black Mark Productions
Encyclopedia
Black Mark Productions (founded 1991) is an independent record label
based in Sweden
and an office in Germany that specializes in extreme
metal
releases, perhaps best known for its close connection to Quorthon
, leader of the defining black metal band Bathory
until his death in 2004. As Quorthon
himself has stated several times, it was often speculated that he had something to do with the business and operation of Black Mark Productions, except for the concept and name of the label, which would be referenced in the title of the 1987 release Under the Sign of the Black Mark
. Quorthon
received permission from the Tyfon Grammofon label - which was owned by Börje "Boss" Forsberg and of course featured Bathory - to use his own proxy-label on all Bathory albums, along with a unique 666-X serial number, starting with the self-titled debut album
from 1984, but the label wasn't founded as a separate entity before 1991. Who did found it remains disputed, but many point to Boss Forsberg.
A North American office was also in operation out of Toronto for several years beginning in 1995, which Quorthon and Boss jointly visited.
The label is currently owned by Boss Forsberg, who has also received numerous production credits from bands on the label. Other employees are Quorthon's brother and sister, who act as managers of promotion and production.
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
based in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and an office in Germany that specializes in extreme
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. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
releases, perhaps best known for its close connection to 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...
, leader of the defining black metal band Bathory
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...
until his death in 2004. As 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...
himself has stated several times, it was often speculated that he had something to do with the business and operation of Black Mark Productions, except for the concept and name of the label, which would be referenced in the title of the 1987 release Under the Sign of the Black Mark
Under the Sign of the Black Mark
Under the Sign of the Black Mark is the third album by Bathory. It had a major influence on the black metal genre, specifically the Norwegian black metal scene that emerged in the early 1990s. The song "Woman of Dark Desires" is a tribute to the band's namesake, Elizabeth Báthory, and has become...
. 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...
received permission from the Tyfon Grammofon label - which was owned by Börje "Boss" Forsberg and of course featured Bathory - to use his own proxy-label on all Bathory albums, along with a unique 666-X serial number, starting with the self-titled debut album
Bathory (album)
Bathory is the debut album of the Swedish band Bathory. It is considered one of the first recorded examples that defined the black metal style....
from 1984, but the label wasn't founded as a separate entity before 1991. Who did found it remains disputed, but many point to Boss Forsberg.
A North American office was also in operation out of Toronto for several years beginning in 1995, which Quorthon and Boss jointly visited.
The label is currently owned by Boss Forsberg, who has also received numerous production credits from bands on the label. Other employees are Quorthon's brother and sister, who act as managers of promotion and production.