The Return of the Black Death is the second recorded and first released studio album by the Norwegian unblack metal band Antestor.

[3] At the time, their line up consisted of guitarist/keyboardist Lars Stokstad (Vemod), vocalist/lyricist Kjetil Molnes (Martyr), bass player Vegard Undal and drummer Svein Sander (Armoth).

[3] Afterwards, the incident has caused some debates because it is rare that a Christian black metal band gets signed to a secular label.

"[6] Later, some strong rumors in the metal scene claimed, that Antestor was immediately dropped after Cacophonous found out their conviction.

They also noted that the record label did not keep contact with the band, and later Antestor began working with Endtime Productions.

[8] Ronny Hansen, who joined Antestor as a vocalist in 2000, questioned the "bankrupt" claim in another interview: The story with Cacophonous is that they really hate the Christian scene.

Vemod's guitar playing is based on the mesmerizing black metal tremolo riffing, the sound production is somewhat thin and raw, and Martyr's vocals are high-pitched shrieking.

Songs such as "Sorg" (Norwegian for "sorrow") include several minutes of folky keyboard ambience that specifically focus on creating atmosphere.

The album begins with the intro "Vinterferden" that consists of breezing breath of cold winter wind, followed by a folky Viking melody and deep, harsh and oppressive speaking vocals saying something in Norwegian.

The album ends with an outro that contains samples of wind whistling with ominous noises and a man talking very softly in a low Norwegian voice.

Other themes include personal darkness, struggle against the evil within, sorrow, longing for salvation, Vikings, the wrath of God, and death.

An example of the lyrics from the song "A Sovereign Fortress" that deals with personal relationship to God: You Are My Hope, O Lord, My Trust, O Lord, Since BoyhoodFrom Birth I Have Leaned Upon YouMy Protector Since I Left My Mother's WombThe album reportedly sold "quite much in the U.S."[9] According to Ronny Hansen (Vrede) in an interview with Intense Radio's Bob Beeman on December 13, 2007, "by various sources, The Return of the Black Death has sold over 10,000 copies and still keeps selling.

I agree with that.In 2010, HM Magazine ranked it number 40 on their Top 100 Christian metal albums of all-time list with Beck stating about the album, "Devastatingly dark, The Return of the Black Death set the standard for Christian black metal.