Black Metal - Sweden
Darkness descends, the foul stench of rotting flesh fills the nostrils and the iron taste of blood lingers on the tongue – welcome to the world of WATAIN. Out of the infernal depths their voices do not cry to the Heavens. The sinister hymns of these Swedes praise the Lord of Flies in feverish worship as they descend on the left hand path.
WATAIN have once more created an epic masterpiece, which celebrates the eclipse of the light. “Lawless Darkness” amalgamates severe blackness with an uncanny knack for eerie melodies and a harsh beauty of the darkest kind, which even attracted Carl McCoy of FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM to add his vocals in a stunning guest performance.
Clawing their way out of the Black Metal underground yet firmly remaining a part of it since their founding in 1998, the Swedes have become a major player in the dark genre. WATAIN established themselves as a phenomenon of most sinister kind as soon as their 7” EP entitled “The Essence of Black Purity” was released in 1999.
WATAIN’s acclaimed debut “Rabid Death’s Curse” followed only a year later in 2000. The trio from Uppsala immediately gained a massive following by their merciless devotion and intense live rituals imbued with blood, fire and magic. Recorded in the chambers of Necromorbus studios, which owes a large part of its current fame and status to the trio, relentless Black/Death Metal lunacy “Rabid Death’s Curse” was received with a roar of appreciation from the worldwide underground.
Following the release of their debut, WATAIN began to hit the European stages with full force, performing along such bands as ROTTING CHRIST, DARK FUNERAL, MORTUARY DRAPE, ANTAEUS, MUTIILATION among others. It did not take long for the band to gain a massive reputation for their intense, ritualized live-performances embodying every aspect of traditional Black/Death Metal sorcery, violent ceremonies of blood, fire, death and magic. Their first complete European crusade – the Black War Tour- was raising hell in early 2002.
Expectations soared when WATAIN entered the Necromorbus studios once more in June 2003 to record their second full-length “Casus Luciferi”, which has been composed over a period of three years. This fanatical monument of magical Black Metal has been hailed as one of the most relevant underground releases of this extreme genre in the new millennium. “Casus Luciferi” proudly unleashed the horrifying glory of the true, dangerous and by many shunned Black Metal legacy, without a hint of irony, doubt or uncertainty. At the time of release, WATAIN embarked on the “Stellar Descension Infernal” Tour raging throughout Europe in an unholy union with SECRETS OF THE MOON and AVERSE SEFIRA.
In the following year 2004, WATAIN continuously invoked their demons on stages in the Czech Republic, Italy, Britain and Scandinavia, building further upon their now global reputation as one of the most passionate and eye-opening live acts of extreme Metal. When the darkness of winter fell upon the trembling plains of Europe, the Swedes embarked on a two-month and by now famous tour with their compatriots DISSECTION, marching victoriously through eighteen countries.
Again it took WATAIN three years to define the nature of the work that became their third full-length. Even more praise than already before was heaped upon the musical extremists after releasing “Sworn to the Dark” in 2007. This album proved to be another stepping stone in their steeply rising career and saw the band teaming up with Season of Mist for the first time in several countries. At the time WATAIN regarded “Sworn to the Dark” to be an immense discharge of magic and death that marked the release as an ultimate Black Metal monolith.
Yet another three years went by, in which WATAIN prepared to surpass their own achievements. With the hellishly seductive “Lawless Darkness”, the Swedes shed another snake skin to reveal an eerie beauty underneath. Their true dedication, epic approach and outstanding songwriting skills are bound to attract friends far beyond any black boundaries. The wolf pack is back and out to devour your heart, guts and soul!
This band is no longer active on Season of Mist.
Season of Mist will release the first four WATAIN albums in a special priced 4-CD jewel box entitled ‘Satanic Deathnoise from the Beyond’ with bonus tracks. The box will hit the stores worldwide on October 16th and can already be pre-ordered from the Season of Mist shop.
At last, Swedish shouting stars WATAIN’s cult classic “Sworn to the Dark” is available in North America! Here are the cover artwork and tracklisting of WATAIN’s critically acclaimed third opus:
As any Black Metal fan knows, Sweden’s WATAIN have stormed from the hellish pits of the underground onto the covers of the biggest Metal magazines worldwide. Their latest masterpiece “Lawless Darkness” (2010) was praised by critics and fans alike, scored a massive number of highest grades and went on to collect many “album of the year” titles and top list entries.
Season of Mist is proud to announce that Swedish black kings WATAIN just won the Best Undergound Band award at the world famous Metal Hammer Golden Gods 2012! For the occasion, the band played a blinding, spectacularly gnarly set last Sunday. Congratulations to E. and the gang!
Black metal kings WATAIN will join the first edition of the Decibel Magazine tour. This earth-scorching line-up sees WATAIN team up with BEHEMOTH, THE DEVIL’S BLOOD and IN SOLITUDE.
