Watain

Watain
Watain performing at Fall of Summer Festival 2014
Watain performing at Fall of Summer Festival 2014
Background information
OriginSweden
GenresBlack metal, melodic black metal
Years active1998–present
Labels
Members
  • Erik Danielsson
  • Håkan Jonsson
  • Pelle Forsberg
Websitetempleofwatain.com

Watain is a Swedish black metal band, formed in 1998.[1] The band's name is taken from an early recording by the American black metal group Von.[2][3][4] The band have become famous for their theistic Satanist views and for their live shows which involve pyrotechnics, candles, Satanic rituals, animal carcasses, and blood.[5][6] At a now-notorious live performance in Brooklyn in 2014, they doused audience members in animal blood, allegedly causing some members of the audience to vomit.[7][8] This was picked up and publicised by TMZ, generating controversy around the incident.[9] To date they have released seven full-length albums, as well as three live albums and a number of demos and EPs. Their most recent album The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain was released on 29 April 2022 through Nuclear Blast. The band's core lineup has remained stable since their formation, consisting of Erik Danielsson, Pelle Forsberg, and Håkan Jonsson, though as of 2015 Jonsson no longer performs live, Emil Svensson (aka E. Forcas) of fellow Uppsala death metal band Degial was recruited as live drummer.[10][11]

  1. ^ Eduardo Rivadavia: Watain Biography, Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation.
  2. ^ Ronald Ziegler: Merchandise whorery, Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  3. ^ Mastema: Watain – The Dark Side Archived 2 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Disobedience Webzine, 26 April 2007, Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  4. ^ Arthur: Interview with WATAIN, Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Smoke Breaks With Satan: The Strange Days and Sinister Nights of Watain". Spin. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Watain's Frontman Thinks We're a Vast Herd of Shallow-Minded Children – Noisey". Noisey. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Watain Covered an Artisanal Flea Market in the Stench and Fluids of Death – Noisey". Noisey. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  8. ^ "Watain Bring a Bloody Good Time to Brooklyn". Loudwire. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Swedish Metal Band Hurls Pigs Blood Into Audience ... Concertgoers Also Hurl". TMZ. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  10. ^ "Watain | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Watain interview – Bardo Methodology". Bardo Methodology. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2018.