Watain interview - an in-depth talk with Erik of Watain at Inferno 2023

[@nihil95]

the "thank you" from him was something i noticed right away, he's always come up as extremely polite and smart guy

[@n1stavilo]

The best interviewer out there, with natural flow and questions.. not cliche bs... kudos!

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks!

[@bloodthrone1]

This has to be one of my favourite interviews you have done Jerry. Erik is a very interesting & unique individual and you asked great/challenging questions which Erik responded with equally great answers.

[@RautaMetal]

Thank you. This will go among my personal favorites as well!

[@ERiCtheBuLL]

Its great to hear Erik's responses to your questions. Despite Watain's long tenured success, he doesn't seem to have lost touch at all with the true essence of black metal.

[@johnnypterodaktyl7822]

Great interview, as I said before - Rauta is definitely the best you tube channel about metal music. High five Jerry!

[@RautaMetal]

Big thanks, sir. Nice to hear. Makes me feel like our time and efforts are not wasted :)

[@MARK-co1ge]

Good to hear Erik speak so readily. Grutle, from Enslaved, was very complimentary about Erik and Watain as good people in one of his recent interviews.

[@RautaMetal]

Nice

[@arturkomorowski6487]

Mark where is this interview with Grutle please?

[@glimailustra]

Great interview! Very insightful questions. And, of course, great answers from Erik too. Such a well-spoken guy.

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks. Glad you liked it.

[@DevinMalice]

You finally got Erik! This interview simply NEEDED to happen, and will certainly rank at the very top of all interviews you've conducted. You have created a prime platform for artist interviews. No funny edits, complete transparency and willing to put yourself on the line, coated with sincerity. THIS is how it's done. Good work Jerry! 👍👍

[@RautaMetal]

Thank you very much for your words! Appreciated!

[@iblismanifestations231]

Very well-conducted Interview - This is the most I've enjoyed any of the press with him for at least a few years. Great job!

[@RautaMetal]

Thank you!

[@tsibren]

Once again, most excellent interview. Like many here already said, I think you're the best interviewer. Always prepared, done your homework, never using boring pre-written question lists but a real conversation with artists. Like it should be done! Thank you!

[@RautaMetal]

Thank you for your words. Respect.

[@hrorm]

Fantastic interiew, this was a pleasure to listen to

[@RautaMetal]

Thank you so much!

[@Beelzebud420]

Great interview! I enjoyed hearing what Erik had to say.Watain is truly a magical band..I love what they do…I hope someday they tour North America!Almost got to see them with Mayhem…

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@mattiascloverleaf2076]

Great interview! Always interesting to listen to E. One of the most creative and intelligent artist in the scene. Though, I really like Wild Hunt album, very interesting spectrum and display of band's skill, I always loved it and will always do.

[@RautaMetal]

Thank you for your words.

[@Weltschmerz1523]

Watain is a band that never really clicked with me but I have always agreed with Erik most topics regarding Satanism and Black Metal (same case for Dissection and Jon Nödtveidt). His answer about cancel culture was an interesting take however I fail to see more bands going against the grain in general. Great job as always Jerry! Cheers.

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks!

[@JotaTondi]

I've seen watain once in 2022 and it was amazing!!!!! It's always interesting to listen to Erik, specially nowadays.. he's got a different vibe now.

[@KyOte13]

…. I’ve never heard one person say that WATAIN “ slipped” with The Wild Hunt. That’s rubbish. It was a step in a new direction that encompassed new sounds the band had in the it cannon. They were capable of MORE, and DELIVERED. I wish more BM bands were as multifaceted and diverse as WATAIN is. It has to EVOLVE, or it stagnates. They gave flight to their Gothic Rock influences on TWH, which took them to a whole new depth as a band.

[@RautaMetal]

I don't know if anyone said that, but like said, The Wild Hunt is seen in general as the weakest Watain album. That doesn't mean, of course, that everybody thinks like that, just majority.

[@KyOte13]

@@RautaMetal the only people who have ever gave that notion ANY consent, are journalists and media personalities, who , if we go by your example, apparently consider artistic progress “ weak”. Real Black Metal & Watain fans know better. That’s incredibly small-minded, and no one outside “music critics” ever bought that narrative.

[@RautaMetal]

You assume weird things like that I think artistic progress as such is weak. But let me ask you this: do you think that bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica, Darkthrone, Satyricon´, Burzum or Slayer are nowadays better than in the past because they progressed artistically? I think all these had their haydays in the past. Then again there are bands like Cannibal Corpse, Marduk or Judas Priest who did some of their best albums after decades of existence. My point is: there is not just one kind of "artistic progression". Every band is unique with their story. It's not black and white. Regarding Watain and their favored albums: based on both what I've read and seen on sites like Rate Your Music, I have to disagree. But we all come from different scenes and bubbles. It just might be that your scene prefers Wild Hunt while it seems my pals have liked other albums. But in the end does it matter? For instance, my favorite Slayer album is different from many of my pals, and so what?

[@jangebrt1006]

Glad to finally see Erik as your interviewee! Always interesting to hear his take on various topics and you never fail to challenge with meaningful questions, that add the "Rauta value" to these conversations.

[@RautaMetal]

Thank you! Glad to hear you enjoyed the conversation.

[@necrosadotor]

never been into watain much but always respected them

[@tonguelover6666]

brillant, you made a fantastic interview, Erik is absolutely a great person, everytime i meet them at concert, always there for everyone

[@RautaMetal]

Glad to hear

[@Jay-ef2ii]

Attention: Erik can be a great spokesman for Gorgoroth, Setherial, Venom, Emperor, Immortal, Abbath, and all the metal bands that exist in Norway, and Sweden. This Vocalist can tell the public what these bands "really" stand for as compared to these other bands who just hide behind their corpsepaint. This is a very honest and direct interview that Rauta did. April 2023. USA.

[@RautaMetal]

Thx

[@karlhaikara1629]

Killer interview! One of the best you've done and one of the best ones I've seen with Erik.

[@RautaMetal]

Thank you

[@lucifer-dg6uo]

Fantastic Interview rauta thanks for sharing watain is amazing 🤘🔥🤘👿🇸🇪🔱🔥🔱

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks! My pleasure.

[@luxilahtinen7597]

Really loved watching this Rauta's interview with Erik. Very insightful, original questions and beyond...! Probably, and honestly said the best interview I've seen done with Erik of Watain! Kudos to Jerry! \,,/

[@RautaMetal]

Thank you so much, Luxi! Appreciated very much coming from a veteran like you!

[@Selynn.]

awesome interview! It's always a pleasure to listen to Erik's point of view.

[@RautaMetal]

Glad you like it.

[@LH-vx9zw]

Talking about Dark Funeral and Marduk comparisons, "I love Marduk" 9:57, but not Dark Funeral lol.

[@RautaMetal]

Yep! I was thinking of the same.

[@LH-vx9zw]

@@RautaMetal I think Erik said in an interview before that he isn't exactly fond of Dark Funeral both musically and image wise. So I was quite surprised when he mentioned Dark Funeral, then he corrected himself by saying that he only loves Marduk.

[@RautaMetal]

I think I know where he is coming from with that.

[@mmsouto]

@@LH-vx9zw Well, he was refering to bands some OTHERS relate them to, not necessarily one he (himself and as with Watain) feels a connection with.

[@LH-vx9zw]

@@mmsouto I am aware. Just found it funny that he felt he had to clarify that he only likes one of the two that he mentioned.

[@RobHellfire666]

Awesome job!! I like how Erik mentioned Blasphemy almost right away. 🇨🇦 Hail Ross Bay Kvlt. 🔥🤘😎 We are a small, yet important and recognized scene; in Canada. I love the "punk rock" attitude in black metal "if I'm pissing you off, I'm doing something right." In reference to what Eric said about "cancel culture" etc. To challenge peoples beliefs, and to make them question either themselves or what they believe, is a good thing. Yet, people cannot stand being challenged online. It's almost like, suddenly they can't stand up, or represent themselves. To see these situations play out in realtime is most gratifying. 😎

[@RautaMetal]

Yep. Question everything is my motto.

[@sherattlehead]

Great interview! I could listen Erik talk for hours. I loved that you asked some non-obvious or comfortable questions to him. Cheers!

[@RautaMetal]

Glad you liked it

[@tengilshadow4869]

Great talk. E really seems to know where he comes from and where he's going.

[@TotalDESSSS]

Great stuff, Jerry. Clearly the best interview on your channel, and you've done many really good ones.

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks a lot! 🤘

[@andrebastos5635]

This band is as real as it gets 🤘🏻great sounding band on record and absolutely live

[@Meija100]

Erik är smart! 🤘

[@RautaMetal]

Agreed.

[@manuelaklein9837]

Absolutely fantastic interview 👏🏼 I enjoyed every second of it

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks!

[@willanski4321]

Excellent interview! Such a good listen

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks!

[@kirkkopalovaroitus4192]

thanks jerry this is diehard interview!really like it alot!

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks!

[@KevinOrtega1980]

A great interviewer and an awesome musician = must watch TV!!!! Good stuff Jerry! 🤘🏼

[@RautaMetal]

Much obliged!

[@biblicaladrian6007]

Hope they come back to the US soon They were suppose to come last year with Mayhem but dropped out due to visa issues

[@crazylegsthiss]

absolutely fantastic and interesting interview! thank you for your great work!

[@RautaMetal]

Thank you!

[@nicolasmarteau2141]

Hail RAUTA Thanks for interview for WATAIN 😈😈🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤😈😈

[@zachary1966]

Thanks Jerry, very good interview🤘Sanoisinpa jopa, että Saatanan hyvä haastattelu 😎

[@RautaMetal]

Kiitos! Arvostan.

[@mandu6665]

Great stuff. Watain takes a lot of shit from the too kvlt crowd but they've always been true and always take smaller but still killer underground bands on tour with them. I'd do anything to see their current tour with Bolzer and Concrete Winds. Luckily I saw them in Japan with Tribulation and Inquisition some years back. Absolutely devastating show and they lived up to my expectations. Alvaro was also a very interesting man from the brief moment some fans and I chatted with him. The Wild Hunt is good. Not my favorite but still an enjoyable listen.

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks for your comment. Always good to hear more experiences. At Inferno Watain surely played a great gig. Maybe my fav from them so far.

[@perennialcoma]

Splendid interview. Enjoyed it immensely.

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks!

[@jonirissanen3038]

Hail watain! Great that you have done this interview!one of the Best interviews, great!

[@RautaMetal]

Thank you.

[@noir4356]

Erik is one of the few personalities in black metal who keeps it 100% real while being super-professional. This is rare indeed.

[@RautaMetal]

Not that rare. You just don’t bump into them since most of theise who are real don’t play in big bands.

[@goliathim1397]

Nice job mate .you always deliver

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks.

[@andymudhoney]

I think wild hunt is fantastic…it took 10 years to get it but it’s actually one of the best watain albums

[@RautaMetal]

That's pretty... wild!

[@voidalchemy_stratorusofficial]

Haven't seen many interviews of Watain in years. From this interview it looks like Erik hasn't aged a day in 10 years. He still looks 30 even though he's over 40 now.

[@RautaMetal]

41 this year

[@cesarfuentes13]

Truly amazing!! Interesting Q&A also!! Remarkable Job!! 🤘🏻🔥

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks! Glad you like it.

[@nox_1349]

Awesome interview bro! Hail from Costa Rica

[@RautaMetal]

Muchas gracias

[@federicogiordano8305]

🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@SamuelBlackMetalRider]

Make Black Metal Dangerous Again

[@RautaMetal]

That's what I said many years ago.

[@C.A.T.Stroud]

Thank you.

[@azathothahnenerbe3856]

The intersection of two insightful minds - too much brain power here! Kiitos mate 👍🏻

[@RautaMetal]

Thank you.

[@mattheweckman8394]

I've seen Watain Live 3 times so far, each show has been excellent.

[@RautaMetal]

Yeah, they are always solid. I think my first time I saw them was 2005 and seem them a few times after that.

[@mattheweckman8394]

@@RautaMetal First time was opening for Mayhem, next two times were as Headliners. Luckily I’ve always seen them in a Club and not a Festival setting.

[@RautaMetal]

@mattheweckman8394 They do well on both cases. At Inferno 2023 their show was outstanding.

[@mattheweckman8394]

I would agree, based on watching online, etc. But nothing can replace the intimacy of a smaller environment.@@RautaMetal

[@MarioMaione]

WATAIN FOREVER

[@dodgyyy]

Great interview

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks!

[@Obscura0511]

The greatest band ever! The most profound interview!

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks!

[@theemperormarshall3183]

Watain 🤘🤘🤘

[@stanbasov42]

Good job Jerry👏 Not a big fan of Watain but dude is smart. Loved the interview. Btw I remember (although it was a while ago) you mentioned a possible interview with BlackGoat. Any chance for this to happen?

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks. No, Goatmoon canceled the interview plan in 2020.

[@ju6r6e6k]

24:52 - Yes, it was in Poland at Summer dying festival

[@ricardo66622]

Super cool interview! Good job Rauta!! 👌

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks! My pleasure

[@Warisamachine]

Great interview, nothing bad to say. Thank you

[@RautaMetal]

Glad you liked it.

[@ScorpionDeathMetal]

Lawless Darkness my first record from watain, for me one of The best album together with sworn to Theo dark.

[@tommitri]

Super. The section in cancel culture was especially interesting and I was impressed by Eric’s crystal clear insight and intellectual honesty.

[@user-bm3ts2ql6s]

Hey, still watching your stuff buddy. Good interview. Prolly the best one anyone1s ever done with Erik. Wish MGLA did these.

[@RautaMetal]

Thank you. I also wish Mgla did these, but no.

[@natred]

26:58 the STQ is addressed

[@sinisterking6009]

Holy shiet, finally 🤘🔥

[@jared3370]

Amazing interview 🤘 but who’s in charge of the background music? 😂

[@RautaMetal]

Someone at the hotel 😶‍🌫️

[@Creepy999_]

🔥🔱🔥

[@dimifisher7942]

Nice! I wanted to ask, considering that Sweden is not far away from Finland is difficult for finish people to understand Swedish?

[@seanmacconnell6916]

The languages are actually not related despite the countries being next to each other. Swedish is a Germanic language, as are Danish and Norwegian, so it is easier for these people to understand one another. However Finnish is not an Indo-European language and therefore very different from the other Scandinavian languages. It is in another language group all together. That being said many Finns do speak Swedish, but the languages are not alike. Cheers.

[@dimifisher7942]

@@seanmacconnell6916 Thanx!

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks, Sean! Yeah, Finnish language is closer to Hungarian etc. than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish etc. which are more or less related Latin if I am not totally mistaken.

[@PsycosisIncarnated]

Damn bro. Nice upload.

[@stevenbusch9336]

🤘🏼

[@christomlin4707]

I never saw The Wild Hunt as a slip. Its fucking great.

[@RautaMetal]

It divides people. The general consensus is and was back in the days as a slip.

[@Swaggycat_yt]

​@@RautaMetal well I'm almost 50 years old and grew up with black metal the only people it divides is real posers that can't stick by a band that that they love and grow with them. The division comes from people that can't move on

[@RautaMetal]

I don't think it's an age issue. I'm also almost 50 and on Watain standards is a weakish album.

[@Swaggycat_yt]

@@RautaMetal I didn't mean it to be an age issue, I just meant that to my ears as a old guy that has loved this music I liked that it was something by them that wasn't expected.

[@RautaMetal]

Ok

[@kaudsiz]

🤘☹️🖤

[@crimsondeath7468]

The people who disliked The Wild Hunt are for the most part morons who dont really care about the music or the art! What they care oh so mush about is some made up BS metal rules from a made up BS metal scene «there are no metal community, its illution». Swine not worthy of the perls. The Wild Hunt is not only the best album they have done but with that album they also trancended labels and genres and became their own very unique thing with songs like the tittle track, Outlaw, Holocaust Dawn, The child must die, Black Flame march and yes THEY ROAD ON! I dont care what morons have to say about that song it is a AMAZING song. And with that song especially they showed that they are in fact real artists who do whatever they want to as apose to all the real sell outs who are stuck in a bubble from their teenage years. It was such a exiting time for music around 2010 -2015. It was kind of like a breaking point where no one cared about rules anymore and did whatever they wanted with bands like The Devils Blood, In solitude, and at the time: Ghost and Shining to. I have selldom been more dissapointed then when Watain realesed their next album and where they had regressed everything they startet on The Wild Hunt. Instead of beeing so full of life and fire like everyone was saying it sounded so calculated, generic and devoid of fire. It is the only Watain album where there is only two songs thats good while the rest sounds like a phoned in, generic wanna be Mayhem de mysteries band ! I am so Glad they picked up the thorch again with The Agony and Ecstacy of Watain wich is there close second best album

[@RautaMetal]

Be it as it may, I also find The Wild Hunt their least passionate album and also the tamest one. With that album I think Watian lost its touch. If that make me a moron, so be it. For me it’s not a good album, but more like Satyricon’s latest ones: lukewarm

[@Hellawaits1]

Rauta you have best shirt ever 🎉

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks! This Slayer one is from 2003 Wacken with the classic Slayer eagle on it. Loving it.

[@tonnievos5680]

Great interview

[@RautaMetal]

Thx

[@fizzybubblech666]

At last this Watain showed you its respect

[@RautaMetal]

Yes, very pleasant conversation!

[@zaraustra]

Eric er en engel akkurat som Euronymuos ❤

[@user-vm1yc8vz7y]

Álvaro 🤘

[@SturmgeistSuffering]

best interview yet.

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks!

[@patrickbertlein4626]

@@RautaMetal Man how long did you spend responding to comments?! haha good on you man.

[@RautaMetal]

A lot.

[@VVELTSCHMERZ303]

Wait, Mayhem has covered Burzum?! When and where was this?

[@C.A.T.Stroud]

Set showed the audience respect, right handed comes from the heart... Left handed comes from an empty space... I despise those people who did that to this band.

[@waltergilman3998]

It made me laugh that the whole Mainstream Metal-Community went crazy because of the Hitler salute of Set Teitan, yet nobody ever was offened by Watains early interviews or their religious concept in general

[@DahmerJ17]

Great interview and great questions! Met Eric and talked to him back in 2013, he was a real prick then...Haha.

[@RautaMetal]

Thx

[@philcrutches5274]

Interesting what he says about Berlin & cancel culture, for sure true. What he later add's (around minute 31:28) does not apply here- no one of the woke stream ask's anything, it's straight cancel, sometimes threats, organizers obey and thats it.

[@ShadowSamba]

Erik - Smacking the thighs - Danielsson!

[@ceceliataylor84]

Toinen dammit! Lets go Jerry!!

[@RautaMetal]

leeetsssss goooooo!

[@ceceliataylor84]

​@@RautaMetal 🤘🤘🤘!!

[@PhilAss]

Did not know Erik hated Dimmu Borgir

[@shatraugh4239]

Erikvlt

[@sofoclesmefisto]

Aside from Dark Funeral, Behemoth & Dimmu Borgir , Watain took to another level the fact of making this genre a damn CARTOON of itself and a pathetic circus, oh and i forgot Belphegor 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@RautaMetal]

You forgot Immortal!

[@SIT805]

Dude on the right needs to start lifting at least twice a week.

[@RautaMetal]

Like all people

[@nodtveidt6663]

Hail Satan. Hail Watain. FTW

[@GibberishRight]

The wild hunt is bad? Wat?

[@RautaMetal]

Not bad but not good either. Check it out how it is rated in general. Not that it is stopping you liking it

[@hnikudr]

Weirdest-timeline Joe Rogan.

[@RautaMetal]

I will take this as a compliment

[@user-or5lt5eh4s]

Watain forever 🤘

[@Pussymistic]

Great interview!

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks!

[@jonkaasman693]

Op een dag gaan we allemaal dood.

[@Federico.el.Noruego]

Great interview🤘🏼

[@RautaMetal]

Thanks!

[@Federico.el.Noruego]

🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼