Watain: An interview with vocalist Erik Danielsson

Recently I had a chance to sit down with vocalist Erik Danielsson of the popular and controversial Swedish black metal band Watain. The band is unique in the sense that despite the fact that they have maintained their extreme sound throughout their career, their appeal continues to widen.
The band has also expressed the idea that their music and outlandish live performances (which have often included severed animal heads -- yes, real ones) are a very specific form of artistic expression, occupying a space outside of a world that they view as a shallow place.
Their latest album "The Wild Hunt" is the band's most diverse album to date, and has received widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike. The inclusion of a moody gothic ballad on the record has been a point of discussion on the web and in many publications. That being said the album is no more melodic or accessible than their previous releases, so I thought it would be a good idea to speak to Danielsson about their strange cross-over success, and I delve deeper into the in-between place where the music and philosophy of Watain dwells.
- Andrew Epstein
www.alancross.ca/a-journal-of-...

[@coalhalo]

Despite a lack of knowledge about black metal the interviewer did a good job of asking intelligent questions and eliciting good responses...one of the better interviews of this type that I've seen in some time

[@petergriffin383]

The lead singer jacked me off in a airport bathroom last year...good guy.

[@ms.felonystrutter2472]

you should always do some research before you do something..

[@mephistopheleslair8466]

Peter Griffin Troll.

[@darktherion7462]

I agree 100%

[@whenpigsfly860]

Watch Erik's facial tic when the interviewer says Dissection and Dark Funeral in the same sentence at 4:25.

[@zabachelnachash3642]

When Pigs Fly it was the Dark Funeral reference that caught Eriks attention!

[@hellhound480]

When Pigs Fly what’s about dark funeral getting hate from Watain and Shinning ?

[@PartialViewmusic]

@@hellhound480 Dark Funeral are, in lack of a better word, posers. For Watain that are the purest most serious band possible it sure must be very infuriating to see a band that doesnt take the spiritual side of Black Metal seriously at all.

[@manusvcord9216]

Dark fun

[@Varkhal218]

@Qethiel USBM You seem to have more knowledge than I have on this subject. Could you give me the names of some other bands(bm or otherwise) that seriously dabbled in satanism or the occult in general, beyond casual folk paganism?

[@trentond9911]

Eric is so damn smart and well spoken

[@vilholaaksonen6271]

It's allways nice when the interviewee says things like "oh, good question". That's when you know a real conversation is going on instead of just a hollow smalltalk.

[@CameronEdmond]

Great interview - good questions, good answers. This is what all metal interviews should be like.

[@gamayun6102]

I could listen to him for days. So intelligent and interesting!

[@janisarroyo5370]

Kyrie Eleison I could stare at him all day. He’s simply divine.

[@travistrent9840]

Very intelligent and respectful guy.

[@missannethroppick66s]

Erik is Georgeous

[@Moonsorrow15]

Erik's face when he said Dark Funeral haha

[@paulbryden4006]

Lol yeah it was erm ok lol. But joke aside love how Erik explained his answers. And great interview as well

[@brandijohnson1326]

I saw that too that was funny!

[@ExodusToxicWaltz]

You're a great interviewer bro.

[@governorandrew]

Thanks bud. Hope you can check out some of the others.

[@ExodusToxicWaltz]

+Andrew Epstein I subscribed :)

[@governorandrew]

Glad you enjoyed it. To be clear, I didn't think it was necessary to go through a whole black metal history lesson for a Watain interview. It was more important to me to focus on the band. AlanCross.ca covers pretty much ALL genres of rock so it was just a general intro before the interview. I suppose I could have used the word "rose" instead of "formed" but I feel if someone wants to learn more about the genre in general, there are plenty of sources for that.

[@bcparkerjr]

This interviewer is very good

[@alicechapa]

This is the best interview of Watain out here in KZbin. It’s a shame recent interviews are so shallow.

[@cpierre7326]

I really love this interview and the interviewer! The interviewer didn't ask the same old stuipd questions and he knew about the band. I think that got Erik to speak me openly and freely when he aswered the questions.

[@governorandrew]

Much appreciated. You can see more at my site: www.zombitrol.com

[@cpierre7326]

+Andrew Epstein Welcome! 🤘🏾

[@fabiobarresi5192]

This is quite possibly the best and most enjoyable interview I have ever seen.

[@governorandrew]

Thank you kindly. If you'd like you can see more at www.zombitrol.com

[@boga-boo2349]

Watain performed on the music venue where I work and I didn't have the opportunity to speak to this guy but he seams very polite and a very kind person. This is a very good interview also. Good job man!

[@SJ-ym4yt]

”Are people who don’t get Watain as much part of the artistic expression as people who don’t get Watain?” What a brilliant question.

[@MontyCantsin5]

*do get Watain*

[@kristiinabjrstrom5271]

Really great interview. I never tire of listening to this brilliant man talk.

[@LigeiaNoire]

it is a pleasure to listen to him.

[@holycaust]

good interview. thanks for posting

[@VoidCultEternal]

Excellent interview. I'd love it if you had touched more on the lyrical aspects, but all in all, great interview.

[@governorandrew]

Thanks for the kind words. I'd love for you to check out more of my interviews www.zombitrol.com. Hails.

[@Ynffy]

I liked this interview! Informative!

[@Robocop80s]

Excellent interview ... Mr . Epstein obviously did his homework .. Asking some in depth question . Thereby creating a real dialog and by proxy bringing about deeper insight from the creative mind of Erik Danielsson ...

[@governorandrew]

Thanks guys. Please check out more of my interviews here: www.zombitrol.com

[@MetaliBlack666]

"Black Metal created in the early 1990's in Norway" Huh?

[@Keylooh]

good interviewer, knows what he talks about.

[@shawnc318]

Great interview...

[@FaithofSatan]

loved your interview hun very good questions, you handled it very well, one of the best ones out there.

[@governorandrew]

Thank you kindly. I have more here: www.zombitrol.com

[@dirtydan5146]

Morbetha Raven hey man that's a kickass logo. I saw a lot of those logos on the back of jackets in a watain show. no clue where to get the back patch. any clue where to get that back patch ?

[@loupnoir3647]

Black Metal is true music of Nature 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

[@binamalfeitor8501]

i love so much this interview and Erik Danielsson is very brillant & so nice person.... Hail ± Watain....Hail ± Erik :))

[@jamdwhi]

Excellent interview man! This is the style of interview I always crave. You were knowledgeable about the band, and you're extremely intelligent. Which should be a standard for interviewers, but sadly many don't know shit about the band they're talking to, and they seem to have double digit IQs. So it's refreshing to see people like you.

[@Luciferia-ow6qr]

jamdwhi Get the fuck out of this thread, troll

[@jamdwhi]

Luciferia21811 Troll? If I see some idiot saying idiotic things, I enjoy nothing more than to call him out on it. That's not being a troll dumbass.

[@governorandrew]

jamdwhi Thanks for the kind words. I have many more interviews on my site www.zombitrol.com. Hails.

[@henrikpersson8741]

Great interview👍💯

[@MilesMetal]

He does sound like Count Dracula.

[@MuseGem]

He's so adorable :3

[@binamalfeitor8501]

yesss i'm agree with you :))

[@thesemiwhitehokage5722]

Its not a rumour, theyre satanists. And no im not some crazed paranoid christian theyve openly admitted theyre views and they are involved in satanic cults. They do animal sacrifices and have done some pretty fucked up shit on stage too

[@yishaisweartz9699]

TheSemiWhiteHokage

[@kittykream693]

MissMetal23 and also mine😌

[@tiffanystephens4785]

I agree. Hottest man on earth.

[@friedrichschopenhauer2900]

Black metal existed before the nineties, damn it.

[@Black_marked]

Good interview.

[@mumincuntofficial1790]

You made a huge mistake in the beginning. The Black Metal is formed in Sweden in 1984.

[@MforceArts]

Solid interview man

[@governorandrew]

Thank you sir. I have more at www.zombitrol.com.

[@MJ-op4kt]

Well done, respect !

[@CounterCultureProductions]

Is it just me or does it look like Erik has blue hair?

[@kittykream693]

It’s blue lol

[@humantacos9800]

He's emo

[@cristinesalisbury63]

It's his exquisite beauty Shining through 🌺🕊

[@piotrt8306]

Interesting questions

[@Strielok1988]

Anybody knows where I can get such leather jacket as Erik is wearing in the video?

[@AndTuts]

The first black metal album was Black Metal by Venom. It was created in the UK and Sweden during the 80's. Not Norway in the 90's.

[@livefastordie]

AndTuts No

[@paulbryden4006]

@@livefastordie yes. Sorry but venom were the 1st.

[@as7river]

@@paulbryden4006 Getting into specifics with sub-genres and styles is often childish and most respectable artists (such as Grutle Kjellson and Fenriz) will wave you off answering those questions. And it's true, it's childish and immature. Nevertheless, there are distinctions that are worth making. Venom developed the mind-set and lyricism of Black Metal during their early years, but at no point during their entire career where they considered Black Metal in terms of musicality. There are many definitions of Black Metal, but the core principle is harsh and shrieking vocals, extremely fast tempos, and dark themes. Venom only meets the last aspect by Skandinavian standards, and with a cartoon-ish flavor; Kronos has asserted that many times. The very first act that comes to my mind, that truly dedicated time and effort into producing black metal, albeit accidentally, was Bathory. Again, this argument is childish and I am in no way taking your dispute here seriously. But even Black Metal has plenty of culture and knowledge to offer for those interested. In the eyes of the church, Elvis was as evil as black metal at some point.

[@maziku4749]

i lived very close to the opera house (5 min walk north on broadview) and ate at the subway next door a lot. met many musicians in there getting something to eat.

[@todericoart]

nice interview.

[@Hydra615]

Where can i find proper boots like Erik's?

[@blueriverg]

I like him.

[@MackanThrashingMad]

Black metal was created in the 90's? Yeah.

[@ms.felonystrutter2472]

I love the Wild Hunt album, it shows true greatness and it is not for narrow-minded Black Metal fans...only people that understand music is freedom and no one should put limitations on themselves. Fuck the Underground. Nothing worse than a bunch of small minded people who really looking to call something their own when they never made what they are trying to own.

[@ErikaLioness]

Music ideals the message the lyrics the style there is nothing of this band that I dont absorb with passion

[@jocksilver7]

Of course Venom were doing it since 1980, but that was meant with a pinch of salt and ham. Of course Bathory's eponymous sets the sonic standard, but Black Metal as we knew it, is nowadays represented by a very few names - and you know them, like my compatriots Decayed. Believe me, I was 18 in 1981. I don't mind the "evolution" for specifically "aesthetical and philosophical purposes" - I really don't, but Watain are still within the realms of the black flame there used to burn. I bought Wildhunt deluxe vinyl edition - it's a SUPERB record!

[@leroyjones4219]

This guy is a very well spoken and articulate deep thinker. Very impressed with how he carries himself and his answers. With that said, how in THE HELL can he be the same front man for this band? He is the polar opposite. I hear all the stuff about animals, which makes me think they are pieces of shit...yet he throws a curve ball like this. Is he just playing a character?

[@Aimtofflan]

99% of all black metal is just a front. They are not satanists and crazy even if they want you to think so, even Gaahl who talked about satanism all the time is a poser. Thats why I always respectd Darkthrone the most, they never ever tried to be some shit they aint. They stopped with corpse paint and shit and just makes nice music.

[@Blackmetalmusicguru]

Aimtofflan i agree most black metal i dont take serious its more about appearing a certian way

[@Varkhal218]

@@Aimtofflan Watain are serious about satanism and the occult. But they dont abuse animal. They just use animal corpses and blood, to my knowledge.

[@TezinaBenzina]

Anybody recognize what band shirt Erik is wearing?

[@1KevinsFamousChili1]

+TezinaBenzina Grotesque. I don't know if you actually want to know or if you're testing people on their knowledge of obscure metal bands but ya it's a Grotesque shit

[@Bigotdweller]

+TezinaBenzina Grotesque, former At the Gates members and necrolord were in the band. to name a few

[@FaithofSatan]

defo not entertainment seeing them live it is powerful how can I explain for me it's like a natural high

[@ZPDUDE87]

seems like a pretty intelligent guy

[@naamah7041]

Erik has an immense patience. I wouldn't give the clay worms my energy and time.

[@jamdwhi]

LUCIFERIA AETERNUS11218 You'll never be in his position anyway. So don't worry your little head.

[@jamdwhi]

LUCIFERIA AETERNUS11218 That was an excellent comeback lol. Go spend some time becoming smart ya big dummy. You are not edgy or intelligent at all.

[@jamdwhi]

LUCIFERIA AETERNUS11218 And let me reiterate this. You will never be in a position where anyone would be even remotely interested in interviewing you. So like I said, don't worry your little precious head.

[@Varkhal218]

Pretty pathetic comment, op. Its pretty clear that at this point in your life you werent really to much into the actual religious aspects of what Watain is about, and more about the edgy aesthetic of it. Hope you have matured. Also, I dont get why. The guy was respectful and asked pretty good questions. Especially for someone otherwise not fammiliar with the subject

[@TheGalamoth]

Erik's face at 4:29 when Dark Funeral was named was like "..the hell did you just say?"

[@jocksilver7]

I just cross my fingers hoping there won't be a dimmuburgerization about Watain.

[@jocksilver7]

The words Dimmu Borgir in Portuguese strangely sounds like as if you were saying "Give me a burger!"...

[@ThatKrookedVulture]

Is Eric's hair dyed blue or is that an illusion from the camera light?

[@governorandrew]

Honestly it's too long ago to remember now. It could have been black dye which can look blue on camera in the light.

[@kittykream693]

It’s blue. You can see black in his hair as well, it’s both.

[@flawful_dude]

Haha. I enjoy the comments under, each thinking they know it all. Why fight over which genre came upon first, I've said it and i will again. It's all roots heavy metal and the rest branches. Play it and not argue, so enjoy the music.

[@captainflint978]

Yup....just forget about Venom & Bathory

[@pipipiapa8429]

The audience don't really care about all those arguments and reasoning. For them music is all that matters in the end

[@cleopatrasmith6482]

I love that Erik is so patient

[@donnyramay2635]

He has the same Swedish accent as Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson from Marduk.

[@NeroBorgata26]

They are doing well that is a nice bus!! LOL

[@dougpridgen9682]

Black Metal started in the '80s youngsters, with Venom, Hellhammer, and Bathory. To a lesser extent Sodom (In the Sign of Evil/Obsessed by Cruelty) and Destruction (Sentence of Death/Infernal Overkill), although also Thrash (Blackened Thrash?).

[@Finn-gx6ir]

Europeans Started Black metal Before it became Black metal . Sodom, Destruction and Kreator Had the Sound and The Vocals of black metal and the rawness of it. Venom just gave it a name and Perfected Black metal when they sang about the Devil. When Venom Came out thats When mayhem kicked in and that's where it all started i believe.

[@ahmedomar1098]

Black Metal was created in 1970 by sacrifices album form black widows band

[@olivernewman6731]

the first black metal band was Black Veil Brides

[@lokilaufeyson276]

+TheSemiWhiteHokage No, but I think you are if you think he's being serious.

[@rickcaia9213]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHABAHABAHAHAH

[@rickcaia9213]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHABAHABAHAHAH

[@rickcaia9213]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHABAHABAHAHAH

[@rickcaia9213]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHABAHABAHAHAH

[@coryses]

there are different Waves dude!

[@Malar1ya]

Early 1990's in Norway.. yeah sure.. get your facts straight.. Venom created Black Metal.. and Quorthon of Bathory made it harder..

[@seitanicgoat3194]

at first I thought that Eric had a pin of the mushroom from Super Mario, at second look I think still the same

[@BballNintendo3]

I wouldn’t think that he’s a devil worshipper from this interview

[@iIntend2offendU]

the interviewer is a bit misinformed about the genre's origins but still a fucking awesome interview

[@oscarardines7718]

callanse la boca y dejen de estar peleando y criticando a la banda watain para mi opinion es la mejor banda de suecia de black metal

[@MercurialAscent]

that look when he says "deep purple" @ 5:40. He looks like he just told us he farted.

[@deceitdeceitdeceit]

why is his hair blue? :D

[@binamalfeitor8501]

maybe for the show

[@poopee223]

Black Metal, started in the 90's? Nope.

[@missannethroppick66s]

people only understand themselv es

[@bloodcorer]

Who could rly take a goat looking god seriously?

[@isobellap2556]

That’s not his guy. The symbol he wears and uses as Watain’s symbol is Neptune’s symbol. That guy goes by many different pseudonyms in different religions and mythologies around the world. He actually has a humanoid appearance, not that of an animal.

[@AlbertSirup]

post-structuralist black metal^^

[@rezamoosavi6725]

invest in some wireless Lavs please. that mic in his face is so annoying.

[@kpmorgan]

Non-commercial??? Watain has t-shirts being sold in Hot Topic!!!! Fucking comical!! SMFH! There's no way those shirts get into a Hot Topic without their consent if they are TRULY against commercialism. What a fucking joke!

[@WotanWhiteWolf]

SUXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

[@jaimuzyka3177]

0:10 Two words: Bull SHIT Quorthon is turning in his grave!

[@grandmapussydestoryer6669]

eric talks to much. but a really great interview and interviewer!

[@governorandrew]

Thank you sir. Hails. \m/

[@grandmapussydestoryer6669]

Andrew Epstein no problem baby.

[@shiladeadmoon]

you never can ask an artist of what he is doing! Thats why we are arists!!! WTF!!!

[@kylej.8648]

Needs more satanic bracelets!! lmao

[@tahjakoas9065]

meyham invented death meatal

[@Strielok1988]

I like Watain but I really hate overintelectualising music and his talking about his superiority to others just because he "can reach the beyond" - skinny small boy talking about him being a wolf amon the sheep. The strongest person is a 2metres+ high african jungle inhabitant, who can break your skull with one finger.

[@lokilaufeyson276]

Hahaha, what? Well somebody's fucking butt hurt.

[@jakedavis6943]

And yet, even though the "with one finger" bit is not quite accurate, man has tamed those creatures as well. Size doesn't matter and quite frankly, and simply, the size and intellect of ones mind is what dictates strength.

[@Aimtofflan]

Black Metal has always been really pretentious. But thats to be expected when the whole movement and genre started with pretentious kids who wanted to "fight" against the "boring" death metal.

[@Varkhal218]

And I suppose you are one of those people who can break skulls with one finger?

[@AnthonyCalderwood777]

great interview.