WATAIN
“TRIDENT WOLF ECLIPSE”
Album Review By Lloyd Parkinson
8/10
The sacrilegious Swedish Black Metal masters have returned with album 6 (66).
Before going into depth with this album its notable to mention that this album is going to send shivers through people’s spines. Not purely because of the music but because of who Watain are and what the band are all about. Black Metal is well known and often given a controversial reputation for satanic rituals and acts of sinister evil. And, Watain does certainly not make an exception in this case. The lead vocalist Erik Danielson controversially performs satanic rituals during live shows using the carcasses of dead animals. However, Watain really don’t appear to be a band that generally take any of this controversy to heart and have always just carried on with their creative and artistic assault.
It’s been 6 years since the band’s last offering and to hit the scene with an album as devastatingly savage as “Trident Wolf Eclipse” is a strong sign that the band are back with a sinister vengeance. Contemporary Black Metal is undeniably a different monster compared to what it was twenty years ago, but this album has all the components of darkness that started the genre. The pure aggression and relentlessness does not give in throughout this entire album and proves that Watain are a cataclysmic and apocalyptic force of pure Black Metal insanity.
The album erupts with “Nuclear Alchemy” which is a raw, chaotic and rhythmic assault of “Black Metal”. Front man Erik Danielson spits out pure hatred in this track and it’s hard not to get pulled into his rage. The third track “Teufelsreich” showcases the band’s dynamic ability to move away from full-scale chaos and produce a much slower and rhythm based offering. It’s a really cool shift from what Watain are known for and not really needed on this album, but does prove that they can diversify their musical and creative ability. It’s important and worthy of pointing out that apart from being an aesthetically brilliant album, there is also a slight hint of melody, which can be heard during “The Fire of Power”.
Whilst there are notable and clear influences such as Bathory in Watain’s defined musical style, there is a conception that separates them from other Black Metal bands in the scene. Furthermore, they have a technical ability that covers a wide spectrum of music styles yet they never move away from their static comfort zone. Watain have refused to shift from what they believe in and they have also refused to explain their personal and artistic values to their fans. It’s clique, but it’s just like the nature of a wolf: it lures sheep towards it. Watain are very secretive and they will not engage in any questions they are asked regarding their personal lives, their musical influences nor their political or socio-cultural opinion; as a fan you really are forced into just trusting them to create their art.
The final curtain that is worth mentioning is, how brilliant this album is in terms of being contemporary brilliant with it’s concept and aesthetical style. Overall, “Trident Wolf Eclipse” is an absolute beast of an album. It doesn’t offer anything different from what the band have produced in the past but with Watain that doesn’t actually matter. Watain have continued to break the boundaries of the Black Metal lore with this album. This album proves that Watain are satanic demons that express their dark and brutal beliefs through a soundtrack that gives an intimidating and blasphemous impact.
BAND LINE UP
Erik Danielsson
Hakan Jonsson
Pelle Forsberg
TRACKLIST
Nuclear Alchemy
Sacred Damnation
Teufelsreich
Furor Diabolicus
A Throne Below
Ultra (Pandemoniac)
Towards The Sanctuary
The Fire Of Power
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