WATAIN Completes Work On New Album

After spending two "intense" months at Necromorbus Studio (NOMINON, AVERSE SEFIRA, FUNERAL MIST, NEX, ONDSKAPT, MORK GRYNING, ADORIOR) in Alvik, Sweden, Swedish black metallers WATAIN have finally completed work on their as-yet-untitled fourth album, to be released by Season Of Mist on June 7.

Commented WATAIN frontman Erik "E" Danielsson: "I am now holding in my hand the final master tape of what might be the most dynamic and charged WATAIN release ever recorded. May the gods unto which it is written be pleased!

"We are very much looking forward to share this rich feast with our followers, whom we know have been hungering for a very long time. All I can say is that it will be worth the wait.

"We raise our cups unto all of you whose patience and support have been constant during the three fiery years since the release of 'Sworn to the Dark' and look forward to set the night aflame with you again soon!"

After announcing their special BATHORY tribute set on June 12 as part of this year's Sweden Rock Festival, WATAIN were approached by Sweden Rock Magazine to record a BATHORY cover for a special CD. In collaboration with Sweden Rock Magazine and Season Of Mist, WATAIN has put together a special CD that all subscribers of the magazine will get with issue #70 (out April 6). The CD consists of a cover of BATHORY's "The Return of Darkness and Evil" as well as the brand new track "Reaping Death", from WATAIN's asupcoming CD.

"The cool thing about Sweden Rock Magazine is that it covers metal's traditions and history and what metalhead head isn't aware of the genre's history?" says WATAIN frontman Erik "E" Danielsson. "It felt like the right forum for a tribute to BATHORY, one of extreme metal's forefathers, especially the Scandinavian side of it. All the pieces fell into place."

WATAIN didn't go for the obvious. Instead the band decided to do a cover of the early version of BATHORY's "The Return of Darkness and Evil", found on the cult 1984 compilation album "Scandinavian Metal Attack".

"It was the first recording BATHORY ever did and to me it feels like that song, in that version, sums up BATHORY: a Satanic MOTÖRHEAD, a pitchblack G.B.H. It's rooted in what was heaviest at the time, but took it one step further," says E.

BATHORY founder Quorthon died on June 3, 2004 from heart failure. What would he think of WATAIN covering his early work?

"I hope and think that our love of BATHORY is very apparent and I think he would've been very proud," says E. "We've rarely agreed to do a tribute, except in the case of DISSECTION. Our version is a pure tribute. We're not trying to make it into a WATAIN song, we're just pointing a big fucking spotlight at BATHORY. Hail the hordes!"

For more information, visit www.swedenrockmagazine.com.

Last but not least, WATAIN will release a single entitled "Reaping Death". It will be made available as a picture seven-inch EP on Walpurgisnacht. This single will feature the track "Reaping Death" along with a special B-side.