WATAIN Frontman Explains New Album Title

Swedish black metallers WATAIN will release their fourth album, "Lawless Darkness", on June 7 via Season Of Mist.

Commented WATAIN frontman Erik "E" Danielsson: "The title symbolizes the unbound chaotic potential of that which is void of light. The light that defines, the light that shapes and restricts. The light by which the forces of law and order uphold their reign. In the absence of that light lies the wellspring of WATAIN: in Lawless Darkness.

"With this album and in all of our efforts with WATAIN we aim to capture the hungry madness and glimmering purity of darkness beyond illusion, the void that holds all yet where naught is manifest, the primordial tomb into which all the vanity of man and his creation shall collapse: indeed, The Lawless Darkness!

"Lawless Darkness shall be seen as a monument erected in honour of that collapse and a dedication to all those brave souls, who have willingly dared to venture the winding paths towards it."

"Shed not thy light on me
Get thee hence, thoughts defined
Blind me not with your bright structures
For I am of the night

"Let not thy rays caress me
Judged by them I will not be
For they are the light that governs man
And I am the enemy"

WATAIN will return to the United States once again in late May as part of the annual aural offensive known as the Maryland Deathfest, appearing with SODOM, OBITUARY, ENTOMBED, POSSESSED, NECROPHOBIC and countless others.

After completing the regular portion of its set at this year's Sweden Rock Festival on June 12, WATAIN will return to the stage for a unique 45-minute tribute concert featuring classic BATHORY songs. The event promises to be even more special as the BATHORY part of WATAIN's performance will be introduced by none other than late BATHORY mainman Quorthon's father and producer, Börje "Boss" Forsberg.

"It feels great to have Boss participating in a part of the show, since he, in a way, is the only living link to the BATHORY myth," says WATAIN frontman Erik "E" Danielsson. "It will still be a tribute show and nothing else, but we are, of course, honored to be able to do it with his blessing!"

Danielsson conducted an exclusive interview with Boss about BATHORY and Quorthon's extraordinary contributions to metal for a full-length feature that will be published in issue #70 of Sweden Rock Magazine. Sweden Rock and Season Of Mist have also collaborated with WATAIN on a special CD that all subscribers of the magazine will receive in the first week of April. The disc will consist of WATAIN's cover version of BATHORY's classic track "The Return of Darkness and Evil" as well as a brand new WATAIN song, "Reaping Death", which will appear on the band's forthcoming album, "Lawless Darkness", to be released by Season Of Mist on June 7.

"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 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."

Quorthon was found dead in his apartment in Stockholm, Sweden on June 7, 2004. The 39-year-old, widely considered to be one of black metal's founding fathers, reportedly died of heart failure.

For more information, visit www.swedenrockmagazine.com.