Lyrical themes:
Satanic Warmaster's lyrics deal mainly with nature, folklore, Satanism, and "occult and warlike themes." In a Q&A session in 2014 on the official Satanic Warmaster website, Werwolf answered questions from his fans for 24 hours, where he revealed a chart presenting all the lyrical themes and messages in his songs throughout the band's existence up to 2014. The chart had Satan, death and "spiritual rebellion" as three of the most important themes in his music, and against common misconceptions, dismissed the rumor that his music was ever involved in the National Socialist black metal ideology, citing that racism and Nazism were never dealt with as focal themes of any his songs. In 2009, Ylioppilaslehti, the biggest student newspaper in Finland, published an article about black metal, which featured an interview with Werwolf. In the interview, he explained his lyrical aesthetics even further.
Ideology:
The band has received criticism for their associations with NSBM, notably split releases with bands such as Absurd and Aryan Blood. In a 2003 interview for the Finnish metal webzine Imperiumi, Werwolf explained his personal beliefs in a detailed manner: "Pan-European traditional Satanism is a comprehensive ideological and philosophical alignment, which aims for the bettering of an individual and the most beneficial elbow space through the acknowledgement (and partially harnessing) of the dark and destructive (and thus initially creative) force of nature and cosmos. Excluding anything has never been the best option. Satanism constitutes my world view about 100%." In context to his music, he explained the reflection of his ideology into his music even further: "Lyrically Satanic Warmaster is a reflection of the Luciferian spirit through the eyes of a young man. I deal with subjects personally and mainly in a very symbolic way. For example I've written symbolic tales of creation and rebirth influenced by folklore, and totalist and elitist visions of what Black Metal's brotherhood should be like.
I'm driven to do all this by the flame that burns in my music, the (artistic) aspirations of a man and the light of the black star of the dark lord of nature." In January 2015, Werwolf explained his ideology and the protests towards his music even further, "If someone becomes a โNaziโ just by working with or hanging around โthe wrong kind of people,โ should it not be true in all possible contexts? Unless it is all about the effort of trying to sand down the sharpest edges of modern music. Personally, I could never tie Satanic Warmaster down to the concept of NSBM for the reasons that have been there from 1998: It would not coincide with my conviction and the thoughts I want to convey through my music. To see me crush all the chains of an Abrahamic religion and proclaim my victory in the most insulting way possible, or me seeing good, evil, or lies where, according to political correctness, none should exist, it takes a twisted mind to see all this as a reflection of some political dogma. As I have said before and will say once again: The ideology behind Satanic Warmaster is Satanism and the musical style is black metal. Those, who claim otherwise, do it on the basis of their own feelings and resentment."
Warmaster Returns
Satanic Warmaster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stabbed in spite by a thousand knives
To murder not only this world
But also "god" and to crush his cenotaphs
In times of strife
A fire burns
Warmaster returns
Those who awaited in dread and revulsion
For the sombre tyrant's return
And to once again hail the cloven hoof
In forbidden spirit with the courage of kings
In times of strife
A fire burns
Warmaster returns
When the kingdoms of men fall in mayhem
The ones who live for strife will survive
There will be no equality, no exemption
The violent inversion of the inefficient earth
When the fortresses of choice have decayed
Blood convokes those with the will to fight
And those who strove to embrace the world in vein
Shall claim their distinction when burned at the pyre
The lyrics of Satanic Warmaster's "Warmaster Returns" convey a burning desire to overthrow the hegemony of Christianity, its god and followers, and replace it with a new order led by the "Warmaster". The opening lines get straight to the point, describing the horrific aftermath of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, with the "reek of black echo" emanating from his eyes, a symbol of his death and the supposed defeat of his message. The subsequent lines describe the ambition to extend this destruction beyond the confines of the world, to the very edifices erected to worship Christ.
The next stanza provides a glimpse of hope for those who share the same ambition as the Warmaster, the hope that one day they will witness his return, heralding a new era of upheavals and strife. The lines that follow are a call to action, urging those who await the Warmaster's return to stand firm and fight in the face of the crushing odds, defying the norms and standards of society and rallying to the banner of the forbidden spirit.
The third stanza is a warning to those who have rejected this call to arms and caved in to the status quo, that the day of reckoning is nigh. When the kingdoms of men fall in mayhem, the violent inversion of the inefficient earth will commence, and the ones who live for strife will survive. The lyrics then climax with an image of the inevitable fate awaiting those who shunned the Warmaster's cause, they will be burned at the pyre and forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
The reek of black echo from Christ's eyes
The odour of evil, darkness and despair emanated from what Christ supposedly saw, causing those around him to lose hope
Stabbed in spite by a thousand knives
Christ was viciously attacked by those who held hatred and disdain for him
To murder not only this world
The goal was not only to bring death and destruction to this world but also beyond
But also "god" and to crush his cenotaphs
The target was not only to harm the idea of a deity but also its memorials or remembrances
In times of strife
Amidst chaotic or turbulent events
A fire burns
A passion or desire is kindled
Warmaster returns
The leader or commander arrives to take charge
Those who awaited in dread and revulsion
Individuals who feared and hated the return of the dark ruler
For the sombre tyrant's return
Eagerly anticipating the arrival of the gloomy oppressor
And to once again hail the cloven hoof
To celebrate and praise the devilish figure that has reappeared
In forbidden spirit with the courage of kings
With a rebellious attitude, defying the norm, and displaying bravery in the face of danger
When the kingdoms of men fall in mayhem
During the time when the societies and governments of humans crumble amidst chaos
The ones who live for strife will survive
Those who thrive on conflict and battles will persevere
There will be no equality, no exemption
There will be no fairness or dispensation for anyone
The violent inversion of the inefficient earth
The planet will undergo a catastrophic upheaval due to its inadequacies and deficiencies
When the fortresses of choice have decayed
After the strongholds of free will and options have crumbled and deteriorated
Blood convokes those with the will to fight
The shedding of blood summons individuals who yearn to engage in combat
And those who strove to embrace the world in vein
Individuals who attempted to achieve something meaningful in their lives but failed
Shall claim their distinction when burned at the pyre
These people will be recognized for their uniqueness when they are sacrificed in a fire
Contributed by Vivian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Decaying Reality
Nazgul is fucking amazing, Its impossible to be disappointed in Satanic Warmaster even this day in age.
korppi HCR2
@Michael Meyers also when Werwolf was known as Nazgul when he played in Horna
Michael Meyers
Nazgul is the moniker Werwolf used when he was in Pest
Khal Netherfields
whos nazgul, is that werewolf?
Cimaz Talal
Greatest song to ever exist
RenTec
4:35 this has to be my favorite Satanic Warmaster riff
Mateo Claure
Mine too! This band is on another level
brandonc223
No one is more powerful then The Warmaster.
Sebastiรกn
Best song ever
Sander Cohen
The beginning guitar riff melody sounds very similar to the keyboard melody intro to Pest's "The Black Forest".