According to Erik Danielsson, when the band formed, "there weren't really any bands anymore that seemed to take things that seriously, and there weren't that many bands that actually consisted of, you know, people that did so much more than just play the music that they liked and the same kind of music that their idols play". They released their demo Go Fuck Your Jewish "God" in 1998 and their live tape Black Metal Sacrifice in 1999, which they do not intend to re-release. In October 1999, the band released their EP The Essence of Black Purity through Grimrune Productions, which they consider to be their first official release, and played a show together with Malign and Dark Funeral, organised by Watain and Grimrune Productions.
Watain's debut album Rabid Death's Curse was released through End All Life Productions and Drakkar Productions in 2000, followed by a split EP with Diabolicum released through Spikekult Records. A split LP with Malign was planned in the early 2000s and supposed to be issued by Grimrune Productions before the recording of Watain's second album Casus Luciferi, but never got released. Watain toured Europe with Unpure in early 2002. In 2003, they again entered the studio to record their second full-length album, Casus Luciferi, which features lyrics by Necromorbus of Funeral Mist (who also produced all their studio releases since The Essence of Black Purity and played live bass for them), MkM of Antaeus and Scorn of Katharsis. The Stellar Descension Infernal Tour through Europe followed, alongside Secrets of the Moon and Averse Sefira. They also toured throughout 18 countries with Dissection on their two months-long 'Rebirth of Dissection' tour in 2004. Dissection member Set Teitan supported Watain in Russia in 2005 due to live bassist Whorth's absence, and later became an official live member of the band.
In 2006, members of the band did the Hitler salute and wore t-shirts of the NSBM band Absurd after their gig on German festival Party San Open Air, leading to accusations of being a Nazi band. Asked about this incident in an interview to the German online metal magazine Metal.de, Erik Danielsson (vocals and bass) gave an evasive answer, but when asked about his views on NSBM, he explained the band sees it as a joke: "NSBM is a joke, a despaired approach of people who're incapable to comprehend the perversion and the insanity of Black Metal. They're trying to appear extreme and limit their selves in their conception to that kind of society, which describes something that we wouldn't care less about. Fuck the world! Black Metal doesn't have anything to do with the world like you know it."
Their third full-length album Sworn to the Dark was released in Europe on 21 February 2007, then they toured Europe along with Celtic Frost, Kreator and Legion of the Damned. In 2008, they played their first headlining tour in North America with Book of Black Earth. Eclipse Eternal and Kronosfear joined them for some shows as well.
In 2010, Watain released a single for the song "Reaping Death" in two formats, picture disc vinyl with a cover of the song "Chains of Death" by Death SS, and digisleeve CD with a cover of the song "The Return of Darkness and Evil" by Bathory. It was followed by the album Lawless Darkness, released on 7 June 2010.
In 2013, Watain have announced the completion of their fifth album, The Wild Hunt, to be released on 19 and 20 August 2013 in Europe and United States, respectively. The album release will be followed by world tour that will begin in Uppsala on 24 August. The first single of the album, "All That May Bleed", was released on 21 June and features as B-side the song "Play with the Devil", "originally recorded by the Black/Heavy Metal band Taiwaz in 1988, in Uppsala." The second single of the album, "The Child Must Die", was released on 17 July 2013.
Current members:
E. (Erik Danielsson) - Vocals, Bass
P. (Pelle Forsberg) - Guitar
H. (Håkan Jonsson) - Drums
Live:
Set Teitan (Davide Totaro) - Guitar
A. (Alvaro Lillo) - Bass, Guitar
S.L. (Selim Lemouchi) - Guitar
Previous:
C. Blom - Guitar (1998–2000)
Mörkkh (Jonas Lindskog) - Bass
Necromorbus (Tore Stjerna) - Bass (Session 2000–2002)
Malfeitor
Watain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The cord of life was deformed, twisted into a noose
To strangle the miscarriage of the I
Upon which he shall feast that was spawned
By the semen of horror's fertile
As his many limbs extend across the Abyss
Thirteen horns and a million tusks
In a thousand jaws that breathe
And titan is their strength
Metamorphosphordus malformation
Your's is the call I follow
Astride the wings of Death
To the crossroads
Malfeitor, the master and servant in unity
At one with the Abyss when in your possession I am
Against the blindness of men
Thine eyes have been granted immunity
So that my sight be clear when wielding the Sword of the Damned
For I am begotten of the virgin whore
As truth and torment, priest and warrior
Now behold as I pervert and destroy their law
As the image of my philius moists the labia of Shekinah
For dark are the desires that dwell within my heart
And the Devil is in my kiss
Yes he is
Malfeitor!
In your possession I am
Twilight god of transformation
At the crossroads we meet again
I'll pace the path of madness with your banner held high
To the death's head true
Yes, I am of my father the Devil and the lusts of my father I will do
The lyrics to Watain’s song “Malfeitor” are a dark and haunting exploration of the human experience. The song opens with the singer proclaiming his connection to “shunned Gods,” suggesting a separation from mainstream religious beliefs. The image of the “cord of life” being twisted into a noose to strangle “the miscarriage of the I” is a powerful metaphor for the destruction of the self. The singer then describes a beast with “thirteen horns and a million tusks” that represents the desire to break free from the limitations of its existence.
As the song progresses, the singer invokes the name “Metamorphosphordus malformation” and an image of riding astride the wings of Death to the crossroads. “Malfeitor” is then described as a master and servant in unity, an entity in possession of the Abyss. Against the blindness of humanity, the singer’s eyes have been granted immunity, allowing him to wield the Sword of the Damned with clarity. He proclaims his connection to “the virgin whore” and desires that “dwell within my heart.” The song concludes with the singer declaring himself to be of his father the Devil, embracing the darkness within.
Overall, “Malfeitor” is a song that explores the themes of rebellion and individualism in the face of societal norms. The singer’s journey is one of breaking free from limitations and embracing the darkness within in order to find personal power and meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
By the blessing of shunned Gods
Through the favor of disdained deities
The cord of life was deformed, twisted into a noose
The thread of existence was contorted and fashioned into a rope
To strangle the miscarriage of the I
In order to choke out the stillbirth of the self
Upon which he shall feast that was spawned
The one that was created from this shall be the subject of his meal
By the semen of horror's fertile
Conceived from the seed of terror's prolific potency
As his many limbs extend across the Abyss
As his numerous appendages reach out over the great void
Thirteen horns and a million tusks
Having thirteen horns and uncountable tusks
In a thousand jaws that breathe
Within a thousand mouths that respire
Only to chew the chains that tie him to Assiah
With the sole purpose of grinding the bonds that bind him to Assiah
And titan is their strength
And their power is titanic
Metamorphosphordus malformation
Transmutation by way of Phosphorus malfunction
Your's is the call I follow
I heed your summons
Astride the wings of Death
Riding upon the wings of Death
To the crossroads
To the intersection of paths
Malfeitor, the master and servant in unity
Malfeitor, both master and servant, merged into one
At one with the Abyss when in your possession I am
Unified with the Abyss whenever I am in your possession
Against the blindness of men
Against the folly of humanity's unawareness
Thine eyes have been granted immunity
Your eyes have been bestowed with invulnerability
So that my sight be clear when wielding the Sword of the Damned
Thus allowing me to have clarity of vision and effectiveness when employing the Sword of the Damned
For I am begotten of the virgin whore
Because I have been fathered by the untainted prostitute
As truth and torment, priest and warrior
Being both veracity and strife, clergyman and fighter
Now behold as I pervert and destroy their law
Observe as I defile and obliterate their laws
As the image of my philius moists the labia of Shekinah
As the likeness of my offspring moistens the vulva of Shekinah
For dark are the desires that dwell within my heart
Because the yearnings that reside in my heart are grim
And the Devil is in my kiss
And the Devil is infused in my embrace
Malfeitor!
Malfeitor!
In your possession I am
When I am in your control
Twilight god of transformation
Deity of metamorphosis at dusk
At the crossroads we meet again
Once more we converge at the junction
I'll pace the path of madness with your banner held high
I will traverse the route of lunacy with your standard raised high
To the death's head true
Committed until the very end
Yes, I am of my father the Devil and the lusts of my father I will do
Yes, I am of my father, the Devil, and will fulfill my father's desires
Contributed by Mackenzie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ian Bruesch
So, a few things: for one, the Self and the I are two different things. The I/ego — which hinders the spirit — is what needs to be destroyed for the Self — which is closer to the spirit — to be liberated. You'll notice lyrics alluding to the Self vs the I throughout their music. I also wrote an analysis on Reddit a while back. Feel free to read. Hope it'll give a bit more insight into what the song is about.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Watain/comments/wbtoxv/gonna_try_my_hand_at_a_malfeitor_analysis/
PS
"To the death's head true" is about devotion to the energies of the 218/182 Currents. See the comment here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Watain/comments/zaty8s/can_you_explain_to_me_the_meaning_of_this_line/
@yes-dq8lm
Seeing this live has been the most intense experience in my life
@ihsahnakerfeldt9280
This band's energy and atmosphere are certainly something else
@gwarfiend9717
I got a drop of goat blood on my face when I saw them open for Mayhem many a moon ago. Was so great
@zidanefahrezy1466
NO THIS PIG BLOOD MAN!!
@andersonsmith8625
my favourite song with the word metamorphosphordus in it
@BlackHermit
Metamorphosphorous (without the d)
@Study-ef5vy
Black Hermit what does it even mean
@BlackHermit
@@Study-ef5vy Metamorphosis + phosphorous
@Finn-gx6ir
@@BlackHermit so it basically means... a dodo