Watain Frontman Erik Danielsson Talks New Disc ‘The Wild Hunt’ With Full Metal Jackie

Full Metal Jackie welcomed Watain frontman Erik Danielsson to her radio show over the weekend. Danielsson discussed Watain's new album 'The Wild Hunt' and more. If you missed Jackie's show, check out her interview with Erik Danielsson below:

Happy to say on the show with us this week we have Erik Danielsson from the band Watain. How are you Erik?

I'm fine, thank you.

Lots of excitement around this upcoming Watain album, it's called 'The Wild Hunt' and it's going to be out in stores Aug. 20, and I have to say I've had a chance to see Watain before on the Behemoth show -- such an amazing live performance. Erik, how important is ambiance or desolation, not only to this new album, 'The Wild Hunt,' but also to Watain overall. And why is desolation so comfortable?

Well, geographically first of all, we come from a place that is quite desolate really. I mean, we come from the far north, and I think it has a special place in our heart very much because of that from the mundane level. But I think as persons, as individuals, we've always been kind of, well, outsiders really. That's very much what Watain is about, building your own world and shutting the one you were born into out. You know like, turning your backs from towards the world. That's what we've been doing, and that's really like the, that's the function of Watain feeling, in life really. To be able to just focus inwards instead, that's something very important to us.

The new album from Watain is called 'The Wild Hunt,' it's going to be out in stores Aug. 20. It's Full Metal Jackie, Erik Danielsson, Watain frontman with us on the show. Talking about the new album, 'The Wild Hunt,' and Erik, was writing new music for 'The Wild Hunt' instinctive? Is it a natural progression or something more specifically mapped out?

Ah well, this creative process is of course interesting, it always is. But at the same time it's also so hard to pinpoint exactly what is going on. To me it's a very chaotic process really, you know? And this time around we've been, I've been traveling like during the time we marked for composing the album, I was, spent a lot of that time traveling in the Pacific Northwest, and I also went to Transylvania, in Europe which was very special also. And left a big mark on the album. But I don't know, I mean, it's, I mean, this is what I do, you know? I'm an artist, this is really all that I know. And I, you know, like I said, it's interesting to think about what is going really when you compose something but at the same time it's like, I really don't know. You know, for me, for me it's a very much a divine concept, you know, inspiration... I'm just blessed with it, I guess.

It's Full Metal Jackie, we've got Erik Danielsson, frontman for Watain on the show with us. Their new album, 'The Wild Hunt' is going to be out in stores Aug. 20. And Erik, rather than performance, ceremony better describes Watain onstage. How does the ritual of playing live invigorate and recharge you?

It is a very, very central thing for Watain to perform live. I mean it is forever bound, I suppose. For us, I think it's the very much like the fuel to our fire, you know, the shows. They are the kind of zenith of everything we do. They are like, they are really central, focal point and what happens on stage is very much a process of transcendence really, as strange as that may sound or whatever. But I really can't put it in any better words. Like transcendence, and very much, it's very much about liberation, really. About just letting everything go and unchaining yourself. Which puts oneself in a very interesting scenario because all of the sudden you kind of, you completely let loose and I can not really take responsibility for what happens on a Watain stage. It's always quite unpredictable just because of that.

Erik Danielsson from Watain is with us on the show and you just appeared recently as a guest DJ in Brooklyn at an awesome bar called Duffs. And people [in the States], especially in New York City, are different from Sweden, obviously. So, what kindred spirit do you feel within the fans here in the States?

Well, I mean to be honest, people are sometimes surprised to hear it, but for me, like touring the States with Watain is almost a bit more rewarding because ... people are just in general a little bit more [f---ed] up, really, you know? Like, they have a more, in a way like a more passionate relation to this form of music. I think liberation, the concept of liberation and freedom here in the States is much more, it's a harder and more genuine thing here and all, because Sweden, or Europe in general, is already pretty liberal when it comes to most things. While here, you really have to kind of have to break through the crust to be able to, I don't know, feel freedom really. So that's something I very much can relate to and, I mean, there are metal heads in general all over the world or ... it's kind of like a brotherhood thing really. So it's, I don't make that much of a difference, but if I would, that's the one.

What can we expect in terms of touring for the US, I think the last time you guys might have been here was the Behemoth date, at least that's what I can remember, but can we expect you guys here maybe in the fall?

Absolutely. We are right now getting everything booked and ready to be announced, actually. But we're looking at a time frame starting early October and ending early November, so it will be a full scale tour. Hopefully bringing out our good friends from Sweden, In Solitude, which is to me one of the most interesting bands around these days. So it will be a very good package, I think.

Awesome, well looking forward to that. We'll keep your posted on that here on the show. And Erik, very great to have you, so thank you so much.

Thank you, Jackie.

This coming weekend, Full Metal Jackie will welcome legendary Ministry mastermind Al Jourgensen to her show. Full Metal Jackie can be heard on radio stations around the country — for a full list of stations, go to fullmetaljackieradio.com.