Watain (Swedish Black Metal) in Seattle 10/15/08

[Metalphotographer]

This is Watain from Sweden. This show was scary as hell, when I walked into the venue my nose was filled with the stench of rotting meat. The band had covered themselves with pig blood and had rotting animal heads mounted on poles on the stage and the mic stand was covered with roadkill gathered throughout the tour. Numerous people vomited throughout the evening from the stench of death and decay and the owner of the venue was running around with Vicks Vaporub for people to put under their noses to mask the smell. The band seemed to be going for a truly hellish atmosphere and the smell, along with the music and appearance/attitude of the band definitely made that happen. Despite being on the verge of nausea a number of times I really enjoyed this gig!

1.
http://www.blizzardbeast.com/albums/Watain/watain1015200_18.jpg
2.
http://www.blizzardbeast.com/albums/Watain/watain1015200_25.jpg
3.
http://www.blizzardbeast.com/albums/Watain/watain1015200_38.jpg
4.
http://www.blizzardbeast.com/albums/Watain/watain1015200_44.jpg
5.
http://www.blizzardbeast.com/albums/Watain/watain1015200_64.jpg
6.
http://www.blizzardbeast.com/albums/Watain/watain1015200_74.jpg
7.
http://www.blizzardbeast.com/albums/Watain/watain1015200_90.jpg
8.
http://www.blizzardbeast.com/albums/Watain/watain1015200_95.jpg


More Watain photos here (http://mortado.com/gravemusic/index.php/photo-gallery/?g2_itemId=6788) and here (http://www.blizzardbeast.com/index.php?set_albumName=Watain&name=Gallery&include=view_album.php)

[Jamie Holladay]

Look like some nice shots.

[charger912]

And the stench didn't bother the band? I'm a pretty surprised the owner didn't say anything about them doing that. Nice pics by the way!

[Metalphotographer]

And the stench didn't bother the band? I'm a pretty surprised the owner didn't say anything about them doing that. Nice pics by the way!

The stench is one of the bands trademarks. As far as I know they always bring it with them for their live shows.

The owner is pretty good about letting bands do their thing as long as they don't do any lasting damage. The staff had to stay late cleaning things up and using lots of bleach :)

[joedlh]

From the photos, they seem like a nice, wholesome folk band.

[Reads text]

Oh.

[ibkev]

http://www.myspace.com/watainofficial
Check this out.Can you imagine what the tour van smells like?How do you maintain that much pigs blood to make it through a full tour schedule?

[Metalphotographer]

http://www.myspace.com/watainofficial
Check this out.Can you imagine what the tour van smells like?How do you maintain that much pigs blood to make it through a full tour schedule?

Some friends of my nephew bought several gallons of blood and some pig heads from a local butcher. People do that at each show so they always have a supply on hand.

[robertn]

nice photos, but i think they'd be better of in color since there's just too much going on contrast-wise. overall good captures.

musicians with make-up are funny..

[Metalphotographer]

nice photos, but i think they'd be better of in color since there's just too much going on contrast-wise. overall good captures.

musicians with make-up are funny..

Thank you for the feedback but I beg to differ, they had the same dim red lighting throughout the whole show and (a least to me) black and white is always better than red :)

[Metalphotographer]

Mic stand:
http://www.blizzardbeast.com/albums/Watain/watain1015200_02.jpg

[projatu]

nice photos

[Brian_R]

i know black metal and all and posting them in B&W but there so much contrast and just stuff going on in those pictures they might look better in color as mentioned above.

nice job

[grendel64]

What an evening that must have been...of course, I have no sense of smell, so...;)
I would like to see more photogs post BM shots, my fave genre!
Mike

[FlyingPhotog]

Great Images.

Seriously disturbing act. :shock: