As their first foray into film making, 'Opus Diaboli,' specifically acts as both a live concert celebration of the bands 13th anniversary as well as an artistic insight into the world, background and the lives of Swedish black metal icons, Watain. Available in both a standard fold-out digipak DVD case with audio CDs of the entire performance in Stockholm on that unholy night of November 4th, 2011 its also available as a very limited vinyl box set, which would have been my ideal choice, but I didn't seem to act quick enough in obtaining one. Nevertheless the standard packaging is exceptional and additionally comes with a booklet that has many unseen photos, the story of the bands origins, old gig flyers and tour dates.
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| Watain: Ye Sons of Fire |
The DVD opens in a rather artsy manner quickly taking the viewer on a pilgrimage to another world of sorts, showcasing ritualistic footage, fire, fans, nature, cityscapes and the band both offstage and on, while band leader and dark soul, Erik Danielsson, welcomes the brave soul to their world. This eventually leads to the concert where during the intro the band takes the stage brandishing flaming torches and prepares themselves and the audience for the live ritual that is Watain. Having seen the band onstage a few months ago I can confirm that it is a ritual in itself and its one that should be taken even if you're one of the underground weirdos that feel that the band has sold out, despite the simple fact that they create and perform black metal far better than most. After the intro the band breaks into, 'Malfeitor' with full force to an excited, although reserved, Stockholm crowd. The previously mentioned artsier footage and select cuts from the gig are intermingled with portions of an interview with Erik where he explains the concept, symbols, origins and future of Watain.
The live footage brings me back to my own Watain experience a few months ago with a stage decked out in both Anti-Christian and grim Satanic imagery as well as tons of fire to boot. Only nine songs are featured from the gig, although the actual show was thirteen songs strong, including favorites, such as; 'Devil's Blood,' 'Reaping Death,' 'Stellarvore,' 'On Horns Impaled' and a cover of the Bathory classic, 'A Fine Day to Die.' I wouldn't have mind seeing, 'Legions of the Black Light' or 'Puzzles ov Flesh,' but it wasn't meant to be. In any case the audio, visual and performance quality reaches an outstanding and powerful height that most bands, black metal or other would never be able to touch, thus in my honest opinion solidifying Watain's worth and magnetism within the genre.
There's quite a bit to experience through this live ritual/documentary and I'm not about to give it all away, but know well that 'Opus Diaboli' is more than just your average gig DVD, but rather an invitation to their world and perhaps beyond and into the unknown.
"Higher! Higher!Let's set the night on FIRE!"
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