Basing its name on a song by American black metal group Von, Watain was forged in the dark flames of Uppsala, Sweden in '98. Though gaining an impressive underground following, Watain also gained controversial press with its odes to Satan, and eventually gained infamy after making Hitler salutes during its 2006 performance in Germany. When interviewed about their potential Nazism, band members evaded the question, but eventually claimed it was a joke, and that Nazism was just "a despaired approach of people who are incapable of comprehending the perversion and the insanity of Black Metal." Even with, or perhaps due to this negative press, Watain continues to play sold out venues, its fans hailing the dark lord along with the band.
