Live albums always divide opinion with the naysayers questioning the need for a rehash of songs already available on studio albums whereas proponents cite a live album as a record of a band’s zeitgeist, a testament to where a band are at a particular moment in time, perhaps with some songs being given a more modern reworking, often with different band members. Personally, I think there is a place for live albums but it shouldn’t simply sound like a greatest hits compilation with a bit of crowd noise thrown in for good measure. Instead, a live album should be warts and all and sound really capture the energy and atmosphere of a live show, although that can be hard to achieve.

So, what about this album? Recorded and released to commemorate Watain’s 25th anniversary, ‘Die in Fire – Live in Hell’ captures the venomous Swedes playing a sold out show in Stockholm in October 2022. The twelve song set list covers most of their blasphemous discography (with the exception of ‘Rabid Death’s Curse’ and ‘Sworn to the Dark’). Alongside tracks from more recent albums such as ‘Black Flames March’, ‘Serimosa’ and ‘Nuclear Alchemy’ there is a cover of Bathory track ‘The Return of Darkness and Evil’, and although they all sound suitably vitriolic it is older tracks such as ‘Devil’s Blood’, Reaping Death’ and ‘Malfeitor” where the band seem to step it up and sound their most intense.

While this album is undoubtedly a good capture of Watain and where they were at as a band in 2022, I’m not sure it quite captures the essence of their live show. A Watain live show, nay ritual, is an assault on all the senses and without being able to see and feel the flames, without being able to smell the blood and without being encircled by rabid fans collectively losing their minds, orchestrated by the ferocious Swedish black metal pouring from the stage, the experience feels somehow incomplete. Nonetheless, this remains a testament to a band at the peak of their unholy powers and will be a good entry into Watain’s world for the uninitiated as well as serving as a “best of” for existing disciples. Let’s hope it won’t be too long before the Swedes hit our shores again and we can experience their madness and mayhem in person.

(7.5/10 Andy Pountney)

https://www.facebook.com/watainofficial

https://watainsom.bandcamp.com/album/die-in-fire-live-in-hell