WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark 12" Vinyl 2LP Album

- Limited Edition Pressed on White Vinyl

Front cover of Watain's 'Sworn to the Dark' album. Features a dark, intricate illustration of a demonic figure with skeletal features, multiple horns, and serpent-like elements, set against a black background. Three red arrows point upward behind the figure, and gothic-style text reads 'Sworn to the Dark' with 'Watain - No Return' on a banner at the bottom.

"Watain: Sworn To The Dark" unleashes its black metal fury on the 12" Vinyl LP Album, a limited edition on white vinyl, a coveted gem for enthusiasts of the genre. Formed in 1998 in Uppsala, Sweden, Watain is synonymous with uncompromising black metal. "Sworn To The Dark" stands as their third official record, with this limited edition pressing limited to 500 copies on white vinyl. Each track on this album immerses listeners in the dark, atmospheric world crafted by Watain, solidifying their place in the world of Swedish black metal history.

Sworn to the Dark: A Black Metal Manifesto on White Vinyl
Album Description:

Released in 2010, "Sworn to the Dark" was the third full-length album by Swedish black metal band Watain. It served as a sonic testament to their unwavering devotion to the dark arts and solidified their position as one of the most significant figures in the black metal scene.

Historical Context

By 2007, black metal had evolved beyond its raw and chaotic beginnings. A new wave of bands, including Watain, were pushing the boundaries of the genre, incorporating elements of classic heavy metal, thrash, and even punk. "Sworn to the Dark" arrived at a time when black metal was experiencing a resurgence of interest, with a new generation of fans discovering the genre's dark allure.

Musical Exploration

"Sworn to the Dark" is a masterclass in black metal, showcasing Watain's signature blend of ferocity, melody, and atmosphere. The album is a relentless assault of blast beats, tremolo picking, and Erik Danielsson's harrowing vocals. Yet, beneath the sonic chaos lies a sense of purpose and reverence for the occult. The songs explore themes of Satanism, death, and misanthropy, with lyrics that are both poetic and blasphemous.

Controversies

Watain has always courted controversy with their extreme imagery and stage shows, often involving animal blood and carcasses. "Sworn to the Dark" is no exception, with its lyrics and artwork evoking images of darkness and violence. While some critics dismissed the band as mere shock rockers, others praised their unwavering commitment to their artistic vision.

Production Team and Studio

"Sworn to the Dark" was produced by Tore Stjerna, a renowned Swedish producer known for his work with other black metal bands like Mayhem and Dissection. The album was recorded at Necromorbus Studio, a facility that has become synonymous with the Swedish black metal sound. Stjerna's production perfectly captured the raw intensity and atmospheric depth of Watain's music.

WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark 12" Vinyl 2LP
WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark album front cover vinyl lp album https://vinyl-records.nl

"Sworn to the Dark" is the third full-length album by Swedish black metal band Watain, released in 2007. A defining moment in modern black metal, this album blends relentless aggression with haunting melodies and occult themes. Featuring iconic tracks like Legions of the Black Light and Stellarvore, it solidified Watain’s legacy in extreme metal.

Essentials of: WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark White Vinyl
Music Genre:

Black Metal / Death Metal

Label & Catalognr:

 Season Of Mist – SOM148LP

Media Format:

Record Format: Double 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 460 gram  

Year & Country:

2012 France

Production & Recording Information
Collector Notes:

This is re-issue of the Third Watain Album from 2007. The original LP was released by Norma Evangelium Diaboli

Album Packaging

This 2x 12" LP vinyl music record comes comes in a Fold Open Cover (FOC), which is also also known as a Gatefold cover. The inner pages of this album cover contains artwork and lyrics.

Musicians:
  • E. ( real-name: Karl Erik Stellan Danielsson ) - Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar
  • P. ( real-name: Pelle Martin Forsberg ) - Guitars
  • H. ( real-name: Nils Håkan Jonsson ) - Drums
Tracklisting Side One:
  1. Legions Of The Black Light
  2. Satan's Hunger
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Withershins
  2. Storm Of The Antichrist
  3. The Light That Burns The Sun
Tracklisting Side C:
  1. Sworn To The Dark
  2. Underneath The Cenotaph
  3. The Serpent's Chalice
Tracklisting Side D:
  1. Darkness And Death
  2. Dead But Dreaming
  3. Stellarvore
High Resolution & Quality Photos
Front Cover Photo Of WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark White Vinyl
Front cover of Watain's 'Sworn to the Dark' album. Features a dark, intricate illustration of a demonic figure with skeletal features, multiple horns, and serpent-like elements, set against a black background. Three red arrows point upward behind the figure, and gothic-style text reads 'Sworn to the Dark' with 'Watain - No Return' on a banner at the bottom.

This is the front cover of Watain's album "Sworn to the Dark". The artwork is a highly detailed, monochromatic illustration with red accents, evoking themes of darkness, occultism, and chaos.

At the center of the image is a monstrous, skeletal figure with multiple horns, elongated skeletal arms, and sharp, claw-like hands raised in a sinister gesture. The figure’s face is skull-like, with glowing red eyes, conveying an eerie and demonic presence.

Behind the figure, three red arrows rise upward in a trident-like pattern, symbolizing infernal power. The figure appears intertwined with coiled serpents, adding to the ominous and chaotic aesthetic.

The album title, "Sworn to the Dark", is written in an old gothic-style font, positioned on either side of the central figure. Below the figure, a flowing banner bears the band's name, "Watain", along with the phrase "No Return," reinforcing the album’s themes of irrevocable darkness and dedication to the black metal ethos.

Photo Of The Back Cover WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark White Vinyl
Back cover of Watain's 'Sworn to the Dark' album. Features a black background with ornate gothic typography listing the track titles across four sides. The band's name 'Watain' is prominently displayed in a bold, medieval-style font, accompanied by a flaming trident with wings. Two vertical serpentine designs with dragon heads flank the sides, and a wolf emblem appears at the bottom.

This is the back cover of Watain's album "Sworn to the Dark". The design is highly stylized, incorporating gothic aesthetics, occult symbolism, and dark imagery.

The band's name, "Watain", is displayed in a large, ornate medieval-style font at the top center. Above it, the album title, "Sworn to the Dark", is written in an elegant gothic typeface.

Directly beneath the band's name is an emblem featuring a flaming trident with large, outstretched wings, symbolizing infernal power and transcendence. Below this, a note indicates that this is a vinyl reissue of the original 2007 release.

The tracklist is divided into four sides:

  • Side A: "Legions of the Black Light", "Satan’s Hunger"
  • Side B: "Withershins", "Storm of the Antichrist", "The Light that Burns the Sun"
  • Side C: "Sworn to the Dark", "Underneath the Cenotaph", "The Serpent’s Chalice"
  • Side D: "Darkness and Death", "Dead but Dreaming", "Stellarvore"

Flanking both sides of the cover are ornate, coiled serpentine designs, each ending in a dragon head, reinforcing the album’s dark and mystical theme.

At the bottom, a circular emblem features a detailed illustration of a snarling wolf's head, which is a recurring motif in Watain's imagery. The bottom right corner includes the label name, "Season of Mist", in an elegant script.

Photo of the inside cover WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark White Vinyl
Inside cover of Watain's 'Sworn to the Dark' album. Features a dark, gothic design with occult-inspired illustrations and dense, ancient-style text. Prominent symbols include a coiled serpent-goat hybrid over a cross, a radiating bat-winged eye, and a skeletal, red-robed figure holding a torch. The layout consists of multiple sections of text, with headings in red.

This is the inside cover of Watain's album "Sworn to the Dark". The design follows an intricate, medieval manuscript style, combining occult symbolism, elaborate text, and dark iconography.

The background is deep black, contrasting with aged, parchment-like text and red-lettered headings. The text appears dense and cryptic, resembling ancient scripture or ritualistic incantations.

Three central illustrations enhance the mystical aesthetic:

  • A serpent-goat hybrid positioned over a cross, encircled by runic inscriptions and a halo of stars. This symbolizes infernal power and esoteric knowledge.
  • A bat-winged eye, radiating outward in a sun-like pattern, representing hidden wisdom and omniscience.
  • A skeletal figure in a red robe, holding a burning torch, possibly symbolizing a high priest or occult messenger, reinforcing the album's themes of darkness and enlightenment.

The text sections appear to be detailed explanations of the album’s concepts, possibly lyrics or philosophical writings related to Watain's vision of black metal.

This visual presentation aligns with Watain’s ritualistic and esoteric approach to their music, solidifying their identity within the black metal genre.

Photo of the inside cover WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark White Vinyl
Inside cover of Watain's 'Sworn to the Dark' album. Features a dark, occult-inspired layout with ritualistic imagery, gothic-style text, and red-lettered headings. Central elements include a black metal figure performing a ritual, a coffin with a skull emblem, and depictions of hooded figures with skulls and candles, reinforcing the album's esoteric and sinister themes.

This is the inside cover of Watain's album "Sworn to the Dark". The design continues the band's signature occult aesthetic, featuring dark, ritualistic imagery and cryptic, gothic-style text.

The layout consists of multiple sections of text, with red-lettered headings highlighting key passages. The text appears dense, resembling sacred or infernal scriptures.

Several striking visual elements dominate the artwork:

  • A black coffin adorned with a skull and inverted cross, symbolizing death and the underworld.
  • A depiction of a hooded figure with raised hands, enacting what appears to be a mystical or satanic ritual.
  • A
Close up of the record's label
Close-up of the record label for Watain's 'Sworn to the Dark' White Vinyl edition. The design features a snarling wolf's head in a bold, high-contrast black and white style, encircled by a ring of flame-like details. Gothic-style text in an arc around the edge reads 'Satan's wolves and Lucifer's legions,' with the band's founding year, 'EST 1998,' and a runic inscription at the top.

This is a close-up of the record label for Watain's album "Sworn to the Dark" (White Vinyl Edition). The design is stark and high-contrast, emphasizing the band's raw and feral aesthetic.

The central image features a snarling wolf’s head, drawn in a bold, monochromatic style. The wolf’s mouth is open, revealing sharp fangs, and its fur is depicted with jagged, aggressive strokes, reinforcing the theme of primal darkness.

Encircling the wolf is a ring of flame-like details, giving the label an aura of infernal energy. Surrounding this design, in an arc along the outer edge, is gothic-style text that reads:

"Satan’s wolves and Lucifer’s legions"

At the top of the label, the year "EST 1998" is inscribed, marking the band’s formation year. Above this, a cryptic runic inscription further enhances the esoteric and ritualistic vibe.

This design encapsulates Watain’s devotion to black metal’s raw, untamed spirit, evoking imagery of darkness, wolves, and allegiance to the occult.

Photo of Side One: WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark White Vinyl
Photo of record 1 of WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark White Vinyl
Photo of Side Two: WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark White Vinyl
Photo of record 2 of WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark White Vinyl
Photo of Side Three: WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark White Vinyl
Photo of record 2 of WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark White Vinyl
Photo of Side Four: WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark White Vinyl
Photo of record 2 of WATAIN - Sworn To The Dark White Vinyl