Satanic Warmaster - Media Coverage and Controversy

Media Coverage and Controversy

In a 2004 interview, Werewolf stated, "The influence cannot be denied, some of the most advanced social and political ideas were created during the iron regime of the Reich. Of course I am interested and feel strong sympathy for the ideals of that time." In response to the question, "When a band sings about the hatred to christians then everything is okay, but when a band starts to sing about the jews instead of christians then some people (even some "die-hard" Satanists!) seem to have some problems with it... Isn’t it ridiculous?" Werewolf agreed, "It is fucking ridiculous. It is okay to mock the 'King of the Jews' but not mock 'god's chosen race'. Fuck Jahweh and fuck Judaism". When asked his opinion about the September 11 attacks, he said that it was "maybe even a hoax and a way for the JewSA to wage their useless wars on anyone they want."

In January 2008, the band was linked to National Socialist black metal in Finnish newspapers due to its "Carelian Pagan Madness" tour with the German NSBM band Absurd and Greek NSBM band Der Stürmer, whose member Hjarulv Henker called Satanic Warmaster one of the few Satanic bands to have his "full support" because they are "supporting (and take part in) our Cause.", although pagan and satanic bands usually reject each other. Both the tour organizers and Satanic Warmaster denied the allegations. Critics also cited some of Warmaster’s lyrical content such as "Enthroned Aryan spirit the resurrection of our reich" ("Strength and Honour") and "Sieg Heil! The sign of our cross rises" ("Wolves of Blood and Iron", both from the Strength and Honour album), release titles like Gas Chamber. Werewolf called the political accusations "groundless" and described the lyrical interpretations as "insane".

In 2009, Ylioppilaslehti, the biggest student newspaper in Finland published an article about Black Metal where Werewolf explained his motivations even further. About the rise of new subgenres such as "NSBM" to the side of traditional Black Metal he commented on the matter, "Times change, shock values get deteriorated and intensified. If you want your voice to be heard, it isn't always enough that you say, Hail Satan! It is of no importance to anyone anymore. You must comprehend new aesthetics and in certain cases it can be found surprisingly near. It's ridiculously easy, how you can get people to fixate on your music by these means". Also about the morals and the polarities of Black Metal and NSBM he said, "Black Metal is negative. For an average person Black Metal in all it's immorality and nihilism should be a million times worse than neo-nazism or anything like that".