Mayhem (band)

Mayhem

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1984 in Oslo, Norway
Founder	Øystein Aarseth ("Euronymous"), Jørn Stubberud ("Necrobutcher"), Kjetil Manheim
Headquarters	Oslo , Norway
Products	Black metal music, albums, EPs, demos

Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal group established in Oslo in 1984. Recognized as trailblazers within the Norwegian black metal scene, their sound has played a pivotal role in defining the genre. Their formative years were overshadowed by controversies, including infamous live performances, the 1991 suicide of vocalist Per Yngve Ohlin ("Dead"), and the 1993 homicide of guitarist Øystein Aarseth ("Euronymous") committed by former bassist Count Grishnackh from Burzum.

Following the release of a significant demo and EP, Mayhem cultivated a loyal fanbase through intermittent concerts, gaining notoriety due to associations with Norwegian church arsons and related violent incidents. The band temporarily dissolved after Aarseth’s death, just prior to the launch of their debut album, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, which has since become a seminal black metal record. Remaining members Jan Axel Blomberg ("Hellhammer"), Jørn Stubberud ("Necrobutcher"), and Sven Erik Kristiansen ("Maniac") revived Mayhem in 1995, introducing Rune Eriksen ("Blasphemer") as Aarseth’s replacement. Subsequent lineup shifts saw Attila Csihar and Morten Iversen ("Teloch") take over from Kristiansen and Eriksen. Their output following Aarseth’s era embraced more experimental elements; notably, the 2007 album Ordo Ad Chao earned the Spellemann Award for Best Heavy Metal Album.

1984–1988: Formation and Early Phase

Mayhem originated in 1984, founded by guitarist Øystein Aarseth, initially known as "Destructor" before adopting "Euronymous," alongside bassist and vocalist Jørn Stubberud ("Necrobutcher") and drummer Kjetil Manheim. Their name was inspired by the Venom track "Mayhem with Mercy." The band began by performing covers of acts like Black Sabbath, Venom, and Motörhead, gradually crafting original compositions influenced by Venom, Motörhead, Black Sabbath, Slayer, Bathory, and Celtic Frost. Additional inspirations included bands such as Sarcófago, Parabellum, Hellhammer, Amebix, GBH, the Exploited, Discharge, the Misfits, Dead Kennedys, Sodom, Destruction, and Tormentor, alongside progressive groups like Tangerine Dream, Pink Floyd, and Marillion.

The group recorded the demo Pure Fucking Armageddon and incorporated session musicians Eirik Norheim ("Messiah") in 1986 and later Sven Erik Kristiansen ("Maniac") in 1987 during rehearsals. Norheim performed only once live before departing to pursue other punk projects. With Kristiansen on board, Mayhem produced their debut EP, Deathcrush, in 1987, released via Euronymous’ label Posercorpse Music. Additionally, Manheim and Euronymous briefly collaborated under the experimental side project L.E.G.O.

The initial pressing of Deathcrush consisted of 1,000 copies which sold out rapidly; it was reissued in 1993 by Deathlike Silence Productions alongside Euronymous’ Oslo record store Helvete ("Hell"). Both Manheim and Kristiansen exited the band in 1988.

1988–1991: Era with Dead

Following two short-lived lineup changes, Mayhem secured Swedish vocalist Pelle Yngve Ohlin, known as "Dead," and local drummer Jan Axel Blomberg, nicknamed "Hellhammer." Dead brought a new level of dramatic flair to their live shows, pioneering the use of "corpse paint" to achieve a haunting visual style that differed significantly from acts like Kiss and Alice Cooper. Hellhammer remarked that Dead was "the first black-metal musician to adopt corpse paint." To deepen his macabre persona, Dead would bury and later retrieve his stage attire. His performances often included self-inflicted injuries using knives and broken glass, while the band displayed pig or sheep heads mounted on stakes at the front of the stage.

Stian Johansen ("Occultus"), who briefly took over vocal duties after Dead, described him as perceiving himself "not as human" but rather as an otherworldly entity, a mindset that preceded his eventual suicide.

In 1990, Mayhem relocated to a secluded house in the Oslo woods for rehearsals and began composing material for De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. Necrobutcher recounted escalating tensions between Dead and Euronymous, including incidents such as Euronymous firing a gun into the air while Dead was sleeping outdoors and claims that Dead stabbed Euronymous.

On April 8, 1991, Dead took his own life inside the band's residence. Euronymous discovered him with both slit wrists and a shotgun wound. After rearranging some items at the scene, Euronymous photographed it. Necrobutcher recalled Euronymous describing the suicide as "really cool" and expressing plans to capitalize on it, which deeply disturbed him.

Euronymous leveraged Dead's death to bolster Mayhem's sinister reputation, asserting it was a statement against the commercialization of black metal. Rumors circulated that Euronymous had cooked a stew using Dead's brain and fashioned necklaces from skull fragments; while the band denied the stew story, they confirmed the existence of necklaces reportedly given by Euronymous to select musicians such as Bård 'Faust' Eithun and Jon 'Metalion' Kristiansen. In 2018, a piece of Dead's skull was auctioned for $3,500 accompanied by a letter from Euronymous.

In 2019, Necrobutcher disclosed that he had contemplated killing Euronymous over his treatment of Dead but that Varg Vikernes acted before he could.

Mayhem enthusiasts continue incorporating blood into their artwork; notably, in October 2019 Hellhammer wrote the lyrics for "Pagan Fears" using his own blood.

1991–1994: Euronymous’s Murder, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Release and Band Dissolution

The aftermath of Dead’s suicide and Euronymous’s subsequent behavior prompted Necrobutcher to exit Mayhem, leaving just two members remaining. The band briefly rehearsed with Occultus again with plans for him to record vocals and bass on their debut album De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, but he departed following a death threat from Euronymous. In July 1993, Live in Leipzig was issued as a homage to Dead.

Recording resumed in late 1992 utilizing session musicians: Burzum’s Varg Vikernes ("Count Grishnackh"), Thorns’ Snorre W. Ruch ("Blackthorn") handling bass and rhythm guitar duties, alongside vocalist Attila Csihar from Tormentor. Due to media scrutiny and police pressure, Euronymous shut down his Helvete record store. The majority of the album was recorded in early 1993 at Grieg Hall, Bergen. Euronymous and Vikernes had plotted to bomb Nidaros Cathedral, which appears on the album cover; however, this plan was aborted after Euronymous’s murder in August 1993 delayed the album’s release.

On August 10, 1993, Vikernes traveled from Bergen to Oslo with Ruch and killed Euronymous. The victim was discovered bearing 23 stab wounds. Vikernes claimed that Euronymous intended to torture him on camera during a meeting about an unsigned contract. Vikernes asserted he only meant to deliver the contract but was attacked first; he also stated many wounds resulted from broken glass amid their struggle. He was arrested and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for murder and church arson offenses; he was released in 2009. Blackthorn remained downstairs during the attack and did not partake but received an eight-year sentence for complicity. With only Attila and Hellhammer left, Mayhem effectively ceased operations.

In a 2019 interview, Necrobutcher revealed he had planned to kill Euronymous himself but discovered law enforcement was already monitoring Vikernes when Vikernes committed the murder.

De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas finally came out in May 1994 as a dedication to Euronymous. Its release encountered delays due to objections from Euronymous’s family concerning Vikernes’s bass contributions. Hellhammer promised to re-record bass tracks but lacked proficiency; consequently, Vikernes’s recordings remained on the final album.

1995–2004: Maniac and Necrobutcher Rejoin; Blasphemer Joins

In 1995, a bootleg live album titled The Dawn of the Black Hearts surfaced, gaining notoriety largely due to its provocative cover portraying Dead shortly after his suicide. Around this period, Hellhammer, Maniac, and Necrobutcher reunited to revive Mayhem, with new guitarist Rune Eriksen—known as "Blasphemer"—taking over from Euronymous. Despite criticism regarding the band's continuation without Euronymous, they returned with the 1997 EP Wolf's Lair Abyss.

During these years, Hellhammer attracted controversy for his outspoken views against racial mixing and the use of Nazi symbolism such as swastikas and the Totenkopf insignia, which led to allegations of neo-Nazi affiliations. He also clarified that none of the members identified as Satanists, highlighting that although Mayhem’s music retained its dark tone, it no longer centered on Satanic themes.

The band’s sophomore full-length album, Grand Declaration of War (2000), demonstrated a move toward progressive and avant-garde metal styles. The record explored conceptual themes involving warfare and post-apocalyptic scenarios. Vocally, Maniac incorporated spoken-word passages alongside traditional black metal screams.

In 2003, Mayhem attracted media attention when an incident occurred during a live show in which a detached sheep’s head was thrown into the crowd, injuring a fan. Although assault charges were pressed, the band insisted the act was unintentional.

Released in 2004, Chimera marked a return to a rawer sound infused with improved production values and progressive influences. Later that year, Maniac departed due to worsening alcoholism compounded by stage anxiety. A violent confrontation with Blasphemer resulted in Maniac sustaining injuries after being kicked down a flight of stairs. Subsequently, Csihar was reinstated as the lead vocalist.

2004–2008: Csihar's Comeback and Ordo ad Chao

Mayhem’s fourth studio effort, Ordo ad Chao—Latin for "Order to Chaos"—was released in April 2007. The album embraced a more unpolished sound characterized by raw drum tracks and a bass-forward mix that diverged from conventional black metal aesthetics. Continuing their experimental trajectory, the record featured intricate compositions including the nearly ten-minute piece "Illuminate Eliminate," their second-longest track to date. Garnering critical acclaim, it became the band’s most commercially successful release, reaching number 12 on Norway’s charts. Early in 2008, it earned the prestigious Spellemannprisen award for Best Metal Album of 2007.

2008–2015: Blasphemer Exits; Release of Esoteric Warfare

In April 2008, guitarist Blasphemer announced his decision to leave Mayhem due to diminished enthusiasm despite satisfaction with the band’s achievements. He fulfilled several European festival commitments before officially departing in August and later continued his musical career with Portuguese act Ava Inferi. Soon after his exit, Mayhem revealed plans for touring and enlisted Krister Dreyer ("Morfeus") as a temporary guitarist for their South America Fucking Armageddon tour. The lineup toured extensively through 2009, adding French guitarist Silmaeth before replacing him with Norwegian musician Teloch from Nidingr. In 2012, British guitarist Charles Hedger ("Ghul") joined the group, taking over from Morfeus due to health-related issues.

By 2012, Mayhem commenced work on their fifth studio album. Mixing was underway by late 2013 with an anticipated early-2014 release date. On February 18, 2014, they announced a new album scheduled for May alongside the single "Psywar." Their label Season of Mist confirmed that Esoteric Warfare would be released globally on May 27, 2014. This album marked their first studio project following Blasphemer’s departure and featured Teloch as an official member.

In January 2015, Mayhem embarked on a U.S. tour titled "Black Metal Warfare," sharing the stage with Watain and Revenge. They returned for a second U.S. leg in November accompanied by Rotting Christ.

2016–2020: Live Release, Lords of Chaos Film, and Daemon Album

In 2016, Mayhem issued De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Alive, a live rendition of their landmark album.

That same year marked the debut of Lords of Chaos, a biographical film inspired by the band's book, directed by Jonas Åkerlund. While it attracted considerable media coverage, prominent members Necrobutcher and Csihar expressed dissatisfaction with its biased depiction, especially concerning the internal disputes preceding Dead's suicide. In 2018, the band delivered a remastered edition of A Grand Declaration of War.

Mayhem’s sixth studio effort, Daemon, was released on 25 October 2019 through Century Media Records. Leading up to the album were singles such as "Worthless Abominations Destroyed," "Of Worms and Ruins," and "Falsified and Hated." This record signaled a stylistic return to classic black metal akin to De Mysteriis, featuring ten new compositions alongside two bonus tracks and covers including material from Dead’s previous band, Morbid. The music video for "Falsified and Hated" incorporated ritualistic themes with visual design contributed by graffiti artist Ziggy Jonas Rasmusson.

In 2020, drummer Tony Laureano stepped in temporarily for Hellhammer during the Decibel Magazine Tour due to injury; however, the tour was ultimately canceled as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

2021–present: Atavistic Black Disorder / Kommando

Mayhem received induction into the Rockheim Hall of Fame in 2021, distinguishing them as the sole black metal group honored at that time after their third nomination.

On 9 July 2021, the band unveiled the EP Atavistic Black Disorder / Kommando, which includes three tracks left over from the Daemon recording sessions alongside four punk rock covers from influential bands such as Discharge, Dead Kennedys, Rudimentary Peni, and Ramones. Former vocalists Messiah and Maniac made guest appearances on separate cover songs—marking their first recordings with Mayhem since Deathcrush (1987) and Chimera (2004), respectively. Necrobutcher explained their participation was due to their deep-rooted connections to punk music.

The group announced a U.S. tour for 2022 titled The Sanguine Sodomy of North America, commencing on March 7 in San Francisco and concluding on April 3 in Joliet, Illinois. However, touring companion Watain withdrew following visa issues linked to extended administrative processing at the U.S. embassy.

Band members

Current

• Necrobutcher – bass guitar (1984–1991, 1995–present), vocals (1984–1986)
• Hellhammer – drums (1988–1993, 1995–present)
• Attila Csihar – lead vocals (1992–1993, 2004–present)
• Teloch – guitars (2011–present)
• Ghul – guitars (2012–present)

Former

• Euronymous – guitar (1984–1993; deceased 1993)
• Manheim – drums (1984–1987)
• Messiah – vocals (1986)
• Maniac – vocals (1986–1987, 1995–2004)
• Dead – vocals (1988–1991; deceased 1991)
• Occultus – bass and vocals (1991)
• Count Grishnackh – bass guitar (1992–1993)
• Blackthorn – guitars (1992–1993)
• Blasphemer – guitars (1995–2008)

Discography

Studio albums

• De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994)
• Grand Declaration of War (2000)
• Chimera (2004)
• Ordo ad Chao (2007)
• Esoteric Warfare (2014)
• Daemon (2019)
• Liturgy of Death (2026)

Videography

• Live in Ski (1986)
• Homemade rehearsal footage featuring Dead (1988)
• Live in Sarpsborg (1990)
• Live in Jessheim (1990)
• Live in Bischofswerda (1998)
• European Legions: Live in Marseille 2000 (2001)
• Mayhem – Cult of Aggression (Norwegian/Swedish documentary directed by Stefan Rydehed) (2002)
• Live at Wacken (2004)
• Featured in the film Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005)
• Appearance in the BBC One World episode titled Death Metal Murders (2005)
• Once Upon a Time in Norway – The History of Mayhem and the Rise of Norwegian Black Metal (2008)
• Pure Fucking Mayhem (English-language documentary by Stefan Rydehed) (2008)
• Until the Light Takes Us (American documentary by Aaron Aites and Audrey Ewell) (2008)
• De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Alive (2016)