Mayhem

Mayhem are one of the foundational acts of black metal: The snarling vocals, pulverizing riffs, and light-speed tempos of their 1994 debut, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, set a wicked blueprint for the genre’s Norwegian arm. Formed in 1984 in Langhus, Norway, the group’s early history is notable for the 1991 suicide of vocalist/lyricist Dead, the 1993 murder of guitarist Euronymous by bassist Varg Vikernes, and the latter’s association with church burnings. However, founding member Necrobutcher and drummer Hellhammer regrouped from these tragedies in 1995 and have spent the subsequent decades carrying on the Mayhem name and sound. After releasing their second album, 2000's Grand Declaration of War, the band have continued to release albums that both refine and push forward their approach to black metal, such as 2019’s stormy Daemon.