Mayhem Essentials

Mayhem Essentials

This infamous Norwegian band was key to black metal's second wave. Mayhem formed in '84, but spent the next seven years in a chaotic period that included the suicide of vocalist Per Ohlin and several controversial attempts by guitarist Øystein Aarseth to sensationalize and arguably capitalize on Ohlin's death. Their debut LP, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas finally arrived in '91. Its undeniable quality, combined with the band's previous notoriety, shot Mayhem directly to the head of the movement. Aarseth's murder in '94 led to a hiatus, but the band reformed in '97 and continues to play.

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