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Mayhem

Norway · formed 1984 · last active 2026

Scores cover the avant era (Grand Declaration of War / Ordo Ad Chao); the classic De Mysteriis-era material is orthodox black metal.

Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band formed in Oslo in 1984, and one of the founding architects of the Norwegian black metal scene whose cold, abrasive sound shaped the entire genre. Their debut full-length De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994) — completed amid the deaths of vocalist Dead and guitarist/founder Euronymous — remains a defining record, and its signature song "Freezing Moon" a black metal touchstone. The long-running lineup pairs founding bassist Necrobutcher and drummer Hellhammer with Hungarian vocalist Attila Csihar, whose otherworldly, ritualistic delivery also anchors the drone-metal group Sunn O))).

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SCORE PROFILE

JazzyBalkanHardcoreSurfBarbershopDeathBlackTechnicalGlitchTheatricalFolkDoomDroneShoegazeAmbient8-bit
Jazzy1
Balkan0
Hardcore3
Surf0
Barbershop0
Death3
Black8
Technical6
Glitch4
Theatrical5
Folk0
Doom2
Drone1
Shoegaze0
Ambient3
8-bit0

Accent numbers counted towards the index. Hover an axis — or hold it on a phone — for what it means.

MEMBERS

CONNECTIONS

member · 8
  • Age of Silencepath →

    Drummer Jan Axel 'Hellhammer' von Blomberg is the only musician to appear on every Mayhem studio album, and also drums for Age of Silence. source ↗

  • Arcturuspath →

    Jan Axel 'Hellhammer' Blomberg drums in both Arcturus and Mayhem. source ↗

  • Korogsatellitepath →

    Attila Csihar, Mayhem's vocalist, sang for Korog from 2001-2003, credited on their self-titled album, before M.K. Atorz took over vocal duties in 2004. source ↗

  • Shining (Sweden)path →

    Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg (Mayhem's longtime drummer) played drums in Shining 2001-2004; Charles Hedger (Mayhem guitarist, alias 'Ghul') was Shining's guitarist 2018-2022. source ↗

  • Sunn O)))path →

    Mayhem vocalist Attila Csihar is also the longtime session/live vocalist of Sunn O))), appearing on albums including Monoliths & Dimensions (2009) and performing hundreds of shows with them. source ↗

  • The Kovenantpath →

    Jan Axel 'Hellhammer' Blomberg, Mayhem's drummer, joined for Nexus Polaris (1998) and remains The Kovenant's drummer. source ↗

  • Tormentorpath →

    Attila Csihar, Tormentor's vocalist since 1985, was invited to join Mayhem as vocalist after Dead's death and recorded De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas source ↗

  • Windspath →

    Jan Axel 'Hellhammer' Blomberg, Mayhem's drummer, is Winds' drummer (Of Entity and Mind 2001, Reflections of the I 2002). source ↗

collaboration · 6
  • Anaal Nathrakhpath →

    Attila Csihar (Mayhem) sings on 'Atavism', from the 2003 EP When Fire Rains Down From the Sky, Mankind Will Reap as It Has Sown (Mordgrimm/Earache), alongside Aborym's Sethlans Teitan on guitar. Same shape as the existing violent-magic-orchestra and vampillia guest-vocal edges to Mayhem. source ↗

  • Fleuretypath →

    Hellhammer and Maniac guested on Department of Apocalyptic Affairs (2000); Hellhammer and Necrobutcher guested again on the 2009 EP Ingentes Atque Decorii Vexilliferi Apokalypsis source ↗

  • Igorrrpath →

    Mayhem guitarist Teloch played guest guitar on Igorrr's album Hallelujah (2012). source ↗

  • Ulver (electronic era)path →

    Ulver's Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg is featured on the opening track of Mayhem's album Liturgy of Death (2025). source ↗

  • Vampilliapath →

    Mayhem/Sunn O))) vocalist Attila Csihar guests on Vampillia's 2013 single 'Circle' (Virgin Babylon Records). source ↗

  • Violent Magic Orchestrapath →

    Attila Csihar (Mayhem) provided guest vocals on 'Divorcer' (Catastrophic Anonymous, 2016) and returned on Death Rave (2024); credited as Mayhem on both. source ↗

split release
label founder
  • Sighpath →

    Sigh's 1993 debut Scorn Defeat was released on Deathlike Silence Productions, the label run by Mayhem guitarist Euronymous, who personally signed the band. source ↗

producer
tour · 2
  • Blood Incantationsatellitepath →

    Blood Incantation and Mayhem were co-support acts on Cannibal Corpse's North American tour, fall 2023 (alongside Gorguts). source ↗

  • Gorgutssatellitepath →

    Gorguts and Mayhem were co-support acts on Cannibal Corpse's North American tour, fall 2023 (alongside Blood Incantation). source ↗

artwork · 20
  • Aenaonpath →

    Both bands' cover art/illustration work was done by freelance artist Costin Chioreanu (Twilight13Media, Discogs artist id 1821476): Aenaon - "A Parallel Zoetrope" (2011, Graphics) and Mayhem - "Psywar" (2014, Artwork, Layout). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Chioreanu is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗

  • Alfa Obscurapath →

    Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork) and Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" (2011, Design, Photography By). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗

  • Arcturuspath →

    Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Arcturus's "Sideshow Symphonies" (2005, Design, Photography By [www.trineogkim.no]) and Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork), same Discogs artist entity (id 1912469) on both releases. Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗

  • Dødheimsgardpath →

    Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen + Kim Sølve, Oslo design duo, Discogs artist id 1912469): Dødheimsgard's "Supervillain Outcast" (2007, Artwork, Design) and Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork [All Artworks And Images]), same Discogs artist id confirmed on both releases. Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. source ↗

  • Fleuretypath →

    Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork) and Fleurety's "Ingentes Atque Decorii Vexilliferi Apokalypsis" (2009, Design). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗

  • Gorgutssatellitepath →

    Both bands' cover art was done by freelance artist Zbigniew Bielak: Gorguts's "Pleiades' Dust" (2016, Cover/Illustration/Layout) and Mayhem's "Esoteric Warfare" (2014, Cover/Illustration/Layout). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Bielak is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗

  • Ihsahnpath →

    Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork) and Ihsahn's "The Adversary" (2006, Design). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗

  • Imperial Triumphantpath →

    Both bands' cover art was done by freelance artist Zbigniew Bielak: Imperial Triumphant's "Alphaville" (2020, Artwork/Design) and Mayhem's "Esoteric Warfare" (2014, Cover/Illustration/Layout). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Bielak is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗

  • In Lingua Mortuapath →

    Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo; Discogs artist id 1912469): In Lingua Mortua's "Salon Des Refusés" (2022 Repose Records vinyl edition, Cover) and Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗

  • Manimalismpath →

    Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo; Discogs artist id 1912469): Manimalism's "Demo Sessions 1996-1998" (2015, Design, Image Editor) and Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗

  • Oranssi Pazuzupath →

    Both bands' cover art/illustration work was done by freelance artist Costin Chioreanu (Twilight13Media, Discogs artist id 1821476): Mayhem - "Psywar" (2014, Artwork, Layout) and Oranssi Pazuzu - "Valonielu" (2013, Illustration, Layout). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Chioreanu is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗

  • Peccatumpath →

    Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Peccatum's "Lost In Reverie" (2004, Design) and Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗

  • Shining (Sweden)path →

    Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen + Kim Sølve, Oslo design duo, Discogs artist id 1912469): Shining (Sweden)'s "Redefining Darkness" (2012, credited to both Kim Sølve [Art Direction] and Trine + Kim Design Studio [Artwork] on the same release) and Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork [All Artworks And Images]), same Discogs artist id confirmed on both releases. Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. source ↗

  • Solefaldpath →

    Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Solefald's "Red For Fire - An Icelandic Odyssey Part I" (2005, Design, Photography By) and Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗

  • Sturmgeistsatellitepath →

    Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork) and Sturmgeist's "Manifesto Futurista" (2009, Cover, Design). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗

  • Terra Tenebrosapath →

    Both bands' cover art/illustration work was done by freelance artist Costin Chioreanu (Twilight13Media, Discogs artist id 1821476): Mayhem - "Psywar" (2014, Artwork, Layout) and Terra Tenebrosa - "The Disfigurement Bowl / Serpent Me" split (2014, Design). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Chioreanu is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗

  • Tormentorpath →

    Both bands' cover art/illustration work was done by freelance artist Costin Chioreanu (Twilight13Media, Discogs artist id 1821476): Mayhem - "Psywar" (2014, Artwork, Layout) and Tormentor - "Anno Daemoni" (2019, Cover [Inner]). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Chioreanu is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗

  • Ulver (electronic era)path →

    Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Ulver (electronic era)'s "Svidd Neger (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" (2003, Cover) and Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗

  • Viruspath →

    Both bands' cover art/illustration work was done by freelance artist Costin Chioreanu (Twilight13Media, Discogs artist id 1821476): Mayhem - "Psywar" (2014, Artwork, Layout) and Virus - "Oblivion Clock" (2020, Artwork). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Chioreanu is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗

  • Yureipath →

    Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork) and Yurei's "Night Vision" (2012, Design). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗

label · 11
1 split release →

FURTHER LISTENING

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  • UnaffiliatedEI 17
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  • Blackgaze / avant-blackEI 19
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  • UnaffiliatedEI 14
    Smohalla
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    Decline of the I
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  • Blackgaze / avant-blackEI 24
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  • UnaffiliatedEI 13
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  • Dissonant blackEI 23
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