Mayhem

MAYHEM at The Wiltern

Los Angeles, CA., March 8, 2022

Review by Tony F. Corpse - Photo by Jack Lue

The moon was at it’s zenith, but unfortunately it wasn’t quite freezing. Waiting in utter spellbound anticipation were over 2,000 black clad metal denizens, all in revelatory splendour for the imminent arrival of Norway’s most incendiary Black Metal export. Erupting onto the stage after a majestic intro, Mayhem attacked in a rabid frenzy of ultrasonic decibel ridden violence and barbaric, tribalistic, blastbeat frenzy.

Every blasphemous utterance emanating from Attila’s lips were envenomated with poisonous bile. Especially during Pagan Fears. Here his vocal regurgitations were completely unpure and ominous. Scarily cavernous and wicked. The operatic refrain of Life Eternal sounded like a secretive sermon being preached to a subterrenean sect of devil worshippers.Catching everybody by suprise was the inclusion of Crystalized Pain In Deconstruction from the unfairly maligned A Grand Declaration Of War. The audience was aghast. Mouths openly salavating as clean pate guitarists Teloch and Ghul strategically maneuvered the precise chords that the epically monumental mindfuck of a song requires. Towing the line was the imcomprable Hellhammer. A deity forged in the fires of gehenna, beating out complicated polyrhythms like a fierce beast let loose. The intimitable Necrobutcher manipulated the bottom end with his bass of archaic majesty and showed why he is a pioneer in the field of the most brackish of metal. Going on nearly 36 years now as a commanding maelstrom of fire and fury, Mayhem once again prove their potency and regal standing. Hail thy mighty gods of vicious hellfire!

Atavistic Black Disorder / Kommando EP by Mayhem, which features cover songs of their influences such as Discharge, Dead Kennedys, Rudimentary Peni and Ramones is now available via Century Media Records!