Mayhem set out to be the most extreme band in existence. Taking notes from Venom and Celtic Frost they produced a 1st Wave masterpiece, 1987's 'Deathcrush.' They used this EP to take the underground by force, and soon added the final piece to 2nd Wave's inaugural puzzle, Per ' Dead' Ohlin. This new vocalist graced the band with sheer grimness including the first carnation of corpse paint and truly being kvlt. Mayhem's live set included Dead's mutilation of severed pig heads, along with his own flesh. These early shows and music caught the attention of Darkthrone and a young Varg Vikernes. Soon Euronymous (founder / guitarist) started to take the riffs into darker territory, this along with Dead's lyrics (which strayed from the bands original gore vibe), became the foundation stone of the Black Metal to come. In Leipzig, Germany on November 26th, 1990 a full set was recorded. Though it was not released until 1993 this recording is what we have to understand the magic this lineup created, along with the first true Black Metal tunes. The tracks Funeral Fog, The Freezing Moon, Buried by Time and Dust, and Pagan Fears set the standard for the rest of Norway.
