1) Mayhem is a Norwegian bl… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists named Mayhem;
1) Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1984 in Oslo, Norway. They were one of the founders of the Norwegian black metal scene and their music has strongly influenced the black metal genre. Mayhem's early career was highly controversial, primarily due to their notorious live performances, the 1991 suicide of vocalist Per Yngve Ohlin ("Dead") and the 1993 murder of guitarist Øystein Aarseth ("Euronymous") by former member Varg Vikernes ("Count Grishnackh") of Burzum.
The group released their Pure Fucking Armageddon demo and Deathcrush EP that were highly influential to the development of the "second wave" of scandinavian black metal, and amassed a loyal following through sporadic and notorious live performances, attracting further attention through their ties to the string of Norwegian church burnings and the incidents of violence surrounding them. Mayhem disbanded after Aarseth's murder, shortly before the release of their debut album, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, regarded as a classic of the black metal genre. Surviving former members Jan Axel Blomberg ("Hellhammer"), Jørn Stubberud ("Necrobutcher") and Sven Erik Kristiansen ("Maniac") reformed two years later with Rune Eriksen ("Blasphemer") replacing Aarseth. Attila Csihar and Morten Iversen ("Teloch") have since replaced Kristiansen and Eriksen, respectively. Their post-DMDS material is characterized by increased experimentation and more technical instrumentation. The 2007 album Ordo Ad Chao received the Spellemann Award for best heavy metal album.
The band's initial line-up consisted of Manheim on drums, Necrobutcher on bass guitar, and Euronymous on guitar. The vocalist Messiah was recruited in 1986. In 1987, Messiah departed and was replaced by Maniac on vocals; later, Dead and Hellhammer replaced Maniac and Manheim, respectively, to complete what is regarded by many fans as the group's classic lineup.
In the April of 1991, Dead, aged 22, committed suicide via a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head. This happened in a house he was sharing in Kråkstad with the other members of the band. He left a suicide note, which began with "Excuse all the blood". Euronymous was first to discover the body, and took a series of polaroids of the corpse after stylizing it with the gun and knife Dead had used to end his life. One of these pictures was later used as cover art for the bootleg album Dawn of the Black Hearts. Parts of his suicide note were used as lyrics on the track "Life Eternal", which appeared on Mayhem's first LP, De Mysteriis dom Sathanas
According to Occultus, who briefly took a position as vocalist after Dead's suicide: "[Dead] didn't see himself as human; he saw himself as a creature from another world. He said he had many visions that his blood has frozen in his veins, that he was dead. That is the reason he took that name. He knew he would die."
The bullets used had been sent to him by Bergen, Norway, musician Kristian Vikernes (aka Varg Vikernes, Count Grishnackh; ex-Old Funeral, sole member of black metal band Burzum, later convicted murderer of Euronymous). Euronymous was particularly cold and opportunistic about Dead's suicide; in interviews he claimed, speciously, that Dead had killed himself due to the rising popularity of death metal, the Norwegian movement of Black Metal had risen against. According to Hellhammer, Euronymous took pieces of Dead's brain and made a stew, in which he put ham, frozen vegetables, and pepper. "He'd always said he wanted to eat flesh, so he figured this was an easy way." (Euronymous admitted in a later interview that these claims were false, though he had been intending to do so). Euronymous also claimed to have collected and forged fragments of Dead's skull into necklaces, sending pieces to those he felt 'worthy' (amongst those rumoured to be in possession of such pieces are the members of Swedish black metal band Marduk). Hellhammer has said he made a necklace from Dead's skull fragments as well.
As can perhaps be deduced from the band's chaotic past, Mayhem's discography is patchy. There are a staggering number of live releases, demos and bootlegs, and yet there are only a handful of official studio recordings. The band's first official release is the Deathcrush EP, featuring the Euronymous-Necrobutcher-Maniac-Manheim lineup; while its lyrics were rooted in the usual death and thrash metal obsessions of gore and violence, there were also the underpinnings of a darker philosophical vision, influenced in part by Norse mythology, the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche, and Satanism (though Euronymous eschewed the Crowleyan and LeVayan forms for one more directly derived from Christianity). The Deathcrush EP has received quite a lot of praise in the years since its release, but even those who give it its most fervent praise generally agree that it was only a foreshadowing of what was to come.
The band's philosophical vision fully came to fruition after Hellhammer and Dead joined the group. Varg Vikernes, who would later play session bass on De Mysteriis dom Sathanas (intended to be the Latin for "Lord Satan's Secret Rites," but it is grammatically incorrect) after Necrobutcher's departure from the group, has been quoted as saying, "Until Hellhammer and Dead joined the band in 1989, Mayhem was a shitty, 'fun', hobby-band. If you read the lyrics on their Deathcrush album you'll know what I mean." The lineup with Hellhammer and Dead quickly began working on material for a full-length album, the aforementioned De Mysteriis dom Sathanas, but its recording would not be completed until 1993, after the deaths of Dead and Euronymous, and with Hungarian vocalist Attila Csihar, formerly of Tormentor and soon to be of Aborym, on the microphone. The only official performances featuring Dead on vocals are the "Freezing Moon" single and the Live in Leipzig album; there are also several bootlegged rehearsals, including one of his final performance called Out from the Dark.
Court struggles prevented the release of De Mysteriis dom Sathanas for several months after it was completed; Hellhammer was ordered to replace Varg Vikernes' bass parts with his own, but contrary to popular belief, he left them intact and simply lowered them slightly in the mix. He has been quoted as considering it fitting that murderer and victim should play on the same album. De Mysteriis dom Sathanas was finally released in 1994, and has often been cited as one of the greatest black metal albums of all time.
After the release of De Mysteriis, the group disbanded for awhile. However, Hellhammer eventually reformed the group with former vocalist Maniac, former bassist Necrobutcher and a new guitarist named Blasphemer. This incarnation of the group started out relatively close in sound to that of the group's old material on 1997's Wolf's Lair Abyss EP, which is regarded as a masterpiece almost worthy of comparison with De Mysteriis by some fans, but by 2000's Grand Declaration of War they had become a full-fledged avant-garde metal group. This album, which incorporated elements of electronica on one track and dramatic spoken-word passages on several others, confused and alienated many longtime fans while converting some new ones; it also displayed a heavy influence from progressive rock in its concept-based form and the way several tracks featured multiple movements or segued into one another. Grand Declaration was hailed as a masterpiece by some listeners and strongly denounced by others; in terms of how little it bears resemblance to the band's previous output, it can be compared to the left-turns taken by Dødheimsgard (666 International), Ulver (Themes from William Blake...) and Arcturus (La Masquerade Infernale), amongst others, although, unlike some of those albums, it remains firmly rooted in black metal territory.
2004's Chimera was a more conventional affair, although it still incorporates progressive elements on tracks like "Slaughter of Dreams." It was embraced by many of the fans who denounced Grand Declaration of War. After Chimera was released, Maniac was fired from the band, allegedly due to having gotten drunk and forgotten the words to songs one too many times. His replacement was Attila Csihar.
The band completed work on Ordo ad Chao (Latin for "Out of Order Comes Chaos"), its fourth album, in early 2007; it was released in North America on April 18, 2007, and to the rest of the world a day earlier. Ordo ad Chao featured a much rawer and more traditional black metal sound than the rest of the band's recent releases; nonetheless, it continued the band's exploration of more progressive songwriting, with "Illuminate Eliminate" being the band's second longest track ever at 9'40". Ordo ad Chao was exceptionally well-received both commercially and critically, and was the band's first album to reach the charts (in Norway and elsewhere).
Blasphemer left the group to focus on his other project Ava Inferi.
The band is set to be inducted into the Rockheim Hall of Fame, the Norwegian equivalent of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in September 2021, together with pop duo The Monroes and recording artist Casino Steel.
2) Mayhem is an alias of Emma Essex whose music includes various styles, such as electro house, techno and house.
Mayhem is an alias under the Halley Labs label. She is a female shark that produces what is generally electro house-inspired music with chiptune and breakbeat influences. She also stars in the game Shark Attack. Mayhem was one of the mascots of PSURG Design along with Mischief, who she was shown to be in a relationship with.
3) A hardcore punk band from UK that released three 7" EPs titled "Gentle Murder" in 1982, "Pulling Puppet Strings" in 1983 and "Bloodrush" in 1985. They also figured on various compilations, such as "Riotious Assembly" and the international "Welcome to 1984" with the unreleased song "I Defy"
4) A black metal band from Japan with a six-track demo released in 1985.
5) A Hungarian Venom-like pre-black/thrash metal band who released one demo in 1989.
6) A thrash metal band from Portland, Oregon: formed in 1983. They released the album _Buried Alive_.
Trinity
Mayhem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The destroyer of worlds"
Vril!
Babalon
Antichrist
Rocketeer
a-bomb
holy grail
Manhattan
shangri-la
black sun
coming race
golem-makers
open abyss
twilight
Bohemia
moonchild
incarnate
I am the god of war and vengeance
I will give you a war engine
Hail!
Critical mass
Atomic fire
Thousand suns
Road of death
Wormhole
Apocalypse
Gate of stars
Zero hour
The lyrics of Mayhem's song "Trinity" seem to draw inspiration from warfare, science fiction and occultism. The first two lines, "Now, I am become Death. The destroyer of worlds" directly quote J. Robert Oppenheimer, the project leader of the Manhattan Project, who famously said this after the first successful atomic bomb test in 1945. The verses interweave cryptic references to Vril, Babalon, Antichrist and other mystical concepts, as well as science fiction motifs like rocketeers, the coming race and wormholes. The chorus proclaims "I am the god of war and vengeance, I will give you a war engine" portraying the singer as a deity of destruction and aggression.
The song's title itself, "Trinity," adds another layer of meaning to the lyrics. It refers to the Trinity test, the code name for the first nuclear bomb detonated by the United States in New Mexico. The song also mentions Manhattan, the city where the atomic bomb was developed, and the holy grail, which some interpret as a metaphor for nuclear weaponry. The use of WWII and Cold War imagery and symbolism in this song suggests that Mayhem is commenting on the destructive potential of humanity, the perils of technology and the brewing threat of apocalypse. Overall, "Trinity" is a densely packed, esoteric song that invites interpretation and decoding, with a dark, ominous atmosphere and relentless energy.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, I am become Death.
I have become the force of destruction.
The destroyer of worlds
I destroy everything in my path.
Vril!
An exclamation demonstrating power and intensity.
Babalon
A reference to the goddess of Thelema, symbolizing lust, liberation, and destruction.
Antichrist
A reference to the figure in Christianity who opposes Christ and embodies evil.
Rocketeer
A person who is skilled in piloting rockets or other spacecraft.
Trinity
A reference to the nuclear weapon tested in New Mexico in 1945, which consisted of three parts: a fission bomb, a fusion fuel component, and a tamper.
a-bomb
An abbreviation of atomic bomb, a weapon of mass destruction that uses energy released by nuclear reactions as its source of destructive power.
holy grail
A reference to the chalice used by Christ at the Last Supper and sought after by King Arthur and his knights, it represents an object of great power and mystery.
Manhattan
A reference to the Manhattan Project, a research and development project that produced the first nuclear weapons during World War II.
shangri-la
A reference to a fictional paradise, representing an idealized or unattainable place or state of being.
black sun
A symbol for esoteric and occult philosophies, representing a source of dark, transformative energy.
coming race
A reference to a novel by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, representing a future civilization that has harnessed great power and knowledge.
golem-makers
A reference to Jewish folklore, representing creators who imbue inanimate objects with life and purpose.
open abyss
A reference to a vast, dark void that is both terrifying and alluring.
twilight
A reference to a period of transition or ambiguity, between light and darkness or life and death.
Bohemia
A region in central Europe that has been associated with unconventional artistic and cultural practices.
moonchild
A term used in occult and mystical contexts, representing a person born under the astrological sign of Cancer, ruled by the Moon.
incarnate
Representing a manifestation of a deity or spirit in human form, or an embodiment of a concept or ideal.
I am the god of war and vengeance
Claiming the power and authority of a deity associated with destruction and retribution.
I will give you a war engine
Promising to provide a powerful weapon of destruction.
Hail!
An exclamation of loyalty, respect, and admiration for a person or idea.
Critical mass
A term used in nuclear physics, representing the minimum amount of fissile material needed to sustain a nuclear chain reaction.
Atomic fire
A powerful and destructive force, arising from the energy released by nuclear reactions.
Thousand suns
Representing a source of immense power and illumination, or a metaphor for the collective power of many individuals.
Road of death
A path or journey that leads to destruction or loss of life.
Wormhole
A hypothetical passage through spacetime, traversable by matter or energy, that would allow for faster-than-light travel or time travel.
Apocalypse
A cataclysmic event that portends the end of the world, often associated with religious or mythic prophecies.
Gate of stars
A portal or gateway that leads to realms beyond the stars, representing a source of knowledge, power, or mystery.
Zero hour
A critical moment of decision or action, often associated with the onset of a military operation or other crisis.
Contributed by Sebastian A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@EnriqueSanchez
Oppenheimer at the beginning. This song should be in the 2023 movie, Oppenheimer
@ShadowRonan
When they named the test as “Trinity” in the movie, I knew I had to listen to this song when I got home
@ruheerutad8167
@@ShadowRonan i listening to this song when i'm going to watch this movie
@LCRLive687
This album is extremely metal.
@MIZORAM_mafaka_hnamte
Now, I am become Death; The Destroyer of Worlds
Quote from physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, Father of Atomic Bomb
@mahamrityumjay
MIZORAM - Mafaka Hnamte quoting from Geeta
@MrSalvaur
jew boy
@FredrikElverhiDjfredyq1982
Attila he is the the beast on vokal
@dantonculte4849
I should have listen this album at it's release !
@LCRLive687
Same here bro