MAYHEM - The Mystery Of The Lord Satan (Deathcrush + De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas) (CD - Jewel Case)
Norway | Black/Post-Black
Detailed Description
This is a split compilation featuring the "Deathcrush" EP and the album "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas". MAYHEM has recieved a lot more flak than they honestly deserve, it seems that a lot of individuals think the band only gets attention because of the particular incidents surrounding its band members, for example the murders, arson and forgive the pun, mayhem that followed the band. However, the group was by no means untalented, and the music at least their first few releases really deliver a potent and genre defining punch. "Deathcrush", their first EP, is a clear example of how much influence MAYHEM took from groups like CELTIC FROST, BATHORY, VENOM, among others. It's not the black metal that most would recognize that sound wouldn't really come into play until "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas", many years later. This release is 18 and a half minutes of no-holds-barred raw and evil thrash metal. It's filthy, ugly and crude. It expresses an uncontrollable wrath. "Deathcrush" is considered to be an essential among most of the die-hard MAYHEM followers. "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" inarguably is the magnum opus from MAYHEM. It was released in 1994, after black metal had conquered the Norwegian media for well-known reasons, but the vast part of the "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" material had been circling in the black metal underground since the late 80s in a form of demos, rehearsals, live recordings, so it's fair to call the album one of the most important releases in the fundaments of black metal. A majority of the material was written by Euronymous. The material of the album is produced well with no signs of overproduction. The atmosphere of "De Mysteriis Dom. Sathanas" is dark, with a funeral touch. In terms of songwriting "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" was obviously a black metal blueprint for many aspiring artists who have come since. The music is most often dynamic, but there's some diversity, changing of tempo and themes.
