The Decibel Magazine Tour resumes celebrating 40 years of true Norwegian black metal. The Concert Hall became a portal to darkness as Mayhem, joined by dungeon synth legend Mortiis, avant-garde metal collective Imperial Triumphant, and New Skeletal Faces unleashed their fury. The historic venue, with its gothic architecture and haunting sounds, provided the perfect backdrop for an evening that celebrated the sinister evolution of extreme music.
New Skeletal Faces opened the night with a raw yet electric set, blending various different undertones. Their performance echoed through the venue. Tracks like “Pagan War” and “Until the Night” set an ominous tone, warming the crowd up for the avant-garde chaos that would follow.
Imperial Triumphant took the stage next, cloaked in their signature golden masks, and plunged the audience into a dystopian soundscape. Their dissonant, jazz-infused black metal defied categorization, weaving intricate chaos with complex time signatures and eerie ambiance.
Songs like “Goldstar” and “Eye of Mars” created an atmosphere that left the crowd transfixed, setting the stage for a descent into darkness.
Mortiis emerged with a riveting performance that transported the audience into the eerie landscapes of his early Era I dungeon synth material.
The set was a mesmerizing journey through ambient, medieval soundscapes, enveloping the venue in an ethereal gloom.
Mortiis’ commanding presence and otherworldly music felt like a ritualistic prelude to the carnage Mayhem was about to unleash.
When Mayhem finally took the stage, the energy in the room became primal and electric. As the band tore through a set that spanned their infamous career, it was clear they weren’t just performing—they were conjuring the spirit of black metal.
Attila‘s raw vocals, commanded attention, while Necrobutcher’s pounding bass and Hellhammer’s unrelenting drumming shook the walls of The Concert Hall.
The setlist was a carefully curated descent into darkness, with classics like “Deathcrush,” “Freezing Moon,” and “Pagan Fears” unleashing raw, sinister energy. Dim lighting, fog, and ritualistic theatrics heightened the eerie atmosphere, with Attila’s unsettling stage presence adding an extra layer of dread.
The band’s performance of selections from De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas was the pinnacle of the night—a chilling reminder of Mayhem’s enduring influence and uncompromising vision.
As the final notes echoed through the venue and the crowd emerged from the darkness, it was clear that something profound had transpired. Mayhem’s 40th Anniversary was not just a tribute to their legacy—it was a testament to the enduring power of black metal to captivate, disturb, and inspire many OG fans and newcomers alike.
