Mayhem 40th Anniversary Show, Melbourne review. One of the finest metal gigs I have ever witnessed. Words by Mark Jenkins and Pics by Dan McKay.

 

Mayhem 40th Anniversary Show, Melbourne review. One of the finest metal gigs I have ever witnessed. Words by Mark Jenkins and Pics by Dan McKay.

(I realise this was a month ago, but I was ill and in hospital, deal with it!)

Mayhem,40th Anniversary show at the Northcote Theatre, Melbourne Jan 12 2025.

Soundworks Touring I thank you for making this happen, this is the third time I have witnessed the glorious works of Mayhem and this was easily the finest.

MAYHEM’S 40th-anniversary show promised to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for fans, featuring a setlist that spans their illustrious career, from their groundbreaking debut album, 'Deathcrush,' to the present day. This concert absolutely celebrated the band’s legacy over four decades of musical evolution and boundary-pushing performances and fans could finally witness this legendary and exclusive spectacle in Australia!

This electrifying live performance showcased a retrospective of MAYHEM’S 40-year career as pioneers of black metal and will include rare footage and iconic photos.

Formed in 1984 in Norway, MAYHEM has been at the forefront of the black metal scene, known for its controversial history, groundbreaking music, and unparalleled live performances. Over the years, they have cemented their status as one of the most influential bands in extreme metal, continually pushing the boundaries of the genre.

Now, as MAYHEM reflects on their 40-year legacy, they celebrated their triumphs over tribulations and tragedy with a never-before-seen performance in Australia, featuring their biggest production yet. 

Host opened the proceedings of this grim celebration and I have wanted to see this band for ages. 

Host are a celebration of all that is dark about extreme music; a blend of dark ambient mixed with Industrial Drone/Noise. A three-piece who let their abstract soundscapes do the talking.

Their vocalist looks like an unhinged mental asylum escapee and, on synth is a deeply focused insane wizard and banging drums and other stuff is some maniac who appears to be possessed by every evil spirit known to mankind.

Visual analysis aside, Host is simply crushing with its bleak and dire atmospheric take on extreme music. It was refreshing as hell to have a support act that doesn't revel in cliches and generic claptrap.

The three staggering tracks that comprised their excilarating and morbid set were a definitive showcase of perfect avantgarde brutality. The sublime trio is very much locked in to each other and it exudes a truly morbid atmosphere; the mood is equally foreboding and breathtaking. As a music fan, you learn more from underground artists and events(like Dark Mofo) than the bog-standard nonsense served out by dull fucktards of modern music.

If you have never experienced this outstanding act, I implore you to do so immediately. The dreary soundscapes they create will remind you of the most unsettling horror movie you have ever seen, it is completely anxiety-inducing and the dissonant evil drone foundation floors you immediately. But this hellscape is equally unique and spellbinding. Suss this act out when they do a performance and invest time in their stunning music via Bandcamp.

Mayhem, no words can describe their impact on the extreme music landscape and the sheer power of this band has never been diluted. This 40th Anniversary spectacular was gobsmackingly dramatic and one of the finest metal performances I have ever witnessed. The sheer breadth of song choice, astonishing audiovisual setup and of course a scintillating and flawless performance made this a classic. 

Hats off to Soundworks Touring as the high level of production and sublime delivery utilising killer video footage etc perfectly complimented a solid 2 hour set. You could not ask for anything else from this band and the Northcote Theatre was a wicked choice of venue, whereby the mood and mixing were so on point for the entire show. 

The setlist was incredible obviously a purposeful and enjoyable ride through the chaotic and eventful history including Deathcrush, Wolf's Lair Abyss and obviously De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (one of the greatest records ever). Most albums were represented and the set was broken into three segments: 1997-2024, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas and 1984-1990. As already mentioned each section and track had amazing video/animations up on a giant scream, and it was magnificent.

A bonus was epic and non-cheesy tributes to both Euronymous and Dead, an absolute necessity and the crowd roared with passion to the fallen heroes.

Personally, I had no favourite highlight of the set, as the whole set was so raw, the song selection splendid and the Audiovisual side the icing on the cake. Obviously, the super-skilled and devoted band members played brilliantly, raw, aggressively and with psychotic intent.

To completely contradict myself, two monumentally impressive moments were: 1) the band performing the anthem Funeral Fog with Dead's vocals and 2) the closing glory and sheer deranged magic of Pure Fucking Armageddon.
Both were emotive brutality at its finest.

So in summary, you must have had a critical incident or been out of the country, otherwise, you had no excuse to not be at this resplendent ritual and one of the best gigs I have ever attended. Sheer shock, awe and worship of one the greatest metal bands ever.

Mayhem's 40th Anniversary show was a jaw-dropping spectacle that probably will never be seen again in this format. Cheers to Dysie and Soundworks for the access and again for making this brilliant event happen!. All Hail Mayhem!.