ALBUM REVIEW: Liturgy of Death – Mayhem
The mythos and reputation of MAYHEM will forever be intrinsically linked to those chaotic early years, for better or worse, but it cannot be understated that four decades in, the Norwegians remain as one of black metal’s juggernauts. Seven years after 2019’s Daemon, album number seven – Liturgy Of Death – arrives, an album that looks to reinforce MAYHEM‘s position as the genre’s most vital name.
As is par for the course, MAYHEM take their time between studio releases, with each album reflecting a pillar of their wider anthology. Six years between 1994’s timeless classic De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas and 2000’s Grand Declaration Of War. Seven years between 2007’s Ordo ad Chao and 2014’s Esoteric Warefare. Here, the seven years since Daemon unfold in Liturgy Of Death‘s central theme: a stark and uncompromising exploration of mortality.
Complimenting this is, of course, the music and on Liturgy of Death, MAYHEM present some of their finest work since 1994’s untouchable debut. Feeling like the spiritual successor to Funeral Fog, Ephemeral Eternity is a cacophonous album opener, as rolling double kicks and vicious riffs enforce a grim and frostbitten tone over the course of its near seven minute runtime. Bolstered by a crisp production, a feature that excels across the album’s near 49 minute runtime, this is MAYHEM firing on all cylinders.
Elsewhere, Despair unfolds with sinister ferocity as twisting riffs intertwine with Attila‘s dynamic vocals, whose throat remains one of the band’s most unique components, while lead single Weep For Nothing is arguably Liturgy Of Death‘s finest moment. Here, the band ebb and flow from ferocious aural bombardments to menacing passages that swirl like a maelstrom, all while Attila‘s vocals cut through the noise, like a twisted conductor orchestrating the chaos. To be utterly frank, it’s fucking brilliant, and it’s refreshing to hear one of the genre’s pioneers still sounding as good as this.
Liturgy Of Death is far from a one dimension black metal album calling back to the days of yesteryear. It’s a dynamic and heavily layered record, one in which the band cleverly use pace, tone and a collectively tight musicianship to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. Aeon’s End boasts some of the best drumming from Hellhammer on the record, a performance that has enough force to level a building, Funeral Of Existence features some really cool and intricate riffing that really shines, and Realm Of Endless Misery allows Necrobutcher‘s bass to really thump, acting as the bedrock to the aural malice swirling above. It’s spine-chilling stuff.
With Liturgy Of Death, MAYHEM prove that there is still plenty of creative energy left in the tank. This is a ferocious monster of a record, a sophisticated and cunning leviathan that unfolds its sinister brilliance over repeated listens. Although there is nothing left to prove at this point, Liturgy Of Death reaffirms MAYHEM as the definitive band in black metal. Over 40 years in, the Norwegians remain white hot, delivering arguably their best record since 1994’s infamous debut.
Rating: 9/10
Liturgy of Death is out now via Century Media Records.
For more information on MAYHEM like their official page on Facebook.
