Mayhem is an entity in the realm of extreme metal that needs little introduction, yet was such an abrupt turning point in the history and evolution of extreme metal. Having started out as a group of youth in Oslo channeling their inspiration and influences from the first wave greats, the band was formed by bassist Jørn Stubberud (Necrobutcher), drummer Kjetil Manheim and last but far from least Øystein Aarseth (better known as Euronymous) on guitars in 1984 and named itself after the Venom song 'Mayhem with Mercy'. The band, after two demos went onto release the incredibly belligerent 'Deathcrush' EP in 1987, which was merely a sign of the inevitable ascension of the black metal genre in the years to come, a legacy they would come to herald. Apart from the more than well known violent past involving church burnings and internal conflicts. The band also has the unique position in the history of black metal as being the primary founders of its signature sound, with the guitar wizardry of Euronymous having been the stylistic base of most second wave black metal bands, with his usage of high-speed poly-rhythms alongside the ambient riffing. Despite having had a controversial history and rocky tenure as a band, with the deaths and departures of key members to add to the situation, the band (today comprising of Attila Csihar, Necrobutcher, Hellhammer and Teloch) is still going strong, expanding upon the foundations laid down by its early work in a sensible and progressive manner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKE9Tj1LME4
