Mayhem (NOR) - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
1.Funeral Fog
2.Freezing Moon
3.Cursed in Eternity
4.Pagan Fears
5.Life Eternal
6.From the Dark Past
7.Buried by Time and Dust
8.De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
Length: 45:57
32 users have collected this album

De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas

  • Type: Full-length
  • Style: Black Metal
    Genre infoTo keep things simple, albums are grouped into a handful of approximate styles.
  • Year: 1994
  • Country: Norway
Average score:
Avg. score:
97% 4.9 star rating
1 Review
+ Legacy score

Tracklist
Length: 45:57

  1. Funeral Fog
  2. Freezing Moon
  3. Cursed in Eternity
  4. Pagan Fears
  5. Life Eternal
  6. From the Dark Past
  7. Buried by Time and Dust
  8. De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
32 users have collected this album

1 Review for
'Mayhem (NOR) - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas'
'De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas'

5.0 star rating 100%

Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” 1994


Mayhem is a band whose legend of death precedes them. An overrated discography to their name, but nonetheless a collective of the utmost importance to Black Metal. After all, where would the genre be today had it not been for the likes of Darkthrone and Mayhem? Their music was a bridge from the first wave to the second and their crimes? The stuff of cinema that whipped Norwegian churchgoers into frenzied states of shock and fear. Promises of Satanic wrath and a new rise of Heathen Barbarism to fill their hearts with dread. But we all know the story behind the music: Dead, Euronymous, the one who I will only refer to as the now desolate soloist of the genre and their legacies of suicide, murder and terrorism. For these youngsters, black metal was about much more than the music.

Mayhem got their start in 1984 but wouldn’t release their first LP , “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas”, until the early 90’s. By that time, Mayhem founder, Euronymous, had already met his demise at the business end of a pocket knife. The release of the album was stalled due to his family’s outrage over the fact that his murderer’s bass tracks were still featured on the record. Promises to re-record those parts were made but never actually fulfilled and the album finally saw light of day in 1994.

“De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” is the quintessential black metal record; one of the greatest of all time and to say that it was a long time coming would be a gross understatement. It was the culmination of gruesome happenings and sheer determination. Mayhem had established themselves much earlier with a number of demos and EP’s, and Euronymous had been a key player in the early second wave movement with his Deathlike Silence label. But as I mentioned before, it was their own crimes and depravity along with the outrage of the bereaved that stalled this record that should’ve been released years before.

From a musical perspective, Mayhem’s debut LP is deeply inspired by Bathory’s early recordings, but with its very own and palpable energy - pure Norse fury unleashed to the sound of true Satanic BM that made Possessed, Deicide and Morbid Angel seem like imposters. It was Euronymous’ belief that Diabolism was the path to true Satanic music, and with “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas”, there’s a sense of genuineness to each note and a deep ritualistic vibe to every track as conveyed through Attila Csihar’s dramatic vocal contribution. Blast-beat-driven and alive with racing compositions - comprehensive and intense - adeptness that far superseded the youth of each band member. Nothing technical about it; just a steamrolling forward sort of album with tracks like “Funeral Fog” and “Freezing Moon” that mercilessly propel you into the realm of hatred upon a current of fluid riffing patterns and relentless cadences. Other more ambitious album cuts: “Pagan Fears”, “Life Eternal” (written by original vocalist, Dead) and the titular track display the band’s subtle but unmistakable experimental side. The aforementioned “Life Eternal” - a tribute to Dead but also a standout track due to its deranged and whimsical nature - the product of untreated insanity, but ultimately the band’s most popular song.

“De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” has been labeled as the blueprint for today’s Black Metal, and in some ways that’s true, but it’s also important to recognize Satyricon, Emperor and the “Unholy Trinity” of black metal albums that were released by the aforementioned Darkthrone. All vital projects and recordings that ignited cathedral fires and the passion/inspiration of future BM’ers the world over. And all that mayhem… Black metal’s history is a violent one indeed; a genre of music built upon a foundation of blood and sacrifice. Mayhem wouldn’t release another LP until 2000, and their subsequent works have ultimately failed to live up to their debut, but what’s most important is the fact that this band, despite their age and legend status, still exude all the danger, mystique and volatility that the early scene was known for all those years ago. And I think that’s the bread & butter of it all. When you think black metal, you think Mayhem…

10/10

~Jeger

Experience “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” by Mayhem right here:

https://youtu.be/rZEJD-fdNEc

Review for 'Mayhem (NOR) - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas' by Jeger
Review
written
by Lycanthropia.net Jeger on 2nd June, 2025
User Admin - Lycanthropia.net - 96 reviews
4.8 star rating 95%

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Review for 'Mayhem (NOR) - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas'
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15 Comments
for 'Mayhem (NOR) - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas'

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i love this so much, especially the last song

#2 By Wilbeerthoven (Archived) on
27th Nov, 2012 @ 03:44 UTC
27-11-2012

Chimera is 1000 times better than this and so many othes on this top 100...

It's like a full speed carriage ride through the Carpathian mountains, and your narrator is Dracula himself.

My most evil sounding thing to have ever been committed to record.

This is probably my favourite album. All genres. The guitar work, atmosphere, drumming. Everything is perfect. The vocals are on a different level compared to other music out there.

I think this is the perfect black metal album. I also think the Mayhem guys shared my feelings I have right now about this music when they were done recording it.

The pinnacle of any black metal collection.

#5 By DoctorInfinite (Archived) on
13th Jan, 2015 @ 15:48 UTC
13-01-2015

To me, DMDS is not only the most 'culturally' and 'historically' important second wave album, it's also a phenomenal album musically. This is about as perfect as this genre can get (along with Nemesis Divina)-- even eclipsing anything done by Darkthrone or Emperor (in my opinion!!). None of the craftsmanship is lost behind the ridiculous lo-fi lust of that age, and it manages to have a grand and epic sound without burying the vital instruments under synths and the like. You can hear every instrument, and every riff is instantly memorable. I can't think of black metal without hearing the intro riff of the title track, it's anthemic and synonymous.

Even Attila's ridiculous vocals work well with this album.

I site this along with Darkthrone's 'Under a Funeral Moon' as the epitomes of pitch black, seething metal. 'De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas' is an absolute, undisputable classic and foundaton for the entire genre.

It's hard to find fault with this album. Perfect songwriting, perfect production, perfect atmosphere. It really makes you wonder what Euronymous would have been capable of if he was allowed a follow-up.

#8 By Necrolexicon (Archived) on
20th Jan, 2020 @ 09:38 UTC
20-01-2020

A dynamic, emotive, masterpiece and unique to this day.

This is true Norwegian black metal...


...with a Hungarian vocalist, that makes the whole thing even more Legendary!!!

I mean, which other Norwegian black metal band had vocals like Attila?

None, that's who. He didn't do run of the mill vocals, he did something original

in the scene, And he wasn't even Norwegian! But Attila was a legend in the underground way

Before 1994! Dead would have been proud.

Overrated; yes!
but stil very good

When it comes to (second wave) Black Metal, theres no other album like Mysteriis.

this is easily Mayhem's greatest work

One of my favourite album, funeral fog is the top track

I hate what this album has become. It is one of the most influential albums in black metal, but lately all of these cornballs have been giving it the "Nirvana Effect". A band that is to a lot of people almost a clothing brand. I shit you not, I saw someone wearing a mayhem croptop, and I thought they were doing a play on that one photo of Euronymous, but no they just wore it because it looked cool. I am one for listening to music you like and not giving a shit what anybody else thinks, but oh my fucking god it is so bad.

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