MAYHEM – PURE FUCKING ARMAGEDDON LTD ED 6 LP PICTURE DISC BOX SET RELEASED ON 16 SEPTEMBER THE BEGINNINGS OF THE NORWEGIAN BLACK METAL MASTERS, PRESENTED AS A LIMITED, SIX LP PICTURE DISC SET WITH SOME PREVIOUSLY UNHEARD MATERIAL, INCLUDING LIVE DVD AND ADDITIONAL 80-PAGE BOOK CONTAINING ACCOUNTS OF THE PERIOD, PLUS RARE BAND PHOTOS, INTERVIEWS, AND IMAGES FROM NECROBUTCHER’S OWN ARCHIVE.

Inspired by groups such as Venom, Slayer, Motörhead and Celtic Frost, Mayhem was founded in 1984 by guitarist/vocalist Øystein Aarseth (aka Euronymous), bass guitarist Jørn Stubberud (aka Necrobutcher), and drummer Kjetil Manheim (aka Manheim). The band name is taken from the Venom song, “Mayhem with Mercy”. This lineup recorded and released the demo Pure Fucking Armageddon. After its release, Euronymous concentrated solely on guitar after recruiting first Eirik Nordheim (Messiah), then Sven Erik Kristiansen (aka Maniac) as vocalists in 1986. With Maniac, Mayhem recorded the band’s first EP, Deathcrush in 1986 and 1987, and released it through Euronymous’s newly formed label Posercorpse Music. 

After honoring the Dead era with Peaceville’s ‘Cursed in Eternity’ boxset, plus the band’s own look back at the iconic ‘De Mysteriis Dom. Satanas’ album, it was time to return to the very beginning of The True Mayhem. In order to do so, Necrobutcher opened his vault of personal and never-released tape recordings and, with the help of long-time Mayhem friend Finn Håkon Rødland, constructed a special picture disc box set with the very first recordings of The True Mayhem, essential for any die-hard fan of the Norwegian legends. The ‘Pure Fucking Armageddon’ boxset contains 6 LPs, including the cult 1986 ‘Pure Fucking Armageddon’ demo itself, plus also the final complete ‘Pure Fucking Armageddon’ rehearsal, spanning 90 minutes and featured here across 2 LPs (including talking between songs and multiple takes of tracks – nothing has been cut). In addition to these essential pieces of metal history, Mayhem’s classic April 1985 gig live in Ski is also included (LP and DVD), where they performed a selection of cover tracks. The very first official Mayhem interview was recorded onto tape by Øyvind Ihlen for the Panic fanzine, and also features in this set (in Norwegian language, with translation in the book). This was also partly inspired by a similar interview-disc release from Venom many years ago. And last but not least, is Checker Patrol. This was the obscure metal project that Euronymous & Necrobutcher had with Metalion and their German friends during interrail trips of `86 and `87. This is the first presentation of the full collection of tracks, with songs from 1987 previously never heard. The boxset concludes with an 80-page book with Necrobutcher’s recollections and unique pictures from the very first Mayhem photo sessions, along with interviews, and other rarities from the mid-80s. The set also contains a classic early era band poster.