Sydney’s Metro Theatre transformed into a black metal shrine on January 10 as Mayhem marked 40 years of chaos and infamy. The Norwegian legends gave the sold-out crowd a set that tore through every era of their controversial, genre-defining career.
The show kicked off with a montage chronicling Mayhem’s history—equal parts triumph and tragedy—before launching into “2024-1997.” From the first note of Malum, it was clear the band wasn’t pulling punches. Tracks like “Bad Blood,” “MILAB,” and “Psywar” brought their modern material into sharp focus, proving Mayhem’s still crafting riffs as cold and unforgiving as a Nordic winter.
The set then leaned into the dissonant grooves of Ordo Ad Chao and Chimera with tracks like “Illuminate Eliminate” and “My Death.” Each moment felt like a descent further into the abyss, amplified by Attila Csihar’s otherworldly presence. Highlights like “Crystalized Pain in Deconstruction” and “Symbols of Bloodswords” reminded everyone why Mayhem’s catalog remains untouchable in its ferocity.
Of course, no Mayhem gig is complete without De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. “Freezing Moon,” “Life Eternal,” and “Funeral Fog” sent chills through the room, each riff a haunting echo of black metal’s origins. By this point, the crowd was fully immersed in the dark energy Mayhem conjures like no one else.
The final act took us all the way back to the band’s anarchic beginnings. “Deathcrush,” “Chainsaw” “Gutsfuck,” and “Carnage” sent the pit into overdrive. Pure Fucking Armageddon fittingly closed the night—a visceral reminder of the raw chaos Mayhem built their legacy on.
Mayhem’s 40th anniversary show was a celebration of the band’s untouchable influence and unrelenting spirit. As the last blast beat echoed through the Metro, it was clear: four decades in, Mayhem still defines black metal.
