Deathcrush

Deathcrush
EP by Mayhem
Released 16 August 1987
Recorded February–March 1987 at Creative Studios, Kolbotn, Norway
Genre Black metal
Length 17:24
Label Posercorpse
Producer Mayhem, Erik Avnskog
Mayhem chronology

Pure Fucking Armageddon
(1986)
Deathcrush
(1987)
Live in Leipzig
(1993)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [1]

Deathcrush is an EP by the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. It was released on 16 August 1987 by the Posercorpse record label, and was the first studio release by any band in the Norwegian black metal scene.

Background

Though influential to black metal, its lyrics and sound were largely influenced by early death metal bands. After vocalist Dead joined the group, the lyrics adopted darker topics and Euronymous started rejecting most death metal bands as their lyrics turned towards "social awareness"[2] and "normal" topics[3] instead of death worship;[2] he "wanted things to be more serious and extreme".[3] Dead stated that the lyrics "aren't bad at all, but they are later what would become gore and trendy".[2]

In 2008, Daniel Ekeroth wrote, "The two visionaries [Aarseth and Per 'Dead' Ohlin] pushed each other further into darkness, and sometime in 1990 they finally adopted the Satanic image that would become so crucial for the genre [...] It's well documented that Øystein initially was very into death metal and grindcore."[4]

According to Dead, most, but not all of the lyrics were written by Necrobutcher.[2][5]

Legacy

"Chainsaw Gutsfuck" was voted "Most Gruesome Lyrics Ever" by Blender in 2006.[6]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Mayhem (Maniac, Euronymous, Necrobutcher, Manheim, Messiah), except as noted. 

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Silvester Anfang"  Conrad Schnitzler 1:56
2. "Deathcrush"    3:33
3. "Chainsaw Gutsfuck"    3:33
4. "Witching Hour" (Venom cover)Venom 1:49
5. "Necrolust"    3:37
6. "(Weird) Manheim"    0:48
7. "Pure Fucking Armageddon"    2:09
8. "Outro"    1:09
Total length:
18:34
Note: Some versions have "(Weird) Manheim" and "Pure Fucking Armageddon" on the same track.
Note: The outro only appeared on the original LP.

Personnel

Session musicians

References

  1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Deathcrush – Mayhem : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The True Mayhem. In: Metalion: Metalion: The Slayer Mag Diaries. Brooklyn, NY: Bazillion Points Books 2011, p. 209.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Kristiansen, Jon: Metalion: The Slayer Mag Diaries. Brooklyn, NY: Bazillion Points Books 2011, p. 221.
  4. Ekeroth, Daniel: Swedish Death Metal. Brooklyn, NY: Bazillion Points Books 2008, pp. 245–246.
  5. "Cooking with Satan – The Mayhem Archive Part II: Dead Interview". cookingwithsatan.com. 11 July 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  6. "Blabbermouth.net – Slayer, Slipknot, Cannibal Corpse Among 'Most Gruesome Lyrics... Ever'". Blabbermouth.net. 24 October 2006. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Mayhem/Deathcrush/252