Mayhem: De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994)

Mayhem: De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994)

Some folks hail Mayhem's first full-length album as the best thing since sliced bread, whereas others say it's a pile of overrated shit. I won't try to change any minds. I'll say only that you're in a better position to appreciate the array of quality riffs on offer once you get past tittering at the unintentionally comical vocals.

Hellhammer's impassioned drumming is a fervent heartbeat that slows and races but always keeps the momentum; how his arms didn't fly clean off his shoulders is a mystery.

Vikernes' bass is often too low in the mix for my liking, and Euronymous' guitar too high, but it can be cited as evidence that when the two men weren't plotting to kill each other they were capable of producing truly ground-breaking work.