Mayhem gets a lot more flak than they deserve, it seems that a lot of individuals think the band only gets attention because of the particular incidents surrounding its band members. However, the group was by no means untalented, and the music (at least the first few releases) slays.
Deathcrush, their first EP, is a clear example of how much influence Mayhem took from groups like Celtic Frost, Bathory, Venom, etc. It's not the black metal that most would recognize -- that sound wouldn't really come into play until DMDS, many years later. This release is 18 and a half minutes of no-holds-barred blackened thrashy metal, but a lot fits into that short length of time.
This is not the "classic" Mayhem lineup. At this time, there was no Dead or Hellhammer. The original drummer, Manheim, still sat behind the skins, and Mayhem was still using two "session" vocalists. Euro and Necro rounded out the rest of the group for this release, and they do not disappoint.
So where to begin? The first track, "Silvester Anfang," is an intro piece borrowed from Conrad Schnitzler of Tangerine Dream, showing a level of avant-garde. The martial electronic drumming creates a sense of forboding, leading the listener to press on.
The title track is up next. Killer riffing, killer thrashy breaks, and what sounds like blasting from time to time. The lyrical matter is gruesome, like a few of the other songs on here. Maniac, despite all the hating for later works, is on top of his game here vocally
Chainsaw Gutsfuck needs no introduction. Gruesome lyrics by far. Killer bass intro, which really leads to a mid-paced groove underneath Maniac's (admittedly easier to decipher) spitting out of unholy lines. Listen to the opening drum beat -- more of the martial tendencies we saw in the intro track, and that particular beat comes up before the third verse(?). About 2:40 in, the fast thrashy break kicks in, replete with blasting, and what sounds like a quick maniacal (see what I did there?) solo by Euronymous. As quickly as it starts, we go back into the groove, where the song ends. This track is one of the heavier of the album, and a morbid pleasure to listen to.
The next track, Witching Hour, is a cover by some obscure English group named Venom. As far as covers go, they can be either hit or miss, you can either ape the original artist completely, or put your own spin on it. When you put this track on, hold on to your balls. After some ominous bass tones, the band absolutely tear into the track, I would say twice as fast as the original. But what makes this track particularly memorable is the use of Messiah on vocals. Messiah, in my opinion, was terribly underused on this album. While Maniac seems content to scream to his heart's desire, Messiah's vocals seem to take inspiration from Sodom and/or Celtic Frost (including the uh's). The lyrics are spat out rapid-fire, but always intelligible. Maniac makes a few brief appearances here, mostly providing screams. There is another quick solo in the middle of the song, but the song's speed is the more important part.
Necrolust was a song I always overlooked. A few more listens makes me wonder why I didn't think of it more. Heavy, with more mid-paced riffing, and the thrash elements are more prounounced -- I could see a group like Slayer or Megadeth covering this with ease. Maniac's singing is a lot more understandable here, with rapid-fire delivery reminiscent of the previous song. Once again, thrashy breaks and absolutely insane drumming from Manheim. The longest track on the album, but Mayhem fills up the time with memorable moments, including another atonal frantic solo by Euro.
The next two tracks would best be combined into one, and are in the copy I have. (Weird) Manheim is another ominous little instrumental, which sounds like either bass and piano or just piano. Like its name would suggest, it is a weird little ditty, but leads seamlessly into the next and final track (on some releases). Pure Fuckin' Armageddon is a short (2 minutes or so) tour de force of black thrash. Messiah returns to the microphone for this track, Euronymous shreds, Necro is somewhere in the mix, and Manheim alternates flawlessly between mid-paced grooving and primitive (but effective) blasting. Heavy, quick, and destructive. Still a classic, even after all these years.
There is an outro on some copies, which I have only heard on YouTube. It shows that Mayhem has a sense of humor, and isn't really afraid not to take themselves seriously. And really, early Mayhem was all about not taking themselves seriously, so this is a good fit.
The unsung hero of this album is Necrobutcher. Not the drunken buffoon we know and love from modern times, this is his album to shine, providing a solid foundation for Euronymous' riffs and Manheim's absolute crushing drumming.
A lot of "what-ifs" can be asked after listening to this album, but to me, this is still one of the heaviest of its time, and its influence can still be heard today.
Sample:
Mayhem - Deathcrush (1987) [FULL ALBUM]
