Norwegian black metal legends MAYHEM are days away from releasing "Liturgy of Death," their seventh studio album and first new material in seven years, due February 6 via Century Media Records. The album arrives as both a creative statement and a milestone, doubling as a celebration of the band's 40th anniversary — four decades since the formation of what would become the most infamous and influential act in black metal history.
MAYHEM's trajectory from the early Norwegian black metal scene of the late 1980s to their current status as elder statesmen of extreme music is one of the most harrowing narratives in rock history, marked by the suicide of vocalist Dead in 1991 and the murder of guitarist Euronymous by BURZUM's Varg Vikernes in 1993. Yet through all the darkness, MAYHEM have persisted, continually evolving their sound while maintaining the oppressive atmosphere that defined their landmark works.
Pre-release singles, including the bleak and devastating "Weep for Nothing," have demonstrated that MAYHEM remain one of black metal's most uncompromising forces. Over 45 minutes of new material promises dissonant riffs, punishing blast beats, and the howling, otherworldly vocals of Attila Csihar, whose performance on this record has been described as some of his most intense work since rejoining the band.
The album was preceded by a successful headlining run on the 2025 Decibel Magazine Tour, with support from MORTIIS, IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT, and NEW SKELETAL FACES. "Liturgy of Death" has been one of February's most anticipated extreme metal releases worldwide, with pre-orders indicating strong commercial interest despite the band's resolutely underground ethos.