Metalcatto
There might be no other band in extreme Metal that has inspired more dank, enduring memes than your dark majesty, Mayhem. I even conducted a retro-review of the seminal album back in the day. However, I approached its latest release, Liturgy of Death (wow, how surprising that title is…), with next to no expectations. The central question looms: how can a band with such a famously chaotic and tragic trajectory possibly offer something genuinely compelling and interesting decades after its infamous peak?
Well, it seems its prayers to Satan have finally been answered in the studio, because Liturgy of Death is actually a highly listenable and well-crafted album. What I mean is that the production is notably good—perhaps too polished and clear for some orthodox tastes. I would argue this is the closest Mayhem has ever come to echoing the grandiose, symphonic sheen of Dimmu Borgir (utter blasphemy, I know!). Alright, perhaps Satyricon during its more expansive periods is a less violently offensive comparison, but you understand the point: this album is decadent, heavy, and yet possesses a kind of majestic, almost pretty, atmospheric quality.
It maintains a remarkable consistency in tone and aggression without becoming monotonous or numbing. It’s genuinely hard to believe, but there seems to be a genuine reservoir of creativity left in these veterans. I find myself struggling to succinctly describe this more theatrical, almost symphonic, and structurally ambitious approach to Black Metal. In a manner similar to its work on Daemon, Mayhem manages to sound startlingly relevant and engaged. This resurgence is so pronounced that we might legitimately begin to wonder if the last decade of the band’s output represents its most technically proficient and carefully constructed period in terms of pure musical craftsmanship.
Now, for the things I perhaps shouldn’t like. It may be a minor stylistic quibble, but this iteration of Mayhem feels distinctly divorced from much of its seminal, rawer earlier work. For many listeners, this evolution is a welcome relief, but I personally have a difficult time locating the band’s core, abrasive “identity” within this polished framework. Liturgy of Death is attempting to be many ambitious things at once, to the point where I can confidently call it original for Mayhem. However, the follow-up question remains: is it truly original for Black Metal as a whole? (No!) I understand that’s an exceptionally high bar, but this is, after all, the act with the biggest and most intimidating shoes to fill within the genre’s entire history.
Perhaps my guarded optimism stems from initially expecting nothing but reheated memes from these legendary figures. Fortunately, Liturgy of Death demonstrates a band still willing to give more than a carbon copy of its past glories. That adventurous spirit is, ironically, “so not Black Metal” in the most kvlt, orthodox sense. There’s nothing trve about trying to break free from the superfluous, self-imposed limitations of the niche. Anyway, if your daily dose of disdain and misanthropy requires an edgy, yet unexpectedly refined, soundtrack, you now have it.
Label: Century Media
Release date: February 6, 2026
Website: https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/album/liturgy-of-death-24-bit-hd-audio
Country: Norway
Score: 3.7/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 