Mayhem was founded in 1984 by guitarist Øystein Aarseth ( known initially as " Destructor " , later " Euronymous " ) , bassist Jørn Stubberud ( " Necrobutcher " ) and drummer Kjetil Manheim , taking their band name from the Venom song " Mayhem with Mercy " . The band members were mainly influenced by groups such as Venom , Motörhead , Black Sabbath , Slayer , Bathory and Celtic Frost . The lineup began playing cover songs by Black Sabbath , Venom , Motörhead and later recorded the demo '' Pure Fucking Armageddon '' . After its release , Aarseth , who used to sing lead vocals , along with Stubberud , during first demo 's studio rehearsals , recruited two session vocalists , Eirik Norheim ( " Messiah " ) and Sven Erik Kristiansen ( " Maniac " ) , in 1986 and 1987 . Norheim performed vocals only for a concert , which took place in 20 April 1985 in Ski , and by the end of that year he had quit Mayhem . He later formed hardcore punk band Within Range and Oi ! / street punk band Cockroach Clan . Whereas , with Kristiansen , Mayhem recorded its first EP , '' Deathcrush '' , in 1987 , and released it through Euronymous ' newly formed label Posercorpse Music . Manheim and Euronymous only , played at one show on 22nd march 1986 in Ski theatre as L.E.G.O. band and it was recorded on video . This was a side project about experimental music against mainstream . There 's any appearance of another recording . The initial 1,000 copy release of '' Deathcrush '' quickly sold out . It was later reissued in 1993 by the newly renamed Deathlike Silence Productions as a joint venture with Euronymous ' Oslo specialist record shop Helvete ( Norwegian for " Hell " ) . Manheim and Maniac left the band in 1988
Helvete
Early Norwegian black metal scene
Mayhem (band)