Mayhem returned to Melbourne after their 2023 tour of Australia for their 40th anniversary celebrations, once again laying waste to our country. Alongside them was NSW noise/industrial legends HOST.
HOST
The brainchild of Nathan Jenkins, HOST is a deeply corrosive industrial noise act that has been going for the jugular of Australian audiences for over 10 years—and I have to say, this time was no different. HOST’s performance on the night was deeply impressive. Discipline Mag readers would have been deeply impressed. The blend of brooding atmospheres, scathing vocals, and pummeling drums was incredible. The pace of the set felt just right—not too long, but not too short either, with no dragging sections.
I have to admit, it’s such a rare opportunity to hear a solid PE industrial player in a space like the Northcote Theatre, but damn, it was awesome. If you get a chance to see HOST, don’t skip them.
MAYHEM
Mayhem’s 40th anniversary tour promised something special, and the legends of black metal infamy absolutely delivered. With only one support act on the night, we were off quickly to the main event. Mayhem took the stage, starting with tracks from their most recent release Daemon. From there, they created nothing short of hell on Earth for two sickening hours, cycling through their latest and oldest releases, all the way back to the Deathcrush tracks.
Sound and vision-wise, it was an absolute nightmare in the best possible way—swirling hellscape patterns in a dark red room, full sensory overload. The sound was unreal as well. They just know how to mix themselves perfectly; it was such an assault on the senses (the icepick-to-the-head guitar tone, in particular, was so fucking good—goddamn).
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Unsurprisingly, most people were keen on the De Mysteriis era material, but I really have to shout out the tracks from Daemon, Wolves Lair Abyss, and Deathcrush. I was hesitant about how well the Deathcrush material would translate, but it was legitimately incredible to hear those tracks live. I had no idea how chaotic the early material could be.
I have to admit, I’m genuinely amazed at how they managed to perform such demanding material for two full hours. It’s a true testament to their exceptional musicianship. Even after 40 years, their technical prowess surpasses that of many younger bands.
A special mention goes to the tributes to Dead and Euronymous, which underscored just how surreal it is that this band even exists. While some might dismiss them as just another over-the-top metal act, reflecting on the chaos and notoriety they’ve amassed over the past four decades it’s genuinely shocking the body count wasn’t higher.
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Being able to witness the anniversary show was really special, and it was epic to see both old and new fans enjoying it together. There’s no question that this band and these albums will continue to corrupt the minds of our youth for many more decades to come.
If you get the chance, don’t snooze on this tour. It’s fucking good.
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