Mayhem & Watain

Mayhem are a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1984 in Oslo long regarded as one of the pioneers of the Norwegian black metal scene. Mayhem's career has been highly controversial, primarily due to their violent stage performances, the 1991 suicide of vocalist Per Yngve Ohlin ("Dead") and 1993 murder of guitarist Øystein Aarseth ("Euronymous") by former member Varg Vikernes ("Count Grishnackh"), also of Burzum.
The group released a demo and an EP that were highly influential, and amassed a loyal following through sporadic and notorious live performances, attracting further attention through their ties to the string of Norwegian church burnings and the prominent incidents of violence surrounding them. They disbanded after Aarseth's murder, shortly before the release of their debut album, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, regarded as a classic of the black metal genre. Surviving former members Jan Axel Blomberg ("Hellhammer"), Jørn Stubberud ("Necrobutcher") and Sven Erik Kristiansen ("Maniac") reformed two years later with Rune Eriksen ("Blasphemer") replacing Aarseth. Attila Csihar since replaced Kristiansen.
The band's music strongly influenced the black metal genre and was instrumental in moving the wider metal scene away from the prevailing trend for speed metal. Their post-Aarseth material is characterised by increased experimentation. Mayhem's most recent album, Ordo Ad Chao, received the Spellemannprisen award for Best Metal Album in 2007.


Legendary Greek entity ROTTING CHRIST are a true certainty in terms of delivering abstract, yet fundamental album releases ever since their early foundation in 1989. Experimenting and stylistically metamorphosing throughout different, yet always obscure layers of elements from varying styles of heavier music has truly driven ROTTING CHRIST to achieve a very distinct sound, giving the band a very special position within the realm of the black metal scene.

THEOGONIA, the band's 10th full-length album after several 7" and EP releases, presents ROTTING CHRIST in the shape of a refined four-piece line-up featuring founding member Sakis (guitars / vocals), his brother Themis on drums, Andreas on bass, and the brand new guitarist, George. Despite of the structural changes, ROTTING CHRIST's stylistic approach hasn't drastically changed: The 10 new tracks rather see the band going back to their darker, more savage, and faster musical roots and attitude, while nevertheless adapting an ancient Greek as well as an ethnic presentation by the inclusion of a large choir singing in the ancient Greek language throughout the album's material, as well as the use of bizarre oriental samples and walls of keyboards.The band's goal of never releasing an album which sounds exactly like any of their previous works has been achieved with that album too, and the band can proudly announce that musically another step forward has been achieved.

Lyrically, THEOGONIA is based on the primitive Greek myth about the creation of the world (cosmogonia), a myth that currently becomes reality, waking up well-hidden dark thoughts which everyone has hidden inside yet never explores.

After a 10-year productive cooperation and a mutual break with Century Media, the time has come for the band to change labels and to be represented by the French-based label, SEASON OF MIST.

The new album will be released in early January and will be followed up as usual with the band doing a long tour including more than 120 shows all over the globe. Watch for ROTTING CHRIST's 2007 world tour to promote and spread the musical message of THEOGONIA.