Death and art collide once again — and MAYHEM stands at the center of it. The Norwegian pioneers of black metal have announced their seventh studio album, Liturgy Of Death, arriving February 6, 2026, through Century Media. After more than forty years of chaos and innovation, MAYHEM seems determined to confront the one certainty that unites us all: the inevitability of death. Drawing on themes of mortality, fear, and the fragile nature of existence, this new work promises to explore the unrelenting darkness that has long defined the band's artistry.
But here's where it gets intense — the band has released the album’s second single, “Despair,” a track that strips humanity down to its spiritual bones. Through haunting Latin chants, ritualistic rhythms, and aggressive blast beats, the song channels the collapse of the self and the acceptance of oblivion. Vocalist Attila Csihar delivers a chilling sermon, voicing eternal truths about fading light and mortal frailty. Some fans call it the group’s boldest revelation yet — the moment where death is not an opponent to be feared, but a truth to be embraced.
With its current lineup — Necrobutcher on bass, Hellhammer on drums, Csihar on vocals, and guitarists Teloch and Ghul — MAYHEM sounds sharper, darker, and more cohesive than ever. Liturgy Of Death doesn’t just pay tribute to the band’s legacy; it extends it. Expect a record that’s unflinchingly fast, mercilessly dark, and powered by the same raw energy that reshaped Norwegian black metal decades ago. Even after 41 years since emerging from Langhus, MAYHEM continues to define — and redefine — the sound they helped create.
The upcoming album follows 2019’s Daemon and the live release Daemonic Rites from 2023, creating a chilling trilogy of modern MAYHEM output. For fans eager to experience the new material live, the band has announced an ambitious “Death Over Europe” headlining tour, set for February 2026. Support acts MARDUK and IMMOLATION will join as the dark procession moves across the continent.
Tour Dates:
Feb 05 – Groningen, NL – Spot
Feb 06 – Utrecht, NL – TivoliVredenburg
Feb 07 – Herford, DE – KulturWerk Herford
Feb 08 – Liège, BE – OM
Feb 10 – London, UK – Electric Ballroom
Feb 11 – Paris, FR – Elysée Montmartre
Feb 12 – Toulouse, FR – Le Bikini
Feb 14 – Lisbon, PT – LAV Lisboa Ao Vivo
Feb 15 – Madrid, ES – La Riviera
Feb 17 – Milan, IT – Alcatraz
Feb 18 – Solothurn, CH – Kulturfabrik Kofmehl
Feb 19 – Vienna, AT – Simm City
Feb 20 – Regensburg, DE – Airport Eventhall
Feb 21 – Prague, CZ – PAVILON C
Feb 22 – Berlin, DE – Huxleys Neue Welt
Feb 24 – Gdansk, PL – B90
Feb 25 – Riga, LV – Spelet
Feb 26 – Helsinki, FI – Kulttuuritalo
Feb 28 – Gothenburg, SE – Eriksbergshallen
Tracklist for Liturgy Of Death:
1. Ephemeral Eternity
2. Despair
3. Weep For Nothing
4. Aeon’s End
5. Funeral Of Existence
6. Realm Of Endless Misery
7. Propitious Death
8. The Sentence Of Absolution
9. Life Is A Corpse You Drag (bonus track)
10. Sancta Mendacia (bonus track)
Of course, not everything has gone smoothly. In 2024, MAYHEM was forced to cancel its planned North American 40th-anniversary tour due to a medical emergency within the group that required immediate surgery. The tour, which was set to begin November 12 in Montreal and end November 23 in Denver, would have featured performances spanning the band’s entire history — from their groundbreaking debut Deathcrush to their modern era.
Still, the chaos didn’t stop them. Later that year, MAYHEM launched a short European tour in December followed by a January run through Australia, proving that even setbacks can’t silence this long-reigning force of darkness.
Current Members:
Attila Csihar – Vocals
Ghul – Guitar
Morten – Guitar
Necrobutcher – Bass
Hellhammer – Drums
Photos by Agnes Köhler, Nima Taheri, and Joyce Van Doorn. Editing by Daniele Valeriani.
So what do you think — has MAYHEM’s grim philosophy evolved into enlightenment, or are they merely circling back to their roots with renewed fury? Do you see Liturgy Of Death as a reflection on life’s impermanence or an unholy celebration of it? Share your view — because few topics divide metal fans more than the essence of death itself.
