Mar 14, 20222 min read

A Prominent Encounter: Mayhem at The Wiltern (Photos)

The legendary black metal outfit deliver a blood-curling experience worth basking in.

mayhem black metal — Photograph by Ekaterina Gorbacheva

All Photographs by Ekaterina Gorbacheva (@ekaterinagorbacheva.art):

To say that seeing Mayhem live is an experience is an understatement that is best left to the curiosity of the reader. The band's contemporary output is up to par with the best of them and further cements the Norwegian black metal band's legendary status. That said, any opportunity to bear witness to their stage presence is an occasion worth living and the band's ongoing trek with the black 'n rollers in Midnight is as good as they come. Let our photos of the band's Los Angeles tour stop at The Wiltern show for it.

As many heard, Watain had to unfortunately drop from the bill due to unforeseen visa issues that prohibited an otherwise stacked touring bill. No matter, Mayhem and Midnight alike deliver a high mark in striking fashion.

Teloch, Attila, and the rest of the ensemble remain a force to be reckoned with and they ripped through a career spanning set that was well welcomed by the sold-out crowd at The Wiltern. Hits like Freezing Moon from the revered De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994) were joined by some from Deathcrush (1987) and the 2019 year-end contending Daemon for a nice spread of endeavors to enjoy. With somber lighting setups that shrouded Mayhem in darkness for a good portion of the performance, the mystifying aura of the band was on display and completed this harrowing escapade of black metal greatness. The festivities are only a week in, so don't wait and let the Mayhem experience pass you by.