Mayhem's "Dawn Of The Black Hearts": The Controversial Cover - Explained!
What happens when the boundaries of artistic expression are pushed so far that they collide head-on with the taboo of death, and the resulting artwork becomes a defining symbol of a genre? The story of Mayhem's "Dawn of the Black Hearts" is a stark example, a descent into the darkest corners of human experience, captured in an album cover that has become both iconic and intensely controversial.
The genesis of this infamous artifact lies in the tragic events of April 1991. In a small town in Norway, the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem lost their lead singer, Per Yngve Ohlin, known to the world as "Dead," to suicide. His death, a shotgun blast to the head, sent shockwaves through the burgeoning black metal scene, and its impact would be felt for years to come, not only within the band but also in the creation of one of the most discussed album covers ever made.
Following the tragic event, the band's guitarist, ystein Aarseth, known as "Euronymous," discovered Dead's body. Instead of immediately alerting the authorities, he took photographs of the scene. These photographs, a stark and disturbing depiction of the suicide, would later become the cover art for a bootleg live album, a recording of a concert in Sarpsborg, Norway, held in February 1990. This act would catapult the album into infamy.
| Per Yngve Ohlin (Dead) - Bio | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Per Yngve Ohlin |
| Stage Name | Dead |
| Birthdate | January 16, 1969 |
| Birthplace | rebro, Sweden |
| Death Date | April 8, 1991 |
| Cause of Death | Suicide by gunshot |
| Musical Role | Vocalist |
| Bands | Mayhem, Morbid |
| Known for | His intense stage presence, extreme vocals, and dark, introspective lyrics. |
| Influences | His fascination with death, darkness, and the occult. |
| Legacy | A pivotal figure in the development of black metal. His extreme imagery and persona influenced countless musicians. |
| Reference | Metal Archives |
The album, "Dawn of the Black Hearts," wasn't an official Mayhem release. It was a bootleg, a recording of a concert, and yet it became a symbol of the band's darkest hours. Released in 1995, four years after Dead's death and one year after the release of the band's debut studio album "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas," the album cover featured the photograph taken by Euronymous. This photograph, a direct representation of the singer's suicide, was a stark violation of conventional aesthetics and pushed the boundaries of what was considered acceptable in the music industry.
The album's title itself suggests a descent into the abyss. The title, "Dawn of the Black Hearts," alludes to the darkness and the macabre, setting the tone for the music within. The music, recorded live in Sarpsborg, Norway, in February 1990, captures the raw energy and brutality that defined Mayhem's early sound. However, it is the cover that has become the enduring symbol of the album. The album was released on vinyl in an edition of just 300 copies by Warmaster Records, owned by Mauricio "Bull Metal" Montoya, the former drummer of the death metal band Masacre. This limited release only added to the album's mystique and notoriety.
The cover art, an image of Dead's body, taken shortly after his death, is undeniably shocking. Its presence immediately thrusts the viewer into a realm of uncomfortable realism, forcing a confrontation with death and the darker aspects of human existence. The photograph was taken by ystein Aarseth, aka Euronymous, Mayhem's guitarist, who discovered his bandmates body. The image's raw and unfiltered nature is what sets it apart, making it more than just a piece of album art it is a statement, a challenge to societal norms, and a manifestation of the band's extreme philosophy.
The release of "Dawn of the Black Hearts" was not without its repercussions. The albums notoriety was further fueled by its limited availability and the controversy surrounding its imagery. This was a bootleg, not a sanctioned release from the band. It was a product of the underground, a record that thrived on its taboo status and the transgression of established boundaries. Because of its infamous content, this is the only bootleg album allowed an entry on the Metal Archives.
The controversy surrounding the cover art sparked debates. Some viewed it as a violation of privacy and a disrespectful exploitation of a tragedy. Others saw it as a genuine reflection of the band's ethos, a visual embodiment of the darkness and nihilism that permeated their music and lyrics. The album's release, and the subsequent discussions, solidified its place as a symbol of black metal's extreme aesthetic, one that embraced the macabre and rejected mainstream sensibilities.
The album's influence on the black metal scene is undeniable. Mayhem, along with other Norwegian bands of the early 1990s, helped to define the genre's visual and sonic language. The bands adoption of darker lyrical topics and guitarist Euronymous's rejection of bands whose lyrics turned towards social awareness, cemented their place as pioneers of the extreme metal sound. The band's rejection of social awareness, and normal topics, and their embrace of death worship, became a cornerstone of the black metal subculture. This influence extends beyond music, shaping the visual style and philosophical underpinnings of countless artists in the genre. After vocalist Dead joined the group, Mayhem adopted darker lyrical topics and rejected most other metal bands as their lyrics turned towards social awareness instead of death worship.
The album's creation, however, was not without internal turmoil. The suicide of Dead deeply affected the remaining members of the band. Necrobutcher left Mayhem, which thinned the ranks down to two. Soon after, the recording of their debut album, "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas," which began in 1987, was delayed. The albums release, initially planned for the early 1990s, was pushed back to May 1994. The album, marked by a complex creative process, had to be completed in the face of tragedy and internal conflict.
Further compounding the bands troubles, Euronymous was murdered by session bassist Varg Vikernes in 1993. The murder further cemented Mayhem's history as a group associated with controversy and violence. His death added another layer of darkness to the band's legacy, transforming them into both musical and cultural figures. Euronymouss vision for Mayhem, a vision inextricably linked with the bands embrace of extreme imagery and dark lyrical themes, continued to shape the band's artistic direction even after his death.
In addition to the suicide scene photograph, the album covers design drew on other elements of the macabre. The artwork for Mayhems second and final studio album with vocalist Sven Erik Kristiansen (Maniac), featured the artwork from Turbonatas of the Norwegian band Red Harvest. The cover image is a still from the 1922 Swedish silent film Hxan. Later, when the band was working on De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, the album artwork was further enriched by its association with the occult.
The album's impact extends beyond the realm of music, sparking discussions about the ethics of art and the role of artists in society. Some have argued that the cover art is a form of exploitation, while others maintain that it is a powerful expression of the band's artistic vision and its connection with the themes of death, darkness, and rebellion against societal norms. The album cover has thus become a symbol of black metal's defiance, a rejection of mainstream values and an embrace of the extreme.
In the broader context of the black metal scene, "Dawn of the Black Hearts" is much more than just an album. It is a pivotal moment in black metal history. The Mayhem band album cover stands out for several reasons, each contributing to its status as a cultural artifact. The photograph was taken by mayhem's guitarist, euronymous (\u00f8ystein aarseth), when he discovered the body. This image is unapologetically dark and unsettling, perfectly encapsulating the essence of black metal. The album features what has been voted the most controversial album cover of all. Understanding its origins requires delving into the band's tumultuous past and the artistic vision that shaped this iconic image. The band did not use it as an album cover. A 3rd party individual from columbia used that picture as an \u201calbum\u201d cover for a bootleg recording from Sarpsborg in 1990. The front cover is a photograph of mayhem's vocalist, dead (per yngve ohlin), after his suicide in april 1991. The photo was taken by euronymous. The albums cover art is equally infamous, shrouded in mystery and controversy.
The album's legacy continues to inspire debate and discussion within the music community. It serves as a constant reminder of the band's turbulent history and their unwavering commitment to artistic extremity. The album remains one of the most bootlegged and has an aura of controversy surrounding it. The notoriety of "Dawn of the Black Hearts" is a testament to its enduring power, and it challenges our understanding of what art can be. It's a pivotal moment in black metal history. This is the only bootleg album allowed an entry on the metal archives, due to its notorious historical content.
The album's release and the subsequent discussions, solidified its place as a symbol of black metal's extreme aesthetic, one that embraced the macabre and rejected mainstream sensibilities. The photograph was taken by euronymous. The recording (the main part) is a recording of a concert in sarpsborg norway, in february 1990. This mayhem discography is ranked from best to worst, so the top mayhem albums can be found at the top of the list. This album needs no introduction. The band did not use it as an album cover.
In 1993, "Live in Leipzig" was released as the band's tribute to Dead. Two years later, guitarist euronymous was murdered by session bassist varg vikernes, of. The photograph later become the cover of the mayhem's 1995 live bootleg album dawn of the black hearts. It is a bootleg released in 1995, thus after the death of euronymous. After vocalist dead joined the group, the band adopted darker lyrical topics and guitarist euronymous (\u00f8ystein aarseth) started rejecting most other metal bands as their lyrics turned towards social awareness [3] and normal topics [4] instead of death worship. The album cover features a picture of the former mayhem vocalist per ''dead ohlin when he committed suicide. The album was released in 1995 on vinyl in an edition of 300 copies by warmaster records by mauricio bull metal montoya, owner of warmaster records colombia, original drummer of the death metal band. Though influential to black metal, its lyrics and sound were largely influenced by thrash metal bands. One year after the controversial all the witches dance artwork, this bootleg live album is released, bearing a photograph of mayhem's singer, dead (per yngve ohlin), after his suicide in april 1991. The photograph was taken by mayhem's guitarist, euronymous (\u00f8ystein aarseth), when he discovered the body. The original version on lp by bull metal (r.i.p.), who played in typhon , masacre , neurosis , and was also the owner of warmaster records in colombia, has golden letters on the front cover.
