Mayhem Drop Video for "Despair"

The most influential black metal band in history returns with their seventh studio album, Liturgy of Death.

With this new chapter, Mayhem once again cement their reputation as one of the most relentless forces in extreme metal. Nearly 40 years into its career, the band turns its gaze toward the unavoidable truth of mortality. Liturgy of Death explores the philosophy of mortality with stark, uncompromising clarity. The album presents death not as an ending, but as a universal law that touches all life and exposes the fragility of human existence. This impermanence becomes a call to live with full intensity, for every gain and loss ultimately falls back into the same silence. Echoing ancient philosophies, the album portrays life as a transitional state and death as a gateway to a higher form of being, while the solemn, dark beauty of death permeates the entire work.

Stream "Despair" here

Watch the video here


"Despair" captures this vision in its most visceral form. The track unravels the collapse of being through ritualistic chants, Latin invocations, and blistering blast beats that echo like the pulse of annihilation. Attila’s vocals summon an ancient, fatal truth: the fading of light, the inevitability of death, and the recognition of human fragility. "Despair" stands as the album’s stark revelation — the moment where death is not feared but understood.

Pre-order Liturgy of Death here. 

EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE AS:
• Ltd. Deluxe Box Set incl. an exclusive 12" Clear-Black Marbled Vinyl with alternate artwork, bonus 7" Marbled Vinyl with 2 extra tracks, metal pin, patch, art prints, and the special tarot card "Liturgy of Death" (Clear-Black Marbled Edition and Transp. Red-Black Marbled BAND EDITION)
• Ltd. Gatefold Black Vinyl (180g) & 12 pages LP-Booklet
• Ltd. Gatefold Transp. Orange-Black Marbled Vinyl (180g) & 12 pages LP-Booklet
• Ltd. Gatefold Splatter Black-Apricot Vinyl (180g) & 12 pages LP-Booklet
• Ltd. Gatefold Haze Bright Gold-Black Vinyl (180g) & 12 pages LP-Booklet
• Ltd. Gatefold A/B Split Red-Black Vinyl (180g) & 12 pages LP-Booklet (BAND EDITION)
• Ltd. Gatefold Black Ice Ghost Vinyl (180g) & 12 pages LP-Booklet (US EDITION)
• Ltd. Gatefold Cooper Black Ice Vinyl (180g) & 12 pages LP-Booklet (US EDITION)
• Ltd. CD Mediabook in Slipcase (with bonus track and additional artwork)
• Standard CD Jewelcase
• Digital album

With Necrobutcher, Hellhammer, Attila, Morten, and Ghul locked into a unit tighter than ever, Liturgy of Death celebrates Mayhem's own legacy, a continuation of the raw and uncompromising sound that defined their beginnings. The result is a merciless record — dark, fast, and unrelenting — that captures the band in their most dangerous and vital form. 41 years since their formation in Langhus, Mayhem remain a defining force in Norwegian black metal, continuing to shape the sound they helped create.

MAYHEM LINEUP:
Attila Csihar — Vocals
Ghul — Guitar
Hellhammer — Drums
Necrobutcher — Bass
Morten — Guitar