For the 2025 edition of the Decibel Magazine Tour, organizers sourced Norwegian black metal royalty to head the charge. Mayhem rightfully took on top billing for the 12th installment of the extreme metal excursion. GIven the success of the 2024 edition which featured death metal pioneers, Cannibal Corpse, the current iteration came with high expectations - and delivered. 

Anchored by a headlining set that showcased some of black metal' most enduring, evergreen entries, even Mayhem's more contemporary cuts from the Chimera, Grand Declaration of War and Esoteric Warfare-era landed with lasting effect. Cuts like "MILAB," "Illuminate eliminate" and the maniacal opening onslaught of "MALUM" set a high bar of sonic hellfire that did not relent for the duration of the set. 

Saving Mayhem's most menacing, mandatory cuts for the encore, "Deathcrush" began a final offensive that unleashed a barrage of black metal essentials. "Chainsaw Gutsfuck," "Carnage" and the anthemic "Pure Fucking Armageddon" incited the kind of chaos that affirmed the volatility and mystique synonymous with Mayhem for generations. 

Along with featured supporting sets from mastermind Håvard Ellefsen, better known as electronic metal enigma Mortiis, avant garde noise jazz grind specialists Imperial Triumphant and metallic deathrock prospects New Skeletal Faces - the 2025 Decibel Magazine Tour offered a healthy indication of extreme music's strong, subversive pulse. 

Check the gallery of images below from Maurice Nunez. 

MAYHEM

MORTIIS

IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT

NEW SKELETAL FACES