Mayhem is a Norwegian extreme metal band formed in the mid-1980s, associated with the early Norwegian black metal scene. Their music is characterized by fast, abrasive guitar work, tremolo-picked riffs, blast-beat drumming, high-pitched shrieking vocals, and an often cold, atmospheric production style that helped define black metal’s sonic aesthetic. Mayhem’s work spans raw, lo-fi recordings and more produced studio albums, and their artistic approach has combined confrontational imagery and themes related to anti-establishment and dark, occult, or nihilistic subject matter. The band has undergone numerous lineup changes and periods of activity while remaining a significant and influential name within extreme metal.