Mayhem vocalist Attila Csihar has shared his recollections of Varg Vikernes, the individual convicted of murdering former Mayhem guitarist Euronymous. These reflections were published by Loudersound.
Csihar described his initial impressions of Vikernes, noting his polite demeanor and differences from his later persona.
“I remember when I first heard that demo. I was like, ‘Holy shit, I never heard anything like this ever’,” Csihar said. “I never heard riffs like that before, I never heard drumming like that. Some of my friends thought they’d sped up the tape. This was something really special.”
The vocalist also recalled visiting Vikernes’ residence and observing his background.
“We stayed at Euronymous’ place for a few days, and it was kind of gothic inside, with red curtains. We travelled up to Bergen to stay at Varg’s place. He had a very f*cking nice flat. He had a washing machine and a dishwasher. He was definitely from a more wealthy background. He was still like a metal dude. He was more into Tolkien, fantasy worlds, and the dark stuff. Completely different to what he later became.”
Csihar further elaborated on Vikernes’ personality and his own perception of him.
“He seemed very polite, kind of gentle. He always used a typewriter when he sent a letter. Very organised and into this movement. He had some cool, big ideas for the future. I talked to him on the phone and always pictured him as a tall guy, taller than me. Like a big Viking guy. When I met him, he was much smaller.”
The conversation then turned to Euronymous’ death and Csihar’s reaction to the news.
“It [Euronymous’ death] was f*cked up. It was strange actually, because I’d tried to call the guys. We’d talk every week but didn’t speak for a little while. A friend of mine told me he’d read someone in Mayhem had been murdered. I told him he misunderstood because of Dead’s suicide. He told me to see for myself in a magazine called Metallica Hungarica. There was a small news story. I couldn’t f*cking believe it. It was scary.”
Varg Vikernes, also known by the stage name Count Grishnackh, was a central figure in the early Norwegian black metal scene. He founded the band Burzum, which gained notoriety for its raw, lo-fi sound and increasingly controversial lyrical themes.
Euronymous, whose real name was Øystein Aarseth, was the founder and guitarist of Mayhem and the proprietor of the record label Deathlike Silence Productions. He played a pivotal role in shaping the aesthetics and ideology of the burgeoning black metal movement.
The events surrounding Euronymous’ murder and Vikernes’ subsequent conviction cast a long shadow over the black metal community. They brought increased media scrutiny to the genre, often highlighting its darker and more extreme elements.
The “black metal” movement of the early 1990s was characterized by a deliberate embrace of anti-Christian and often nihilistic themes, expressed through aggressive musical styles and controversial public statements. This era saw the formation of many influential bands and the establishment of key record labels.
Csihar’s description of Vikernes’ home life, including the presence of modern appliances, contrasts sharply with the often-portrayed image of impoverished and isolated black metal musicians. This suggests a more complex socio-economic reality for some key figures within the scene.
