Mayhem is considered one of the founding bands of the early Norwegian black metal scene with Euronymous growing an almost cult-like following for his contributions to the scene and his anti-christian beliefs. Euronymous considered himself a Theistic Satanist and was anti-church and establishment. 

Photo of Euronymous and Hellhammer

In 1988 Mayhem gained themselves a new vocalist of the name Per Yngve "Pelle" Ohlin, who chose to go by the name ‘Dead’. Dead was a part of the Swedish band Morbid before leaving Sweden to go to Norway to join Mayhem. Dead was severely depressed and this was used to the advantage of the band, on multiple occasions Dead would harm himself on stage during performances with one time the Emperor drummer Faust claimed he had to be rushed to the hospital after a show. This was used to further the dark image the band held and portrayed. 

Pelle Ohlin

On April 8th 1991, Pelle Ohlin killed himself in his bedroom, leaving a suicide note which had a line “Excuse the blood…”. Euronymous had to use a ladder and climb inside through a window to get into the house, where he discovered Pelle's body. Euronymous then left to go to a local shop to buy a disposable camera, then returning to the house to pose the body and take photos of it with the newly bought camera. After this is when he decided to report the suicide. 

The photo of Pelle’s posed body was later used as cover art for the bootleg live album named “the Dawn of The Black Hearts” which was released in 1995. 

Euronymous used Pelle’s suicide as a way to darken the look of the black metal scene, stating that he had killed himself due to black metal becoming “too mainstream”, and it is stated that the scene had seemed to change after Pelle’s death. 

The Shift -

Following Pelle’s death, a month or two later in May-June 1991, Euronymous opened his records shop named Helvete which is Norwegian for ‘Hell’. This records shop became a central point in the “inner circle” community and the shop's basement became a meeting place. The mystique of the shop created an idolization of Euronymous, people became more invested into his ideas and beliefs. 

Alongside the opening of Helvete, Euronymous started his own Records Label under the name ‘Deathlike Silence Productions” and through this he met a man named Varg Vikernes who was the founder of the band Burzum.

Photo of Helvete

Euronymous worked with Varg under his label to release Varg's album in March 1992, to release the album, Euronymous had to take out a loan which Varg had financed. This was one of the contributing factors in the rising tension between the two as Varg was never repaid for the money he spent. 

The two held a rivalry, as their personalities clashed. Euronymous held the persona of being the “darkest” or “most extreme” person in the black metal scene, though Varg was doing criminal acts himself, and would criticize Euronymous for just holding an image instead of acting as he did. 

During this time in Norway, church burnings and arson attacks only worsened, and this was attributed to the black metal scene, with Varg being convicted of church arson. And on August 21st 1992, Emperor’s drummist, Faust killed a man in a park after being propositioned for sex.

The rift between the two only worsened.

The Murder -

On August 10th, 1993, Varg Vikernes traveled to Euronymous's apartment in Oslo. Varg claimed he traveled there to return a signed contract to Euronymous; something that was meant to solve a part of their financial issues.

There are conflicting reports of what happened that night at Euronymous’s apartment, and with Euronymous deceased we will never know the 100% true story, though what we do know as fact is;

On the night of August 10th, 1993, at around 3am, Varg and Snorre (Blackthorn) traveled to Euronymous’s apartment together. While the two stories conflict with on if both of them went inside or if only Varg did, both were present at the scene. Varg entered the apartment, and while the details are unclear it led to Varg Vikernes stabbing Euronymous 23 times in the head, neck, and back, with Euronymous’s body being found in the stairway of the apartment complex with it being found later that morning. 

Euronymous Apartment

Varg Vikernes was arrested on August 19th, 1993 for the murder of Euronymous, and he claimed the entire situation was self defense. He made claims that Euronymous attacked him, was long planning to attack and kill him, and that he ultimately had no other choice in the matter that night.

Varg Vikernes getting arrested and newspaper clippings