The Unspeakable Truth: 5 Facts About Mayhem's 'Dawn Of The Black Hearts' Album Cover That Shocked The World
Released unofficially in 1995, Dawn of the Black Hearts remains one of the most controversial and morbid artifacts in music history. More than just a live bootleg album, this Mayhem recording from a 1990 concert in Sarpsborg, Norway, is eternally linked to the dark, violent history of the Norwegian black metal scene, primarily due to its unspeakable cover art. As of December 2025, the album continues to be a focal point of discussion, not for its raw musical quality, but for the tragic and appalling story behind the photograph that adorns its sleeve, a story involving suicide, obsession, and a profound break from societal norms.
This notorious release captures Mayhem during the peak of their early, influential 'Dead era,' featuring the legendary, yet ill-fated, vocalist Per Yngve Ohlin. While the album offers a raw, visceral snapshot of the band's live power, its legacy is inseparable from the horrific image chosen by guitarist Euronymous. We delve into the five most shocking facts about this bootleg, the key figures involved, and why it remains a sought-after, yet deeply disturbing, piece of black metal memorabilia.
The Architects of Chaos: Key Figures and Mayhem's Biography
The history of Mayhem is a narrative of musical innovation intertwined with tragedy and crime. The band, formed in Langhus, Norway, in 1984, is universally recognized as one of the founders of the Second Wave of Black Metal. The lineup that created the legacy surrounding Dawn of the Black Hearts is particularly infamous:
- Dead (Per Yngve Ohlin) – Vocals (1988–1991): A Swedish vocalist known for his extreme stage presence, corpse paint, and obsession with death. His depression and self-harm were well-documented. His suicide in 1991 is the central event of the album's controversy.
- Euronymous (Øystein Aarseth) – Guitar (1984–1993): The band's ideological leader, founder of Deathlike Silence Productions, and owner of the Helvete record store. His actions following Dead's death and his subsequent murder by Varg Vikernes are key parts of the black metal history.
- Necrobutcher (Jørn Stubberud) – Bass (1984–1991, 1995–present): A founding member who left the band shortly after Dead's suicide, unable to cope with the events. He later rejoined.
- Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) – Drums (1988–present): A long-standing member and one of the most respected drummers in metal.
Other notable members who contributed to the band's history include Manheim (Kjetil Esten) and Maniac (Sven Erik Kristiansen). The period captured on Dawn of the Black Hearts is often referred to as the 'Dead era,' a time when the band's sound and aesthetic were at their most raw and nihilistic, laying the groundwork for their seminal official debut album, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas.
5 Shocking Facts Behind the Infamous Album Cover
The cover of Dawn of the Black Hearts is not merely a provocative image; it is a real-life photograph that documents a genuine tragedy. The decision to use this image cemented the album's status as a morbid legend and a permanent stain on the band's reputation for many.
- The Subject is the Vocalist, Dead, After Suicide: The photograph is of Mayhem's vocalist, Per Yngve Ohlin, known as Dead, in his bedroom after he took his own life on April 8, 1991. He used a hunting knife to slash his wrists and throat. He was 22 years old.
- The Photographer Was Euronymous: Guitarist Euronymous (Øystein Aarseth) was the first to discover Dead's body. Instead of immediately calling the police, he reportedly rearranged the scene and took several photographs, one of which was later used for the bootleg cover.
- The Photo Was Stolen and Sold: The image was not officially sanctioned by the band's remaining members for release. It was allegedly stolen from Euronymous's home after his own death in 1993. The bootleg was eventually released by Mauricio Montoya (Warmaster Records) in Colombia, who obtained the photograph.
- Euronymous's Morbid Obsession: The use of the photo was in line with Euronymous's morbid fascination. He was known to have collected fragments of Dead’s skull and, according to some reports, made necklaces from them, which he allegedly gave to select musicians in the black metal scene. This act further sensationalized the death and the band's dark image.
- The Title's Origin is From Darkthrone: The title, Dawn of the Black Hearts, does not come from a Mayhem song. It is a line from a lyric written by Fenriz of the band Darkthrone, highlighting the interconnectedness of the early Norwegian black metal scene.
Analyzing the Raw Sound: The Live Performance of the 'Dead Era'
While the cover art dominates its legacy, Dawn of the Black Hearts is, at its core, a significant document of the band's musical history. The bootleg captures a live performance in Sarpsborg, Norway, on February 28, 1990, featuring the classic Dead-Euronymous-Necrobutcher-Hellhammer lineup.
Performance and Atmosphere
The recording quality is, as expected for a bootleg from this era, raw and abrasive. However, this lo-fi sound is precisely what many fans of the Second Wave of Black Metal value, as it captures the unpolished, menacing energy of the band. Reviewers often note that the first eight tracks offer a surprisingly "enjoyable live performance," capturing the band's intensity before the sound quality dips in later tracks.
Dead's vocal performance is particularly notable. His unique style—a combination of guttural shrieks and tortured howls—is captured in its prime. This era is considered by many to be the band's most authentically dark and evil, before the polish of later studio recordings. The atmosphere of the show was reportedly enhanced by Dead's use of pig's heads on stage, a ritualistic element that became a hallmark of his tenure.
The Essential Tracklist
The tracklist is a collection of Mayhem classics that would later appear on official releases, making the bootleg a crucial historical record of their development. The songs are foundational to the black metal genre, showcasing the band's early, aggressive sound.
- "Freezing Moon": One of Mayhem's most iconic songs, often attributed as a key track in defining the black metal sound.
- "Carnage": A track from the early days, showcasing the band's death metal influences transitioning into black metal.
- "Buried By Time And Dust": Another Dead-era classic, characterized by its frantic pace and nihilistic lyrics.
- "Chainsaw Gutsfuck": Infamous for its extreme, gratuitously violent lyrics, highlighting the band's push against boundaries.
- "Pure Fucking Armaggedon": The title track from their 1986 demo, representing their earliest, most raw material.
The album also features cover songs, further establishing the band's influences and topical authority within the genre: "Danse Macabre" (originally by Celtic Frost) and "Black Metal" (originally by Venom). These covers show Mayhem paying homage to the first wave of black metal and extreme metal pioneers.
The Bootleg's Value and Current Status
Despite its unofficial status and the moral controversy surrounding the cover, Dawn of the Black Hearts remains a highly valued collector's item. Its rarity and the dark legend attached to it drive its price. Original pressings and limited-edition reissues, such as colored vinyl and picture disc versions, command high prices among collectors of black metal vinyl.
For example, limited-edition picture disc bootlegs have been listed for hundreds of dollars, demonstrating the intense demand for this morbid piece of music history. The album has seen countless re-releases by various unofficial labels over the years, each one a testament to the enduring, albeit grim, fascination with the band's most infamous period. While the music itself is available in better quality on official live albums like Live in Leipzig, the Dawn of the Black Hearts bootleg is sought after purely for its historical significance and its shocking cover—a grim trophy from the most volatile era of Norwegian black metal. Its continued existence ensures that the tragic legacy of Dead and the dark actions of Euronymous remain a permanent, uncomfortable part of music lore.
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