Released 7 years ago this October
Daemon
Mayhem · 2019
49 min · 10 tracks · black metal
Unrelenting and intense, Daemon merges dissonant riffs with haunting melodies, embodying the essence of contemporary black metal.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Dying False King Start here — Opening the album with aggressive energy, this track sets the tone for the relentless exploration of themes like power and corruption inherent throughout Daemon.
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Agenda Ignis — With its intricate guitar work and dynamic shifts, this song exemplifies Mayhem's ability to blend melody with brutality while addressing existential themes.
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Daemon Spawn — This track features a standout mix of atmospheric elements and raw intensity, encapsulating the album's dark narrative and showcasing the band's musical maturity.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Daemon showcases Mayhem's evolution while staying true to their black metal roots, balancing intensity with atmospheric elements.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track that features blast beats and dissonant guitar riffs, setting an aggressive tone.
- Each song typically maintains a length of around four to six minutes, allowing for extended instrumental sections and dynamic shifts.
- Vocals alternate between high-pitched shrieks and deep growls, creating a stark contrast that enhances the intensity of the music.
- Several tracks incorporate atmospheric interludes that provide brief moments of respite before returning to the relentless pace.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pacing with gradual intensity
- ferocious energy for focused listening
- haunting melodies that linger
- immersive experience for deep dives
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification tracks
- prefer light, upbeat atmospheres
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and relevance in the black metal scene after a hiatus.
- Themes
- power and corruption· dark narratives· modern black metal
- Career context
- Daemon is Mayhem's fifth studio album, released after a lengthy hiatus since their previous album, Esoteric Warfare, in 2014. This release marked a return to their signature sound while showcasing the band's evolution with new influences and a modern production approach.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Burzum· Darkthrone· Emperor
Tracklist
- 1 The Dying False King Start here 3:45
- 2 Agenda Ignis 4:34
- 3 Bad Blood 4:58
- 4 Malum 5:05
- 5 Falsified and Hated 5:48
- 6 Aeon Daemonium 6:03
- 7 Worthless Abominations Destroyed 3:48
- 8 Daemon Spawn 6:02
- 9 Of Worms and Ruins 3:48
- 10 Invoke the Oath 5:33
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Old Star
Darkthrone
Shares a raw, unrelenting sound with haunting melodies and a modern take on black metal.
Exercises in Futility
Mgła
Combines intense dissonant riffs with melancholic melodies, echoing the emotional depth of Daemon.
Hospodi
Batushka
Merges atmospheric elements with heavy riffs, creating a haunting ambiance similar to Mayhem's latest work.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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