Mayhem man surprised by Metallica’s copycat video

A still from the ManUNkind video
A still from the ManUNkind video

Mayhem guitarist Morten Bergeton Iversen says his life “got weird” this week when he saw the video for Metallica track ManUNkind.

The Jonas Akerlund-directed promo features a black metal band onstage who bear an uncanny resemblance to Mayhem, complete with similar stage make-up, pigs’ heads on spikes and the lead singer cutting himself with a hunting knife.

And after seeing the video, Iversen, aka Teloch, posted a message on Facebook to voice his surprise.

He says: “My life just got weird, Metallica copying, not only the Mayhem logo and the old Mayhem characters in their latest video, but they copied an old gig as well.”

Akerlund, who was a member of Swedish black metal pioneers Bathory in the early 80s, is known for directing videos which often mock movie trailer and films.

Mayhem will head out on a European tour in March where they’ll perform their debut album De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas in full.

Meanwhile, Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett says the band’s 10th studio album Hardwired… To Self-Destruct has a “mischievous” feel.

He tells Guitar World: “A lot of this record is sort of mutant boogie-woogie from the depths of hell with oil and gravel all over it!

“I’d say the riffs are overall more simple and groove-oriented. It has a high energy, mischievous feel. Whenever I play Hardwired and we go into that second riff, I love it because it sounds so reckless, but we’re completely in control.”

Hardwired… To Self-Destruct is out now, with Metallica this week releasing videos for all 12 album tracks, along with a promo for 2014 single Lords Of Summer.

Mayhem De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas European tour 2017

Mar 24: Karlstad Nojesfabriken, Sweden
Mar 25: Stockholm En Arena, Sweden
Mar 26: Copenhagen Amager Bio, Denmark
Mar 27: Aarhus Train, Denmark
Mar 29: London Electric Ballroom, UK
Mar 30: Manchester Club Academy, UK
Mar 31: Dublin Academy, Ireland
Apr 01: Glasgow Lords Of The Land, UK
Apr 05: Lausanne Les Docks, Switzerland
Apr 06: Milan Live Club, Italy
Apr 07: Nova Gorica Mostovna, Slovenia
Apr 08: Vienna Metal Meeting, Austria
Apr 09: Zagreb Vintage Club, Croatia
Apr 10: Belgrade Dom Omladine, Serbia
Apr 11: Sofia Mixtape5, Bulgaria
Apr 12: Brasov Club Rockstadt, Romania
Apr 13: Athens Fuzz Club, Greece
Apr 15: Budapest Durer Kert, Hungary
Apr 16: Munich Dark Easter Metal Meeting, Germany

Mayhem live review – Bristol, The Fleece

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.