Riff Tone

Life Eternal

Mayhem

Guitarmetal1990s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (early 1980s, likely Norseman or Blasphemer's black Les Paul Custom)

AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, 1980s model, likely into Marshall 4x12 cab with Celestion speakers)

PickupsGibson humbuckers (likely stock, passive)

Amp Settings

gain8.5

bass5.5

mid4

treble7

reverb1

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1992-1993, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas sessions. No evidence of pedal use for rhythm/riff section; classic Norwegian black metal production. Gear inferred from era, band interviews, and genre conventions. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this part.

Tone Character(10)

raw and abrasivescooped midstight and percussivegrainy, saturated distortionminimal reverbsharp, biting trebleslightly compressed low endcold, harsh attackbridge pickup clarityno audible modulation

Difficulty

The riff requires fast, precise alternate picking and tight palm muting, typical of early black metal rhythm guitar. Aggressive picking and rhythmic accuracy are essential for the cold, percussive sound.

Sources

Mayhem Members, Gear & Sound - Equipboard

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