Live Review: The Decibel Magazine Tour 2025 Featuring Mayhem, along with Mortiis, Imperial Triumphant and New Skeletal Faces

3/24/2025

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

House of Blues Chicago
Thursday - March 20, 2025

Decibel Magazine and it's annual Metal Tour knows how to incinerate the masses.
they never wilt under pressure, showcasing weaklings and anything mundane in regards to band selection.

To them, that would be an embarrassment of sorts.
So here we are in the midst of their latest tour, with a stop at the House of Blues in Chicago, and with this juggernaut of a lineup, featuring Mayhem, Imperial Triumphant, Mortiis, and New Skeletal Faces.
As for headliners Mayhem-
Still fierce as ever.
Not much for small talk.

Lots and lots of songs to get to, what with their massive catalog as a show of strength.
And the band, fronted by Attila Csihar, along with co- founder and menacing bassist Necrobutcher, and long time drummer Hellhammer, and two punishing guitarists in Ghul (from the Shining), along with Teloch (from Nidingr)-
Well that's the definition of black metal in its purest form, uncompromising to the core.

This lineup from Mayhem, which has been around for awhile, like over a decade, has managed to up the ante with its brilliant catalog, old and new songs, doesn't matter- venomous spirits intact.
Not much for flashy props and costumey accoutrements-
These guys are clad in black, instruments at the ready, along with fierce facial paint for the frontman Attila.

From the opener, the bludgeoning of all things "Malum", followed in strength with "Bad Blood", and then into "MILAB"- all three from the pit to photograph live, followed when exiting before song four with a facemelt. along with ears burning.

Lots of menacing reds in regards to lighting throughout, just to convey the overall dire and confrontational mood.
As well as you'd expect from Mayhem, what the songs demand, what the accomplished musicians demand from each other.
They've been around awhile, been through horrors of the unthinkable since like 1984 or thereabouts.
No need whatsoever to get into any of it, but suffice it to say in my opinion, their overall mood and aesthetic is to make you concentrate and focus on the present, not the past history.
Songs- yes. Other shit- leave it alone.
Also I believe, this is as punk of an attitude as metal, which I consider the ultimate compliment.
Yes, they are so fierce live, and uncompromising.

Which is the point, when considering attempts in all things "My Death", or even "Crystalized Pain in Destruction", or even the brilliant "Freezing Moon".
When played live, especially on this current Decibel Tour- nothing dialed in, nothing fake whatsoever.
And the fact that this current lineup is no holds barred, and when you think of it, they've defined this genre of metal, time and time again they still continue to innovate.
How they don't look exhausted at the end of every show astounds, even though we all know that this band, their music- not for the feint of heart.

They look the part, they play the part, they undoubtedly feel the part, emphasis on "the feel".
So yes, their show at the House of Blues was mesmerizing from beginning to end, all the way to their last song "Pure Fucking Armageddon", which for all intent and purposes, is pure fucking armageddon.
If ever there was a song for these current times, it's definitely that.
Mayhem, all things Mayhem.
Lethal as all get out.

Mortiis-
Mortiis, (Havard Ellefsen)- Been around awhile as well.
And here's another guy who can't seem to sit still, constantly experimenting with his sound and aesthetic, improvising all along the way, and taking risks, which is like his middle name.
That's a high compliment as well, a guy like Mortiis so immersed in his heart and the overall view of his type of music, all dark ambient, and dungeon like.

The show presented on the current Decibel Magazine Tour has expanded, adding drummer Jon Siren stage left, with all sorts of floor toms and percussion, adding emphasis to the lush and dark sounds from Mortiis, front and center.

The two of them, for a brief set around 45 minutes or so, was compelling, noting the full weight of the songs conveyed, with wicked illustrations presented on the LED backdrop to immerse you in the overall feel of Mortiis and his world.
The beauty of their set was in its honesty and originality, the songs conveyed in such a way visually that leaves you wishing they could've played a longer set, the songs being that good.
Great to see them live on this tour however, showcasing the songs in such a way, like traversing back in time with castles and fantastical characters.

Imperial Triumphant-
Such a band, the name aptly fits in regards to their music and overall presentation- that being sophisticated presence in clothing and attire.
That they match things up with music that astounds, with heavy riffs of a mathematical note, like King Crimson on steroids, and a bit of order followed by some chaos, all the while unfolding into an amalgam of beauty and fierce despair- like Mortiis that followed after- a set that was way way to short.
But they do not fit into anything concise with glee, opening with "Lexington Delerium", and ending at song number seven with "Atomic Age".
Again, over in a flash.
Imperial Triumphant- a monolith unto themselves, advanced as all get out, leading up to their latest release "Goldstar", which comes with a warning sticker- "Imperial Triumphant can impair your mental health and cause cardiovascular disease or epileptic seizures. Use new album "Goldstar" at your own risk".
So yeah.
They came to play with the others, and incinerate the masses all the while.

New Skeletal Faces -
Such a set, albeit short as well.
But these guys- gritty and scuzzy rock n' roll incarnate. And I mean this with positives, not negatives.
They play the part, definitely wear the part, and come off fierce all at the same time.
Watching them perform, seeing them crash and burn through their set, just downright fun and nasty.
Hard to truly define these guys, since they appear to cover lots of genres, but still, their cavernous tombstone appeal, let alone songwriting chops- all of it- clever as all get out.
Want more of this when they come through town sometime/ somewhere.

And it goes to show that yet again, Decibel Magazine, and this current incarnation for their 2025 tour- they delivered.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

Decibel Magazine, Mayhem, New Skeletal Faces, Imperial Triumphant, Mortiis, Bobby Talamine Fiza Javid, Chicago Live Music, Jerry Bryant, JBTV Music Television, House of Blues,

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Live Review: The Decibel Magazine Tour 2025 Featuring Mayhem, along with Mortiis, Imperial Triumphant and New Skeletal Faces

Decibel Magazine, Mayhem, New Skeletal Faces, Imperial Triumphant, Mortiis, Bobby Talamine Fiza Javid, Chicago Live Music, Jerry Bryant, JBTV Music Television, House of Blues,

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