Aarseth formed Mayhem in 1984 along with bassist 'Necrobutcher' and drummer Kjetil Manheim. At the time he was going by the stage name 'Destructor' but later changed his name to Euronymous, derived from the demon Eurynomos.During May–June 1991, Euronymous opened a record shop named Helvete at Schweigaards gate 56 in Oslo. Norwegian black metal musicians often met in the shop's basement, including the two members of Mayhem, the members of Emperor, Varg 'Count Grishnackh' Vikernes of Burzum, and Snorre 'Blackthorn' Ruch ofThorns. Euronymous also started an independent record label called Deathlike Silence Productions, which was based at Helvete. The shop's walls were painted black and bedecked with medieval weapons, posters of bands, andpicture discs, while its window featured a polystyrene tombstone.Helvete became the focal point of the Norwegian black metal scene. Metalion, writer of the fanzine Slayer, said that the opening of Helvete was "the creation of the whole Norwegian Black Metal scene".
Within just a few months [of Helvete opening], many young musicians had become obsessed with Euronymous and his ideas, and soon a lot of Norwegian death metal bands transformed into black metal bands.
In interviews, Euronymous claimed to be against individualism, compassion, peace, happiness and fun. He claimed he wanted to spread hatred, sorrow and evil.In a 1993 interview he said "There is NOTHING which is too sick, evil or perverted". Metalion (who knew Euronymous since 1985 and considered him to be his best friend) said that Euronymous "was always telling what he thought, following his own instincts, worshipping death and being extreme".
In interviews, Euronymous said he was a Theistic Satanist:
I believe in a horned devil, a personified Satan. In my opinion all the other forms of Satanism are bullshit. Satanism comes from religious Christianity, and there it shall stay. I'm a religious person and I will fight those who misuse His name. People are not supposed to believe in themselves and be individualists. They are supposed to OBEY, to be the SLAVES of religion. – Euronymous, in an interview by Esa Lahdenperä, early August 1993
The Theistic Satanism espoused by Euronymous was an inversion of Roman Catholic dogma and he claimed "We praise the evil and we believe blindly in a godly creature just like a Christian".
He opposed the Satanic and occultist teachings of Anton LaVey and Aleister Crowley, for unlike Euronymous they promoted what he saw as "peace" and commercial frivolity, as well as individualism in contrast to precedence ofdogma. He said he would "Never accept any band which preaches Church of Satan ideas, as they are just a bunch of freedom and life-loving atheists, and they stand exactly the opposite of me". When asked what he thought of Crowley's code of "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law", he answered "People shall do what WE want them to do. We're against freedom, and forced a band from Rogaland in Norway – Belsebub – to split up"
Euronymous was, is and will always be the King and Godfather of Black Metal.
