More so than any other band I am aware of, Mayhem and much of the aura that surrounds the band is as much myth and urban legend as it is fact. Nevermore so than the early years, to be more specific pre 1994's "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas". The now legendary live release, "Live In Leipzig" has formed the cornerstone of many of these tall tales that have gained Mayhem the reputation they still enjoy today.

As is often the case over time, truth and fiction become intertwined into a common reality, from which it is impossible to separate truth from lie. Never was a truer word spoken that in the case of the bands undoubted greatest and most respected lineup of Dead, Euronymous and Hellhammer, two of whom would be dead before this album saw it's original release date.

Where do you begin with a release of this magnitude? Albums of this stature are not about the quality of sound or accurate interpretation of the bands studio material in the live environment, oh no. It's about classics like "Necolust", "Deathcrush" and "Funeral Fog" being performed by the classic Mayhem line-up that wrote them. The infamy that surrounds this particular release will remain unrivalled in the bands history, but with Peaceville re-releasing much of the Mayhem back catalogue you would hope a new generation of appreciators can be found. That is of course for those few who don't already have a copy safely ensconced in their collection.

The term 'classic' is bandied about with an almost reckless abandon when describing what are in many cases is a mediocre release at best. Few can honestly claim to have had the impact that Mayhem had on what was then a fledgling Black Metal scene, and while many have come, and more than one or two have gone, Mayhem's influence has remained constant. "Live In Leipzig" is as 'classic' as "Soulside Journey" or even comparable to "Bathory" or "The Return". A bone fid 100% 'classic'. Any non-believers?.......Thought not.