DEATHCRUSH: The Unlikely Connection of Euronymous & Conrad Schnitzler

Deathcrush, the 1987 landmark debut record that put Norway’s trailblazers Mayhem on the black metal map, created a satanic furor in the Norwegian and global black metal scene.

The intro track on this record that introduced the band and the album was an industrial/electronic tune entitled “Silvester Anfang” (or New Year’s Eve). Many black metal fans were not known of the real story behind this legendary track, created by the one and only Conrad Schnitzler, a key figure in the German Krautrock movement and member of pioneering electronic and experimental bands Tangerine Dream, Eruption, and Kluster.

Euronymous enjoyed various types of nonmetal and experimental music, such as krautrock, prog, postpunk, hard rock, new wave and electronic music: Klaus Schulze, Pink Floyd, Kraftwerk, Brian Eno, Marillion, Human League, Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, Kiss, techno, and even ’80s disco.

Around 1986, the early lineup of Mayhem were travelling around Europe. At this point they’ve already released the Pure Fucking Armaggedon demo. Euronymous had Schnitzler’s Berlin address and decided to pay him a visit. He was 18 and was determined to meet one of his musical idols.

In his own words, Schnitzler recounted the experience about his unlikely friendship with Øystein Aarseth, who was in his teens when he eventually met the German electronic music pioneer, by actually showing up on his door one day:

“It was a hot summerday in Berlin in my attic flat, my wife and I had decided not to open for any visitors,’Let’s take our own time, don’t let anybody disturb us’.

So stoned we lay in the shadow of the attic, when the doorbell rang. Of course we didn’t open the door we played ‘we’re not at home’. After an hour more ringing, nobody in. Each following hour more ringing.

We got upset. I went to the door and faced a longhaired person I didn’t know, through the doorspy. Night came, the person still in front of the door, now and then a ringing. In the morning no more ringing, the person slept deeply at the door. I stormed out shouting, he remained totally cool and friendly, looking like a punker same outfit metalchains and bracelets with rivets.

I should explain in between, that more than once freaks had slept there. It was warm and clean. But for us it was unpleasant to trip over sleeping persons and I must confess I chased them away quite rude. That exactly I intended to do.

But his remarkable friendliness and reasonable arguments, that he wanted to visit me, me the great artist CS, let me calm down. I invited him in, breakfast, shower, dinner and drinks.

Afterwards we talked about my work. He told me about his band. But I couldn’t really get an imagination about the kind of music. I just was working on videos for a room installation. 4 Videos with music playing put at different places in the room, endless repetition. He liked the idea, and I wondered that a punk could like that. We said ‘goodbye’ as friends.

Now and then I recieved postcards with kind regards of him. Once on a winterday I got a card with the request of him to contribute a short piece for an LP his band wanted to publish.

I took the first piece that just lay on my desk in the studio. It was SILVESTER day. I wrapped it, brought it to the post office, therefore ‘SILVESTER ANFANG’.

Later I got the Maxi LP from him. Unfortunately I didn’t know before about the music style of the band. Otherwise I had chosen a much more ruder piece from my works. In this way a too soft piece of music is on that LP. I’ll regret for ever.

Years later I enjoyed the money I’ve got, we had never spoken of it. Later on I had no more personal contact with OYSTEIN AARSETH.

Then further on I heard about his pass away and the circumstances. I’m still depressed when I think about it.

MAYHEM never again asked for another piece of work, pity. But for circling this story just a short note. Yesterday I got an e-mail of BJÖRN HATTERUD from Norway (address under this text). I send him some rubbish of my old works. I hope he’ll be lucky with it. That’s the story of CON , OYSTEIN AARSET , MAYHEM, Norway and maybe over forever.

I hope I could help to answer your questions.

So long, CON”

Hails and RIP to Euronymous and Conrad Schnitzler, and all the incredible music they left behind for all of us.