Photo by Ester Segarra

MAYHEM, metal’s most controversial band, have unveiled a new video for the track “Watchers”. The video, directed and shot by Magnetar Studios (BEYOND CREATION, EXMORTUS, WINTER NIGHTS) is streaming now at Noisey. “Watchers” is taken from the band’s latest album, ‘Esoteric Warfare’, on Season of Mist.

Regarding the video, director James Pesature comments:

“I do my best to find cinematographers who are Metalheads and fans of the bands for our team because I feel if you know your subject well and understand them, you will be better at representing them through the lens. (There was nine of us shooting this). I have always attempted to take a fine art approach to my photography focusing on the individual and the body. I have taken this same approach to the live music videos hoping to create a more intimate experience for the viewer that captures the high octane, hair raising energy that surges through the body when actually there.”

He continues,

“This video is an up close and personal concentrated experience of an entire Mayhem performance.  An interesting thing I believe to be true about Black Metal, more so than any other metal sub-genre is when it comes to performing live, it is just as much of a performance art as it is music. Attila is the embodiment of that statement.  Maybe others don’t see it this way but to me it is very dramatic, energetic, theatrical, and ritualistic.”

‘Esoteric Warfare’ has been called “an adventurous and energetic record built on stylistic explorations and enthusiastic shifts” (Pitchfork), “a magnificent black metal album” (Metal Injection), and “a fantastic display of progressive black metal” (Sputnik Music), and is streaming here.  ‘Esoteric Warfare’ is available as a CD, Limited Edition box set, and various Lp formats here.