In a bit of sad news, on April 9, 2024, the Oslo-based Neseblod Records, formerly known as Helvete (“Hell”), owned by MAYHEM’s guitarist Øystein “Euronymous” Aarseth, was severely damaged by a major fire, with fears that many historic Black Metal records maybe lost forever. Police are investigating, they don’t know what caused the fire, but they say it started in the basement of the record store, destroying irreplaceable goods.

Since 2013, the record store has been operating as Neseblod Records, but the location is known to Black Metal fans worldwide as the record store of MAYHEM’s Euronymous, who opened it in 1991. The store was a working record store and its basement was a living museum of Black Metal music. Key features of its tourist attraction were the famous ‘Black Metal’ graffiti in this basement, which became a meeting place for musicians and fans of the now-infamous scene.

At the same time, Euronymous also ran his own production company, Deathlike Silence Productions. Several Helvete regulars, including Burzum’s Varg Vikernes, had begun to build a “high profile” in the store due to their beliefs and their involvement in a series of Black Metal-motivated church fires in Norway. Although it was closed by the police in 1993 for all the negative press it had accumulated over the years thanks to the machinations of a Black Metal inner circle, it reopened under its new name.

According to a GoFundMe campaign to raise £20,000 for Neseblod Records, promoter Darren wrote that he hopes fans can contribute and help the store owner, Kenneth Neseblod and his wife Grete, get back on their feet.

Darren says:

“I have been working with many Norwegian Black Metal bands over the years and Neseblod Records (formerly Helvete) is located in the heart of Oslo. He has been part of the scene since the beginning of this unique musical movement and is the heart and soul of the genre. A fire broke out in the basement and shop last night, destroying an archive of rare Black Metal history! I’m starting this GoFundMe to help Kenneth get back on his feet.”

According to the latest information, the damage was mainly in the basement in a corner and that the most valuable things were not damaged. In the following photos you will see what the historic record store looks like inside today, after the repairs about the damage fire left behind.

You can tour the basement of Neseblod Records (ex-Helvete), before the fire, via the following video: