A collection of live recordings from 666, a Norwegian antecedent to Mayhem whose Satanic aesthetic and live shows predated the more infamous black metal band. Almost completely overlooked for close to three decades, 666 (pronounced “sax-sax-sax”) was formed in the northern city of Tromsø in early 1982. In terms of sound, 666 was very closely aligned with Venom and Motörhead, who (along with The Stooges) are both identified as primary influences. The live venue was clearly the band’s preferred element, as they never recorded any studio material. Instead they played live on Norwegian television in 1983, and after toiling in their local scene for a while, the band secured its most significant gig in Harstad as a featured rock/metal performer at the Festspillene Festival, which was considered the northern region of the country’s premiere cultural event at the time.
