Rune Eriksen

Rune Eriksen (born 13 January 1975), also known by his stage name Blasphemer, is a Norwegian musician best known as the former guitarist and songwriter of black metal band Mayhem. He took his stage name from a Sodom song and joined Mayhem in October 1994, before departing the band in late 2008. Eriksen founded his solo project RUÏM in 2020 and is currently a member of Aura Noir, Earth Electric, and the multinational bands Twilight Of The Gods and Vltimas, the former initially being a Bathory tribute band and the latter being a supergroup with former Morbid Angel vocalist David Vincent and drummer Flo Mounier of Cryptopsy. Eriksen and Mounier has previously been a part of death metal artist Nader Sadek's band along with Steve Tucker of Morbid Angel. Eriksen has also been a live member of Gaahls Wyrd and made guest appearances on recordings by Absu, Negură Bunget and Root. His former bands and projects include Mezzerschmitt and the Portuguese gothic doom band Ava Inferi. Eriksen has resided in Portugal since 2004. Eriksen has been noted by critics for his technical proficiency. Jillian Drachman of Loudwire included him on her list of the "11 best black metal guitarists of all time."[edit]

Rune Eriksen stands as a pillar of the Norwegian black metal second wave, his tenure with Mayhem spanning from October 1994 until late 2008. While he anchors the band's most enduring era, iFANN has evaluated his global standing and found him currently unranked in the Global Top 1,000 or any scope list. He does not hold a placement in the published rankings. This absence of a numeric rank reflects the niche nature of his fame rather than a lack of impact; his influence remains concentrated within the underground extreme metal community rather than the mainstream spotlight. The fanbase surrounding Eriksen lacks a formal name, operating instead as a dedicated, decentralized network of listeners who engage through niche publications and forums. There are no organized campaigns, billboards, or streaming pushes orchestrated by a unified group to elevate his profile. Instead, the connection is defined by a distinct personal brand centered on his stage persona, Blasphemer, and an ironic affinity for sheep that fans recognize as a unique ritualistic element. His verified social media presence reinforces this identity, noting that Mayhem and sheep were part of a long, painful yet genuinely intimate love affair. This specific motif distinguishes his public image from the violent imagery of his predecessors without constituting a structured fan campaign. Legends regarding Eriksen focus on his role as the stabilizer who preserved the band's integrity during its transition from a chaotic entity to a professional touring act. He became the public face of the sound on *De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas*, effectively closing one chapter of history when he departed in 2008. Today, his legacy is one of endurance, maintained through projects like RUÏM and continued activity in bands such as Aura Noir and Earth Electric.[edit]

Rune Eriksen adopted his stage name, Blasphemer, from a song by the German thrash metal band Sodom before joining Mayhem in October 1994. He founded the solo project RUÏM in 2020 to explore themes central to the Left Hand Path. A widely retold story among fans involves Eriksen's unique integration of sheep imagery into his dark metal persona, a detail he explicitly described as a long, painful, yet intimate love affair with the animals. This quirky signature set him apart from the more violent aesthetics of the genre's early days. His departure from Mayhem in late 2008 is frequently cited by the community as the definitive end of the band's classic lineup and the closing of its second historical chapter. Following his exit, he solidified his status as a veteran of the scene by joining supergroups like Vltimas alongside former Morbid Angel vocalist David Vincent and Cryptopsy drummer Flo Mounier. Recent interviews from 2023 highlight his ongoing work, suggesting that his current musical trajectory relies on a shared cultural understanding with his core audience.[edit]