Sven Erik Kristiansen

Sven Erik Kristiansen
Maniac live with Mayhem in 2004
Background information
Birth name	Sven Erik Kristiansen
Also known as	Maniac
Born	(1969-02-04) 4 February 1969 (age 48)
Origin	Norway
Genres	Black metal, doom metal, hardcore punk, noise, dark ambient
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass
Years active	1986–present
Associated acts	Mayhem, Skitliv, Shining, Bomberos, Wurdulak, Sehnsucht

Sven Erik Kristiansen (born 4 February 1969) is a Norwegian musician. He is best known as the former vocalist in the black metal band Mayhem under the stage name Maniac.

Kristiansen joined Mayhem in 1986 after the departure of the band's original vocalist Messiah and left in 1988, when he was replaced by Kittil. When Hellhammer decided to revive Mayhem in 1995 after the deaths of both Euronymous and Dead and the imprisonment of Count Grishnakh, he invited Maniac to return as the band's vocalist.

He was known for giving extremely intense live performances and would often cut himself onstage, frequently landing him in intensive care units. However, in a later interview Kristiansen stated "...when we realized that the cutting had become a phenomenon people came to watch, I quit doing it." He has also stated that the coverage Mayhem has received is disproportionate.

Kristiansen was in the band until 2004 when he was forced to leave, his erratic behavior cited as the main reason for the departure. In the only press release about the split, he also cited lack of time as being a vital factor. In 2016 Kristensen briefly rejoined Mayhem onstage during the Inferno Festival in Oslo, Norway.

Just months before Kristiansen joined Mayhem he released the first issue off his fanzine Damage Inc. in 1986. The second issue came out in 1987 after he had joined Mayhem. Both issues include interviews with Mayhem among other content. He is currently a member of extreme metal band Skitliv, has participated as a session member for Shining, did vocals for hardcore punk band Bomberos, and shares an ongoing experimental music project called Sehnsucht alongside Vivian Slaughter.

Kristiansen has three children: a daughter with his wife, Eri Isaka (aka Vivian Slaughter), a son with his ex-girlfriend, Hilma, and a daughter from a previous relationship. He has said that since he became a father, he has become more conscious of what he exposes himself to and is less destructive.