Alcohol Generation #1 (2010)

Alcohol Generation #1 (2010)
56 pg, A4, xerox, English

Interview
Hereafter, Unholy Sin, Damokis, Voltan, Crown of Horns, Insacred

The last time I read a zine from Sarawak is Kananulark in late 90's (edited by bos of Eastern Voice Prod.). Few years ago I noticed in a forum about a zine called Orema Bakep but dont have the chance to order it. And now after many many years, another zine was born, Alcohol Generation.

The way I discovered this zine is a bit weird for me. Now I have to accept the fact that things are now changing and promotion is also done in Facebook. I dont even get the printed flyers when I got this zine.

This is one of the best first issue release I read this year. This issue featured good showcase of Malaysian metal (from the interviews as well as the reviews) eventhough it didnt cover all genre but this is just the first issue.

Some first issue zine asked quite boring and uninteresting question. But that is not the case here. Interviews are interesting to read. There are also "live" interview that is a shorter than the rest but they added the info that are not asked in the interview in the introduction. Reading the introduction of the interviews will add some historical and geographical knowlegde too because they added these info when elaborating about the band's origin. I think its good for foreigner to learn a bit more about Malaysia beside knowing the bands.

Reviews section cover audio stuff, named "Reviewed, Re-view, reviews!" (EP/Demo and full-lenght are separated) and also zine. Quite detailed with all the info of the releases and including the front cover (except for zine review).

There are some gig report from East and West Malaysia. Brief review on each participating bands and have a picture of them. "Exclusive" review (indepth and a bit detailed) on "Tugau Warmetal Hordes 2010". I enjoy reading this, especially the journey to/from the gig (described by Matt 'like a journey to hell'). I wish they can also review "Borneo Metal Evolution" since they already mention it in this zine as 'worse gig ever'.

Some pin-up poster available. I always think its better to put this on separate paper so people can pull them out and 'crucify' it on the wall without damaging the zine.

There are some article on bands (Unholy Sin & Antacid), while mostly zine will copy directly from the band's bio sheet, Uchu Manang typed in his own words.

About the layout; 2 columns per page and using font size that is a bit large to my liking. Layout fully computerized, no border/frame art but with lots of picture (luckily, this prevent them from looking dull). Xerox quality is good, I just wish the print quality of the mastercopy is better than this. It is also well organized (page numbered & have table of content). They also put small banner/adds on the interview which is not related with the bands interviewed and I found this quite annoying.

Mine are hand-numbered 8 (print run unknown). There is a small box for personal hand-written message to the buyer. Those who want to be the second-hand buyer will have to accept this zine with my name there haha.

Editor also run a label (Evil Institution Records) and involved in some bands (Militant Attack, if I'm not mistaken).

Contact
c/o Uchu Manang

Email
jugam2001 @ yahoo.com

Metalwarpage #5 (2009)

Metalwarpage #5 (2009)
106 pg, A4, xerox, English

Interview
Nefarious Azarak, Asian Black Metal Syndicate, Bazzah, Braindead, Au Revoir, Black Abyss, Barbalans, Antacid, Everlasting Tales, Modar

My first issue of Metalwarpage. I once contacted the editor, Seth, after I got the flyers for issue #4 but it's already sold out. This time, through some local metalhead I manage to get a copy of this. With colored covers it looks professional from the outside. I wish the content can be made better, I mean the printing and xerox quality. However the layout is good, pages are numbered and with table of content included. Nicely done on the layout except for the 4 columns per page which I think the font used there is too big for that type of columns.

One thing that I salute the editor is they managed to get great selection of Malaysian bands. I'm surprised they willing to be interviewed for a local English-written underground publication like this (I thought they only entertain major mag sold at the bookstore). Some of the band already exist since the 90's which mean they are old, busy men (with jobs and family). Some good chat there.

Another aspect of the zine that I like since I dont see this in other zine is "What the Fuck", which is the section where they put the questions they sent to bands and they didnt reply. So we have in this issue Rebellion, Rakus, Imperial, and Negation and these are presented just like a normal interview page, minus the answer of the interview ofcourse.

If you think the interviews are long and in-depth, you are wrong. Articles are plenty, "Satan's Origin", "Concept Of God", "The Truth About Belial", "Satan As Lucifer", "Christ in Islam", "Life After Death", "Spirituality, Mythology and Philosophy", "The True Religion", "Church of Satan", "Pagan Sun Worship and Catholicism" (too many pages for this one, including pictures), "The Truth Blasphemy Screwed", "Who Is Satan", "Greek Antichrist", "The Fact About Metalwarpage Squad", "Fact About Belial", "Definition of Religion", "History of Religion" and "Belial In The Form Of Our Life". Now you know what consumed the 100+ pages.

Some reviews of audio stuff also available, called "Metal Madness" with front cover included in most reviews but this reviews are everywhere in the zine.

Seth also run a label/distro. You might need to ask that when contacting him.

Email
seth_metalwarpage @ yahoo.com

Web
www.myspace.com/metalwarpage

Cryptic Liturgy #1 (2009)

Cryptic Liturgy #1 (2009)
64 page, A5, xerox, English

Interview
Deceased, Gammacide, Enforcer, Deathronation, Nunslaughter, Violator, Witchtrap, Mandatory, Vortex, Chronic Torment

Good debut issue, it seems like the editor have some experience doing a zine. Interviews are interesting to read, layout are made in cut n paste style and also use some font that give an ancient feeling while reading it. No reviews though but the editor have made lots of columns where some stuff is being reviewed there.

Those columns are in no particular order: "Underground Church" (10 underground masterpiece according to the editor). "Buried & Forgotten" (as the editor said "underrated & underestimate treasure of metal". The name of this column will make you imagine some old 80's or 90' stuff being reviewed like other zine is doing. Not really 'old' because there's an album released in 2004 like Cauldron Black Ram's "Skullduggery") and lastly "The Eyes of Horror" (a horror movie review).

Beside all that, editor made "Cryptorium", a column featuring front cover artwork. Not sure how this column work and what are the criteria used to choose the artwork. Maybe the artwork is chosen because its looks cool? For this issue feature some front cover from 80's to 90's releases.

Also featured here some live report around Bochum, Essen & Oberhausen.

Certainly this is not an average debut issue and worth supporting.

E-mail
cryptic-liturgy@web.de

Web
http://www.myspace.com/cryptic-liturgy-fanzine

Radical Review #2 (2009)

Radical Review #2 (2009)
48 pg, A5, xerox, English

Interview
The Tangled Lines, Vormit, Noam Chomsky

Just like other normal HC/punk zine, there are lots of article that will make your mind think a bit. They are either written originally by them or taken somewhere (the Noam interview is taken from anarchistnews.org). But that does not make most of the zine's content. There are also lots of advertisement/flyers. Not sure whether they are funded by those advertisement or not but I'm really impressed with the printing quality (or maybe pro-printed, not laser photocopy?) and still selling it at a cheap price. The page where black color used as the background are really sharp and the picture are extremely clear. The layout they used for the interview really look like pro magazine however I wish they can do the same on other section like on the reviews.

This is not my regular reading material though. During one of my visit to Nebiula Heavy Metal Store, I saw this zine hanging at the exit door (like there are many door there haha). The thing that attract me is the back cover and I bought a copy. For my own safety, no further comment on that. As explained in the zine, they are not oppossing the government or supporting the the opposition. Both are the same to them.

If interested, check out their blog or myspace for more info.

Contact
Radical Review
BD-B-17,
Jalan Pandan Indah 4/14C,
Pandan Indah,
55100 Kuala Lumpur

E-mail
radicalreviewzine@yahoo.com

Web
http://radicalreviewzine.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/radicalreview

Crypts Of Eternity #3 (2009)

Crypts Of Eternity #3 (2009)
48 page, A5, pro-print, English

Interview
Intrust, Fenebrarum, Voids of Vomit, Blaspherion, Godless, Graveyard, Ignivomous, Gorephobia, Drowned, Necrovation, Godless Rising, Hatespawn, Unaussprechlichen Kulten, Impetous Rage

Bio
Putrid, Profaner

This issue keeps the format of issue #2 including the size. So it is slightly bigger than A5. They still use the same font type used since issue #1. More pages of death added and this will surely pleased those underground death metal maniacs. With more pages now, I think it is wise to have a table of content although now (at the time doing this review) I think TOC is not really important although it can make the publication look organized and professional.

They requested not to call this zine "old school death metal zine". Clearly that tagline limiting the coverage of the zine and they preferred to be called as only "death metal zine". And yes, the zine and the band interviewed are true pure death metal because they despise Kratornas and Mantak (both are black metal bands by the way, if you still dont know). Really great to read those honest comment.

Review section (in alphabetical order and not rated) covers vinyl, CD and DVD as well as some demo (some are available for sale, do ask them). More reviews this time though. Ricardo also have added new "staff", Victor L. Miranda of Putrescense Records. The reviews with initial VM is him.

There are also gig report on the centerfold. 3 pages, very lenghty review and tiring my eyes reading them.

Seriously, not much I can say. Another well done issue!