Meridian 9 #3 (2009)

Meridian 9 #3 (2009)
48, A4, pro-print, English

Interview
Silencer, Mystical Fullmoon, Inquinok, Vision of Mara, Peordh, Annwn, Ancient Tundra, Immundus, Novembers Doom

Another issue of this zine. This is the issue that got me attracted. This issue offer 2 front cover artwork. The other one is a muscular man with horn (I think). Honestly, hard for me resist to have this cover on my collection hehe.

Nothing much have changed in the layout department. Looks exactly the same. The column/section also the same including "Opinion & Such" ('What With The Boobs??' among them). Changes probably on the writers which are now down to 2 writers only and with addition of demo reviews.

One thing I must add, the editor/writer really made their research (on the meaning of band name's, etc) and they put discography, some band info and website before the interviews. So you have some good, not boring type of questions.

And yes, free CDR & sticker also available with the zine.

New issues already out but damned, I already out of cash. Someday I will get them.

Meridian 9 #2 (2008)

Meridian 9 #2 (2008)
48, A4, pro-print, English

Interview
Dagor Dagorath, Argharus, Deafest, Guthrum, Godslave, Vedonist, Nepente, Caricature

While checking myspace, clicking some band's friend's list to another, I stumbled upon this 'zine's myspace and got attracted by the front cover. So I bought 2 old issues.

Start with the editorial page, you can see pictures of the editor and the writers. The zine consist of G. Owen Wears, Chase Ambler, Heather Smith & Karina Lyn Pulec and with some short info on them. Yes, they have female writers and they will get a different view on certain thing.

Looks like professional magazine; neat layout (simple layout, the same 2 column per page throughout the whole zine) page numbered, have table of content, letters from readers section (interesting to read although the reply is not as fun as (old) Nordic Vision and SOD.)

Interviews are interesting read. Quite surprise to know Deafest is a one man band by Chase Ambler which also writes in this zine.

Review only cover "disc", as said in the introduction. No format mention so I assumed they are all CD. The reviews are arranged in alphabetical order and rated.

Not to forget, there are some concert review. When I said earlier, "female writers...different view", I was referring to some of the concert report. While usually writer wrote about the bands performing on stage, here they wrote their experience they encountered in the gig which quite hillarious for me reading it.

There is a section named "Opinion & Such", which is an article section. This issue, they wrote about "The Death of Optimism" and "Grief of The Soul".

Only one thing, I tried to figure out is the 'motto' of the zine. "A Metal Zine of an Unusual Nature", says the zine. I don't really see anything unusual here. Probably "Opinion & Such" because I normally see punk/HC zine wrote article while metal zine stick strictly to music.

Beside the zine, you'll get a CDR sampler (with the bands featured in the zine) and also a free sticker.

E-mail
meridian9zine@yahoo.com

Web
www.myspace.com/meridian9

Burning Churches #6 (2009)

Burning Churches #6 (2009)
32 pg, A4, xerox, English

Interview
Baalberith, Occidens, Absu, Ares Kingdom, Exciter, Negura Bunget, Hellward, Arphaxat, Witchtrap, Unleashed, Trench Hell, Zygoatsis

Another new issue. It just look the same like the previous one. Please read my review on the previous issues.

Some quote from the editorial, "Burning Churches is at war with people who think they know how a zine should look..". I assumed he got some comments on his zine which is good that some people care to give some comment.

Commenting on that, until this review is up, I have never informed any of editors (except from Malaysia) that I have reviewed them. Most of them said "fuck webzine" in their zine anyway so I'm afraid hehe.

I never wanted to "teach" editor how a zine should look like. I just trying to describe to zine and my reading experience. Have never asked editor to "change this, do that". Most importantly, I wanted to support the distros (and the editors too) selling the zine as and reading real underground music.

I salute BC for featuring extreme bands from Asia. Hail!

Still no zine review.

Burning Churches #5 (2008)

Burning Churches #5 (2008)
28 pg, A4, xerox, English

InterviewAbigor, Crucified Mortals, Terror Squad, Envenom, Sael, Maniak, Ululate, Sodomizer, Dark Mystery, Fastkill

Another issue in the same year? That's fast! Again same layout, interview style, etc, etc. "Love it or hate it", some people might say that. Font size reduced so you can read even more reviews now. Only audio & dvd though, no zine.

Burning Churches #4 (2008)

Burning Churches #4 (2008)
32 pg, A4, xerox, English

Interview
Kamphar, Nuit Noire, Barbatos, The Meads of Asphodel, Rotting Christ, Church Bizarre, Asmodee, Chainsaw, Balmog, Wrust

Seigneur release another issue after 2 years gap. Not much have changed, looks almost exactly like #3. The layout is the same and so does the questions.

They have this 'tradition' by putting contact address and discography at the end of interview but I wonder why they are not doing it for Wrust (from Botswana!).

More review this time but no zine review. I think the way he made the back cover (with logo of the bands interviewed) is quite cool. Ofcourse the concept used for every front cover of this zine is much much better (sorry, some I have to censored a bit. I dont want to violate Blogger rules).

Burning Churches #3 (2006)

Burning Churches #3 (2006)
28 pg, A4, xerox, English

Interview
Ancient Rites, Surrender of Divinity, Arkhon Infautus, Necrophobic, Mantak, Bestial Holocaust, Loits, Infernal Execrator, Infernal Majesty, Unpure

I bought issue 4 to 6 first from 1 mailorder distro (forgot the name). Later I found another distro selling #3 and I bought it too. I waited until I have all issues and then start reading from issue #3. Ofcourse I will get #3 earlier if I know they feature MANTAK (Malaysian band that I respect a lot) in it.

The editor, Seigneur, care to put a table of content (with band's genre and country in it) eventhough the zine is not that thick. Interview questions are around 11 ot 13 only and they are short and easy question. No introduction, just straight to interview. About the layout, 1 column per page or 2 columns and he used are lots of pictures, a good way to balance up the small amount of interviews.

Reviews only cover audio (CD & demo) and DVD and no zine review. They are not rated and not arranged in alphabetical order.

I find it a displeasure (I'm old!) reading on the part where he put picture in the middle of the paragraph because it breaks the line and you can lost track on which line to continue.

Good xerox quality but you can finish reading the whole issue in no time.

E-mail
Burningchurches@club_internet.fr

Dark Legend #2 (2007)

Dark Legend #2 (2007)
100 pg, A4, xerox, English

Interview
Vivianne Crowley, Maxine sanders, Draegon Undomiel, Mayhem, Olivia Durdin Robertson, Doreen Valiente, Burzum, Explicit, Equinox

Article
The Good Old Hard Rock Sungai Segget Days, Dark Legend Arts Promotion, A Tribute and Salutation to Barchiel of As-Sahar, Tribute to Euronymous, The Church of Satan, Mastic@ and The Christians Evil

Looking at my journal, this is one of my earliest reviews that I made in 2008 and very long one too. Because it is too long, I skip it and choose to write on newer zine. I also dont like reading my own handwriting haha. Now I pity my school teachers, having to read my awful handwriting. Only now I had the strength to read and type them here.

This is not the usual reading like other metal zine. First, you see weird names in the interview list, right? They are not from any bands but personal from various groups practising wicca, occultism, witchcraft and paganism. Secondly, Reymond (the editor) wrote or elaborate certain thing in the between the interview so you will know some info about the issue discussed and also you know there are so much hatred towards Mastika (more about this later).

One of the highlight for me are the letters Reymond to Euronymous (before his death ofcourse!) which is presented there although he compiled it in form or "question & answer" like a normal interview. He also elaborate Euronymous's view on satanism which is quite enlightening. Equinox is not interview but Darkness letter to Reymond. Another highlight is the Burzum interview with Varg when he was in jail. There are some questions that are not answered by Varg, I wonder why?

Layout-wise, ok for the interview (2 column perpage) but the review using 4 columns that is too near with each other make it looks weird. Talking about review, some review are only like 5 lines. Very short but have logo of the band for every review.

Other stuff in this issue: a page each for "Images of Norwegian Black Metal" and "Images of Northern Darkness" (pictures of bands with corpse paint), some funny cartoon, promoting some artwork made by him or other artist (with explanation about the artwork), compilation of questions from other zine and with the answer by Reymond.

If not mistaken, I read in a zine in late 1990's, Reymond said DL will be released only in 5 issues. Like a pentagram that have 5 points. I forgot other details of that interview. If calculate, first issue in 1997, second issue in 2007, the fifth issue will be in 2037. I will be 60 years old haha. Anyway, this is just a humour. Dont take in seriuosly. The 10 year gap is caused by, none other than the "black metal issue"! I dont want to go in detail about that but read on some interesting 'stories' related with this editor.

Mastika (a local magazine) accussed Reymond is starting a branch of Church of Satan in Malaysia, under the teaching from Euronymous and have thousands of followers in Malaysia. Can you believe that? Well, the folks here believe that. Together with writings from Harian Metro (a local tabloid newspaper, said to be the largest Malay-written newspaper), that fuels up the anti-metal movement in Malaysia. I was shocked to see Reymond picture in that magazine (I dont buy Mastika but used to read the sex stories at the newsstand while waiting for my bus). They blurred the face like he's a rapist or some criminal but I've seen that picture before. After that police starts interrogating him. There's a lot of info about this in this zine.

And throughout this issue, you will read his own view and also as protest to media, government in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia on how they treated metal community.

If you noticed, the back cover is a blank paper. Actually behind it is an artwork by Reymond which quite provoking.

The editor also run a label and involved in some bands.

Contact
c/o Reymond
Block 184A,
#05-165 Rivervale Crescent,
Singapore 541184,
Republic of Singapore

E-mail
darklegendzine@ yahoo.com

Web
http://www.myspace.com/darklegendzine