Total Death #1

Total Death #1
28 pg, A5, pro-printed, English

Interview
Exile, Cosmic Funeral, Deathriser, Infernal Execrator, Melek-Tha, Pyre, Vomitile, Weaponizer, The Way Of Purity, Gra, Waning, Sathanas, Gorelust, Flayed Disciple, Bestial Mockery

Although it is not that original but Total Death is a great name for a zine. I google the zine's name and found out there's another Total Death zine from Poland.

The editorial for this Total Death consist of Cenk A (editor) and Unholy Nuklear Terrorist (also responsible for the graphic), Battle Pig, I Cum Blood also doing some reviews and interviews.

The layout is simple but looks great. Use skull on the background, type-writer font type. Black text on dark background looks good if made and print properly. No page number and no table of content. All interviews will have bands logo at the top of the page. Some page on top looks like being cut-off example Infernal Execration. Not sure whether this is intentional or not.

The zine starts with short editorial. No introduction before the interview. Average questions 9 to 12. Some only have 6. Reviews are on music, not alphabetically arranged, and rated out of 10. Very small font size and all these cramped into 2 pages only.

I'm not trying to make fun of anyone, but I feel funny to know there's a band called Fisherman's Death. Suddenly I remembered Fisherman's Friends, that medicinal sweets that sooth your sore throat. Maybe there is some occult meaning behind the name. Bismi Iblyss under Qalaqas Art Productions got 8/10!

Not bad for a debut issue except for the length of the interview.

Abyssic Storm #1 (2013)

Abyssic Storm #1 (2013)

I have been thinking on how to put the review. Should I put them in 2 separate entries in this blog or just 1?

This issue is split into two separate 'issues'. Both having the same front cover but the content is different. If you don’t look at them clearly, you will think both are the same. You will miss out ‘Copy Venom’ and ‘Copy Poison’ is written there. If combine into single issue, it will be a massive 150+ pages!

In general the interviews are very long and interesting. All interviews have introduction and the date when they are made. The 2 editors; M Abyssus & N Abyssus giving their own editorial notes. They have table of content and the pages are numbered. 1 column per page with page border and they use a lot of pictures. Layouts are good!

The zine will be made available online once the print copy runs out. I like this idea and I will do the same if I ever made a print zine.

Both copies are hand numbered 033/150.

Now we go to each Copy.


Copy Venom
76 pg, A5, xerox, English

Interview
Krossburst, Resistance, Tsjuder, Pestilent Screams, Omnizide, Ronnie Ripper's Private War

The reviews are called "Under Scrutiny" and in several parts. They are not rated. The 'highlight' of the release or the best song of the release listed and the end of the very long review.'Under scrutiny' indeed. All formats in one section. Part I and II in Copy Venom.


Copy Poison
76 pg, A5, xerox, English

Interview
Khaos Aeon, Occulta, Necroshine Records, Obsessor, Ungod

Page number continue from Copy Venom, starts at 78. Beside interview there are "Under Scrutiny" Part III. Also present here is concert review @ gig report 'scan through the eyes of those visiting, playing and organising'. Unusual way of doing gig report. The visitor or bands giving their opinion on the gig. Very original. Some visitor wrote 2 pages long!


E-mail
abyssicstorm@yahoo.co.uk
abyssicstorm.legion@yahoo.de

Web
www.facebook.com/abyssicstorm

Trooper Art Regime #1 (August 2013)

Trooper Art Regime #1 (August 2013)
32 pg, A5, xerox, Malay/English

Interview
Mu-Aru, Halun, Hiding Fear, Hanator, Torture Squad (in English), Penguasa Anjing, Slay Death

The zine is nicely wrapped in plastic cover. Glossy front cover and content are all printed using color laser printer. Trooper Art Regime scores high on presentation.

But how about the content? The layout is a simple 2 columns per page. Luckily they are using color, if it is in black & white it will be very dull. No page number but have table of content. Some improvement can still be made on these.

The interviews are good. Probably can be more in-depth. I think translating the Torture Squad to Malay will be a lot better.

There is a very detail report of a gig organized by them in December 2012. The reviews are not rated and they have a section on their own releases.

Beside this there is news section from local scene on the last pages, after that few pages of flyers.

I also like the mini poster of Mu-Aru. I think it is better next time printed on separate sheet. Make it like a pull-out poster. Having a good printed poster of Malaysian bands on the wall will be very nice.

No info in the zine on editorial staff of this zine but I think those active in the local scene already know who they are.

This issue includes a 10 tracks CDr sampler.

I hope TAR can be released consistently. Support!

E-mail
trooperartregime [at] gmail [dot] com

Isten Fanzine from Distributions of Death

I recently bought Isten Fanzine book and Chips & Beer Magazine from Malaysian distro Distributions of Death.

I definitely need few months to complete reading the book.

Some copies still available.

Check out their facebook page for info: 

https://www.facebook.com/DistributionsofDeath

Turbulence #2 (2014)

Turbulence #2 (2014)
36 pg, A5, xerox, Malay

A bit thicker compare with #1 and having colored cover. #2 continues with how Samad and Joe become friends. The Drug King already instructed Joe to be killed. I didn't mention in my previous review that Joe owes huge sum of money to the Drug King. The band still rehearsing. The cartoonist also draws the logo of the band being covered by Turbulence in their rehearsal! This issue ends with the band arrive at the gig venue before the gig start. This issue has this 'sad feeling' after knowing Joe might die from the fight after reading the part at the mamak stall and after the motocross racing. I thought the fighting will happen in #2. I imagine a fighting scene with no gun shooting but just fist fight, swords and knife like those in Young and Dangerous movie (a Hong Kong movie on Chinese mafia).

About the layout and the rest, the same like I mentioned in Turbulence #1.

#3 please...

Virus #8 (2014)

Virus #8 (2014)
70 pg, A4, xerox, English

Interview
Tormentor, Obsessor, Denouncement Pyre, Beast Conjurator, Black Vul Destrucktor, Master, Sorcery, Karamah, Interment, Artillery, Kill, Witchrist, Vampire, Revel In Flesh, Demonic Rage, Necroccultus, Morbid Perversion, Terrorist, Graveyard, Grave Desecration, Manticore, Carnal Ghoul

Article
Retribution of The Ancient

It took almost 3 years after issue #7. In between these years, he releases his other Malay-written zine, Darahhead.

Fauzi preserve his layout format and interview style like his previous issues. The pages are numbered but no table of content. Layout is combination of cut n paste or 2 columns per page with frame artwork. Front cover artwork this time made by Alex Olivares.

I thought that Master interview was made by Fauzi. It will be good to know Paul Speckmann's view on Malaysian scene (if such question is asked). By the way, Tormentor is not the band with Attila in it. This is the Malaysian one playing thrash metal.

Review covers music & zine. Very simple layout on this section. Not much graphic. They are not alphabetically arranged and not rated. There are some 2 pages on zine reviews. 1 page of news mostly on Malaysian metal scene which is still 'fresh' when reading it just a few months after the zine being release. This is my checklist of the stuff I should be buying.

As usual, the photocopy quality can be made better.

About the article, Retribution of The Ancient, it features Malaysian metal classic releases which Fauzi started since issue #7.

Get this while it is still available and also ask about his distro list. Or at least ask about Phenomistik mini-CD. He also distributes this band which consist One Barchiel.

E-mail
virus_zine at yahoo dot com

Turbulence #1 (2014)

Turbulence #1 (2014)
28 pg, A5, xerox, Malay

This is not a zine but a comic issued by Metal Thrashing Mag. When I first saw this on FB, the first thing came into my mind was Nagawika's Bestial Avenger. This is the only comparison I can make.

The cartoonist or artist behind Turbulence is Rob Scallywag. Nothing much I can say about him except that I like his work in Turbulence. The drawings are good. The story is presented well. The photocopy quality is also good. You can see clearly the line strokes, those curly hair, etc. I think I need to read more comic review so I can review this kind of publication better because I don’t know what else to say beside that I like this a lot. There is no date of release mentioned in the comic.

About the story in Turbulence #1 is about the band called Turbulence, preparing for their first gig. While Dol, Jiman, and Samad rehearsing, Samad's old friend Joe came to see them. Joe, the pioneer of the thrash metal movement in the city also an ex-convict (drug offence) need a favour from Samad to join a fight with the Drug King. But this fight will clash with Turbulence's first gig and can be fatal. This issue ends with flash back on how they both met in 1991. You can see here how Central Market looks like back then (the way I remembered it).

Turbulence is written in Malay and sold at a very good price. Support!

Contact
https://www.facebook.com/rob.a.scallywag

Web
https://www.facebook.com/metalthrashingmag

Iron Hammer #5

I reviewed Iron Hammer #3 years ago. Great to know another new issue is out now. Noticed the email & mail address now have changed.

- Iskar

Slowly We Rot #6

Also out in 2014, issue #6 of Slowly We Rot. #7 is already in the making. This zine is active as fvck. 
- Iskar

Ask for cheap wholesale rates and trades

Slowly We Rot #6 - looking for distributors!

- 60 pages
- English written
- b&w glossy pages
- professionally printed
- extreme metal compilation CD included!

Shop: http://slowlywerot.miiduu.com/
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/swrzine

For wholesale rates & trades please contact swrzine@yahoo.com

- interviews (AMON, ATTILA CSIHAR, CENTINEX, EXCITER, GRA, HADES, KAMPFAR, NERVOSA, OBITUARY, POPPY SEED GRINDER,  RIPPIKOULU, SORCERY, TITUS CONSTANTINESCU, USURPER)

 - Rising Demons section (interviews: Blodorn, Dasap, de profundis, Frostwork, Killrazer, Miserable Failure, Nerocapra, Plagues, Serpentrance, Sidious, Skinlepsy, Solace of Requiem, Solemn Curse, Sons of Famine, Taatsi, Terrorfront, Thy Legion, Winter Deluge)

- Merchants of Death section (interviews: Cold Raw Records, Metallic Media, Wydawnicto Muzyczne Psycho, TerrorGhoul Productions)

 - more than 250 reviews on CDs, tapes, vinyl and zines

- Romanian Attack section (reviews of Romanian Extreme Metal releases)

Free Extreme Metal CD Compilation (vinyl-like format) featuring tracks from: Blodorn, Dasap, de profundis, Frostwork, Killrazer,Miserable Failure, Nerocapra, Plagues, Serpentrance, Sidious, Skinlepsy, Solace of Requiem, Solemn Curse, Sons of Famine, Taatsi, Terrorfront, Thy Legion, Winter Deluge.

Burning Abyss issue #8 is out!

I received the email below with great delight!
- Iskar

Burning Abyss issue #8 is out!

You will not find here any infantile, cliché questions about the band histories, recording studios and such, only insightful, often obscure, inquiries addressed to entities such as Erik of Watain, Bob of Immolation, Steve ‘Zetro’ Sousa of Exodus/Hatriot, Mr. Mors Dalos Ra of Necros Christos, Silencer of Medico Peste, L.L. of Desolate Shrine, David of Domains, Mysth & Morbid of Ethelyn, Rou of Sartegos and Chris of Ominous Domain distro/Razed Soul Records.

To complete the whole, we have included a short article about France ’s Massacra and, as usual, Sascha of Mandatory’s memories of classic (death) metal albums of the 1990s, some quotes, playlists, and over 200 reviews of music and ‘zines.

All this written in English on 68 professionally printed, full-size pages. Price: €7/$9 (registered postage included).

Get in touch via the following email address: b_abyss@interia.pl.

“I will go through hell and high water, and suffer all the pains of Hell, to reach a state of artistic - and spiritual - independence.” Erik of Watain


www.abyss.opoczno.net
www.facebook.com/BurningAbyssZine
www.myspace.com/burningabysszine

www.nomad-band.com
www.facebook.com/NomadNomadichell
www.myspace.com/nomadsatanicdeathmetal