Evil Rotting #5 (2015)

Evil Rotting #5 (2015)

116 pages, A4, English, pro-printed

Interviews

Savage Deity, Necrotic Chaos, Tormentress, Possessed, Cianide, Abhorer, Vault, Vulcano, Sorcery, Necrophobic, Huffin' Paint, Whiplash, Martyrdom, Vrykolakas, Deathevoker, Internal Bleeding, DivahaR, Unsu, Recidivist, Down Among The Dead Men, Scent of Death, Nuclear Strikes, Obscenity, Pestilence

Bio / Band Articles

Taketh, Sadiztik Impaler, Nekrad, Tyrants Blood, The Pete Flesh Deathtrip, Soul Inside, Cvinger, Sawthis, Temple of Void, Fear Theories, Atheles Belzebuth, Eastfrisian Terror 

Articles

A Singapore's Look Into The Past 

Failure

Evil Rotting is one of the longest running 'zine from South East Asia. Since 1988! I haven't seen anything earlier than the fourth issue (I have it some where. Will share it here soon). Didn't have the chance to read it them back (I was still a baby) then but the name is quite famous in the local Malaysian/Singaporean scene. It’s being mentioned in many thanks list.

They turned to pro-print magazine format probably since issue 4. The editor mentioned about transformation since #4 in the editorial, but the overall layout still maintained the old school style although they do have that magazine type layout (like in the review sections). 1 column per page with page border/frame artwork, either black background/white text or white background/black text or just the questions highlighted in black. No space being waste. Pictures of bands or their releases are plenty as long as there is space. Look a bit cramped but all these give this old-school feeling. The pages are numbered but no table of content.

The reviews are only on music stuffs. They are not alphabetically arranged and not rated. All have the release's cover art and/or band's picture or logo. The reviews start with the band's name and straight to the reviews. The title of the release is mentioned in the review. Quite unusual way of doing it. And these reviews are named "Down to Earth Reviews #1", numbered until #5 with each number having a page of its own. Meaning there are 5 pages (of small font size) of reviews. 

The reviews don’t stop there. There are special pages on the labels/distros where the editor reviews the stuffs from them or short article of their bands. Each will have 1 or 2 pages dedicated to them: Those are

Dead Beat Media

Slapbet Records

The Metal Detector Music Promotions

Strain Eyes Mailorder

On The Edge of Hardcore (hardcore music stuffs)

Metalzone Distro's Tribute to Silent Death CD

Bakerteam Records

Muzik Box Productions

The interviews gather some of the legends either internationally (surprisingly they answered for a publication from this part of the planet) or locally. Great chat. Necrotic Chaos is a long one.

Another highlight is the article on Singapore's 80's/90's demo review section. Total of 9 pages covering 33 bands if I count it right and those being interviewed are not listed in there. The editor must re-release this in his label, Orgasmatron Production.

And lastly there is an article entitled "Failure" which I couldn't get what kind of 'failure' referred to. Maybe referred to failure in gig/concert and the parties involved or failure of those mentioned in the scene. Very brutal truth opinion being written here.

My copy is hand-numbered #52. Actual print-run is not specified. And this thick magazine also comes with 24 tracks pro-CD sampler (track list info on the back cover) and 3 pages of half size pictures of Dismember, Abhorer, Possessed, Entombed, Kreator and Nuctemeron.

Contact

Azizi @ AgigiBOB

Email

agigi_gore@hotmail.com

FB

Agigi Bob

Death Die #3 (May 2004)

Death Die #3 (May 2004)

44 pg, A4, xerox, English

Interviews

7th Nemesis, Mortuary Ancestor, Makam, Crimson Fall, The Hidden, Zubirun, Deforge, Anguish, Interfector, Outcast From The Faith, Lunatic Gods, Cea Serin, Vrykolakas, Api Marhaen, Spazmosity, Pain Of Soul

Scene Report

Colombia

The last zine from Grundar. 

The zine's first issue full English as mentioned somewhere in the zine.

About the layout 4 columns per page using big fonts. The pages are numbered but no table of content.

The xerox quality are awful but quite common at the time. Pictures are not in good quality. Good thing the zine cover some unknown band including from Malaysia. I didn't know Thanatopsis's zine editor had a band.

Reviews are plenty. Cover music reviews (all formats in one section) are not rated, not alphabetically arranged and some with its front cover. The zine reviews and VCD reviews also has their own section and also not rated and not alphabetically arranged

This issue also comes free CD-R sampler, but it is not playable anymore.

The Nermun #7 (2003)

The Nermun #7 (2003)

52 pg, A4, xerox, English/Malay

Interviews

Argon, Grundar Production, Inhumate, Cicatrix, Isolated, Kilatus

Articles

Yawar Inti Production

Aftermath Zine

Cromok - Lagenda Thrash Yang Diabaikan (in Malay)

Iron Maiden

Unholy Black Metal (taken from The Unholy B.M. Book)

Gig Report

Choice Of A New Generation (in Malay)

Guitar Hero

Max of Barbalans (in Malay)

The second last zine from Grundar mailorder.

Also, another zine which I already read their latest issue and then to old one.

The layout is not a great as the eighth issue. But is also not that bad. 2 or 3 columns per page with multiple font sizes/types being used. I like the Argon interview layout. I wish more can use this style and with better xerox quality.

Review covers music and zine. The music review @ Rotten Reviews are not rated and not alphabetically arranged. After the zine review there is a section on zine news. Just like you can see it issue #8.

I don’t remember seeing "Guitar Hero" section in their latest issue. Anyway, Max is not new in the scene especially in Sabahan metal scene.

Sarawak Metal Force #6

Sarawak Metal Force #6

32 pg, A5, xerox, English

Interviews

Shamanic Rites, Beastial, Eventide Horizon, Argon, Sputum, Violator, Skull Skid, Necrotic Chaos, Kaos Maggots

Gig Report

Plenty including Sarawak Metal Force Part 5

Even better layout and xerox quality. 2 columns per page with nice spacing. Some in cut n paste style.

This issue now features non-Sarawak/East Malaysian scene. Also includes music reviews that are not rated and not alphabetically arranged.

This issue is thicker. Looks like a lot to read? Yes, they are. But the editor can reduce a bit the pages if it is well-arrange and using the right font size and layout.

SMF is getting better in every issue. The next issue is the best one to-date.

Sarawak Metal Force #5

Sarawak Metal Force #5

20 pg, A5, xerox, Malay

Interviews

Vormit, Jarmara, Death and Disorder, Rob-Blitz, Mantak, Seven Signs, Ungodly Death

Gig Report

Kuching Youth Music Festival

Article

A Bloody Century Predicted

Got 2 old issues from Grundar sales. Finally got some old issues to compare. Read my review on the latest issue elsewhere in this blog.

The seventh issue that I featured earlier was done by Mad3Sign. Editor for this issue was the late Noor Azam of Unitheism. He was the creator of this newsletter. This project is showcasing primarily on Sarawak metal scene, as the name suggested. Great effort on promoting their local scene. 

The newer one layout is much better. This issue is OK too with 2 or 3 column per page and using page border. There are also 4 columns but is a bit weird when the separator/spacing is 1 cm long. Shorter will look nicer I think. Xerox quality can always be improved.

Metalwarpage #2 (2004)

Metalwarpage #2 (2004)

48 pg, A4, xerox, English

Interview

Argon, 9th Plague, Beast Petrify, Nefarious Azarak, Inter Nos, Venusian, Death Cell, Nocturnal Vomit, Tussock, Inhumate, Maar, Kherow, No System

And also another one from Grundar sale. 

Layout improved a lot. 4 columns per page using consistent font type and size. Table of content is present now look a bit organized.

Before the interview starts, he put excerpt of the interview. This is new.

Also new is zine review is now available. Music review however still not alphabetically arranged and not rated but there are plenty of review.

News section is still here. Gone now the articles section.

Fb: metalwarpage

Metalwarpage #1 (April 2003)

Metalwarpage Issue 1 (April 2003)

52 pg, A4, xerox, Malay/English

Interviews

Khurafat, Violator, Nermunist, Damokis, Kemenyan Fanzine, Marasmus Zine

Bio

Damokis, Radiata, Hellimunan, Tussock, Sardotical Scoundrel, Argon, Hirax, Nermun Zine, Krout Zine, Mandatory, Sins

Article

Underground - Sejarah dan Falsafah Vol.1

DIY Course - Silk Screen T-Shirt Print, Newsletter making

Another one from Grundar sale.

I have their 5th issue reviewed here. This issue comes in thick paper which make it look nice. However, in terms of layout, issue #1 is not match with #5 which their best issue so far I have witnessed.

3 columns per page, the pages are numbered, have table of content, using several font types and the size is quite big on some pages. Xerox quality can be better too.

There are lots of bio (or short article) so I just choose some of it up there. Some names do bring some memory from the past like Krout zine from Sabah.

Review only on music and they are all in English, not alphabetically arranged and not rated.

Latest check, they have Fb page now but last updated in 2019.

Fb: metalwarpage

Corpse Circle #2 (2002)

Corpse Circle #2 (2002)

48 pg, A5, xerox, English

Interviews

Vrykolakas, Avulsed, Nefarious Crypt, Lividity, Monolith, Kataklysm, Effluvium, Flatulation, Bloody Sick

Another zine I bought from Grundar Production mailorder. "Malaysian Brutal & Sickest Fanzine" is the tagline for this zine. The staples are badly rusted. I had to remove it to avoid being injured and get infection. That will be brutal if it happens.

Layout 2 or 3 columns per page. Different types of fonts used. Quite good computer layout for a 2002 zine. The pages are numbered, have table of content and the xerox quality is not bad.

Beside interviews there are "Earblast Review" which in alphabetically arranged and not rated but split to several sections:

Fucking Brutal Skullcrusher (demo review),

Total Mutilated (Compilation review),

Total Chainsaw Mutilation (Album review)

Earbleeds (last minute review)

The editor command of English language is good. The news section is called "Mega-Blast News" but this is for international news. For local South East Asia news is in "Total Corpse News" and of course, not to forget another section called "Last Minute news" ;-)

Other usual content; poems, artwork. Unusual one also available too; Corpse Circle Adult Movie List

The Editor of this zine is Dir which a member in Mortuary Ancestor, a death metal band from East Malaysia. He is known here as Magoth. Not sure though how many issues being released after this.

You can contact him using his band or label's email:

mortuaryancestor@gmail.com

earblastrecords@gmail.com

Hellawaits #1 (2003)

Years ago, Grundar Production made some discounts for their mailorder and bought some zine and tape. Hard to resist "Buy 2 free 1" offer especially for old local zine as old as 2002. I immediately send my orders. Not sure what has happen that make them these zine still available there. Some zine are wrapped in plastic wrapper which preserved the zine in a good condition. 

So all zine bought from them is also tagged/labelled as Grundar and I suggest you check this label out, releasing some good grind/brutal death stuffs.

Hellawaits  #1 (2003)

52 pg, A5, xerox, English

Interviews

Manggas, Bilharzia, Destinity, Dhemit, Kekal, As Sahar, Negation, Nosferial, Korihor, Abvul Abashy, Crimson Fall, Rudra, Pyron, Narcotic Greed, Kult Ov Azazel, Violator, The Ravens, Mantak, Arkhaytulmayt, Raspatul, Demonification, War666, Darkfall

The best layout for a local zine released at the time. I was surprised at this when I first bought this issue many years ago. Like reading a small version of Terrorizer. Very consistent and fancy layout. The editors Vorn Azazeal and Aliv Khafankalust did a very good job here. Have table of content, page number, 2 columns, small fonts.

The interviews are OK. The has a section called "Hellish Reveal" which is band's biography. You can find bio of well-known and underground bands including their own band, 'Dark Invincible'.

Reviews (cassette/CD) are rated. Not many getting the 'poison skull' (the graphic which you can normally see on poisonous stuff) which means 'killer release'. There is also zine review. They are very specific on the review. I think I need to find Steel Madness #2 to find out what are the mistakes on page 34 & 79. Anyone can lend me your copy?

There is a 'special report' which they compile answer from bands and individuals on the topic "Can black metal exist without satanic ideology" but I don't read them till the end because I don't care about this ideology thingy.

My copy is hand-numbered #190.

No Bullshit #10 (Nov. 2013)

No Bullshit #10 (Nov. 2013)

32 pg, A4, xerox, English

Interview

Brimstone In Fire, Delusion of Terror Records, Incapacitate, Iscariah, Mass Hypnosia, Nuclear Punishment, Rabies, Paganfire, The Way of Purity, Surrogate Prey

Gig Report

Cannibal Corpse in Manila

Article

Restore Cannabis

Since the last issue featured here, not much changes in the layout. 2 columns/page with very simple MS Word layout, no table of content but the pages are numbered. The last page is nicely-arranged flyers to fill up the whole page.

I think it is a bad idea to put black background/white text on the The Way Of Purity unless you can print that clearly. The copy I have the xerox quality can be made better. I have forgotten how I end up having this copy though. Anyway, this issue also available for free for you to download and print it yourself. So print it nicely.

Releasing the 10th issue might be something historical for an editor. The introduction/editorial was a nice recollection of memories of what the scene was like in this view from the 90's to present. Corix, the editor is now back to his homeland in Philippines. In previous issue, he was working in Saudi Arabia.

I like the interview with the local bands more especially when the question touching on their local scene. The article on Cannabis is an interesting testimony.

The music reviews covers all format and all compiled in one section. The reviews are short, in alphabetical order, not rated, and have their front cover artwork. Zine reviews is here too and the reviews are longer but not rated and not alphabetically arranged.

This is the only 'Anti-Copyright' publication that I know. You can print it yourself from the file. I think I have another issue somewhere which I got from a local distro.

Contact

c/o Corix,

Blk 14, Lot 11,

Villa Apolonia Phase 2,

Naic Cavite 4110,

Philippines

Web

http://nobullshitzine.blogspot.com

Extreme Metal #2 (2013)

Extreme Metal #2 (2013)

52 pg, A4, pro-printed, English

Interview

Terdor, Killgasm, Festerguts, Autopsy, Cursed Scroll, Gokbori, Sacramentum, Nordafrost

Article

Thergothon

Wormwood, Time Travel Paradox

Troy did a good job with this issue. The front cover artwork is awesome and so does inside the front & back cover. The layout is Old-school cut n paste style. Lots of poster or pictures of bands in the early 90's/80's. As you can see, with small font size there are a lot to read. No complain here! Except for few pages suffer pixelation problem. Some are hard to read though.

Some flyers are put here and there to fill up space. The pages are not numbered and no table of content, but these are secondary as long as the content is interesting to read. 

Before you get to real content of the zine you will see couple of pages of news. Actually, there are more pages with kind of this news/bio/review thing throughout the zine with logo and the cover artwork. Quite an effort being put here. And also, the article title are drawn like a logo. Very nice!

Zine review are compiled in 1 section, but music reviews are everywhere in the zine. Reviews are not rated.

Beside this there are lots of short article on bands. It can be biography, review or news but accompanied by the bands logo/cover.

The logo was made by Christophe Szpajdel but not his typical style. I mostly seen his black metal logo not so much in death metal style like this one.

Contact

Extreme Metal Magazine

1140 Richie Ave,

Lima Ohio 45805,

USA

Laudatio Funebris #1 (2007)

Laudatio Funebris #1 (2007)

44 pg, A4, pro-print, English

Interview

Belenos, Nachtfalke, Woodtemple, Make A Change...Kill Yourself, Sombre Forest, Melencolia Estatica, Abyssic Hate, Rimfrost, Tumulum, Mind Propaganda, Cryfemal, Dornenreich, Bilskirnir, My Shameful, Quasar, Tyranny, Imindain, Skepticism, Ataraxie/Funeralium, Reclusiam, Mournful Congregation, Senthil, Why Angels Fall

Article

Bubonic Plague

This is old stuff. I watermarked it with my old logo and kept as draft for many years.

Layouts are great, the pages are numbered and have table of content, very professional magazine-like style. The use of graphic in black & white is good (pictures of forest, old castle, church, graveyard). The text overlapping on black picture is not cool though fortunately there are not many.

"Black and Doom Metal Underground Zine", as they said it. Featuring BM, heathen pagan oriented or depressive BM bands. The editor, DM manage to craft essential & interesting questions in the short series of interviews. This able to generate good answer from. One page only consumed one page on small font size. The longest is with Bilskirnir. Only 3 lines of questions and answered in like 30 lines (almost 4 pages).

No reviews though. Also need to mention here Mournful Congregation and Dornenreich taken from Serpente webzine.

Beside this, and article on Bubonic Plague that happen in Western world hundreds year ago there is also.

A Section on dark folk underground titled "Forest of Folk" featuring short bio and discography of Seven Pines, Wolfsblood, and Sonnehagal.

Laudatio Funebris is an interesting zine mainly because of the concept of the zine because not many that I know of focussing this kind of genre.

Released by Bubonic Prod in 500 copies. Their weblink no longer work though. Some distros like Herege Warfare or Schattenmanns still have this.

E-mail

bubonicprod@gmail.com

Web

www.bubonicprod.pt.vk

Blutvergießen #5 (2009)

Blutvergießen #5 (2009)

28 pg, A4, pro-printed, English

Interview

Celestia, Goatpenis, Inifinity, Kroda, Torr

German black metal magazine. Simple MS Word layout. 3 columns per page but in black/dark background with white text. So, this will still look interesting compared with black text/white background. The pages are numbered and with table of content.

The interviews are OK. No review can be found here. Kroda interview is a long one, and then followed by articles written by them; 'Official Statement', 'Witch-hunt and Holy Inquisition?!' You will also get A3 size of Kroda poster.

I thought when he mentioned 'Mystifier Tribute' I imagine some kind of article inside, but it is only on the back cover.

The issue comes with free CD and limited to 500 copies.

Contact

c/o Heiko Urbanzyk,

P.O.Box 103814,

45038 Essen a.d. Ruhr,

Germany

Web

http://www.blutvergiessen.com/

Lust Slash Desire #1

Lust Slash Desire #1

100 pages, A4/2, Indonesian, xerox

This is not a music zine although the front cover would suggest it is one.  Only articles which the topics are around Sex. You will not find any nude pictures here except those related with the articles. And this for academic purpose.

The zine has table of content and the pages are number. One thing which is unique which I have seen before is the size. If A4 size paper, you hold in 'landscape' and fold into 2 you will have A5 size. But if A4 in 'portrait', fold into 2 you have...? What size is this? I find this size quite interesting. I might try this kind of odd size if I make a print zine in the future.

With this kind of paper layout style so will not have much space to have multiple columns. But they prove me wrong. You can still do 2 which still look nice. Overall, the layout is OK. Only if the xerox/photocopy quality to be better than this.

The content? A lot to read but the topic is not something I am interested to read further except for "Death Fetish: Sebuah Intro Pada Dunia Pervert" (Death Fetish: An Intro to the World of Pervert).

Few writers involved here but couldn't find the editors' name.

The Last pages are 'Glosarium', a Glossary of words for you that might be new to this genre.

There are some reviews on erotic books/comic but not rated.

Lucky you, I found link to download this issue a moment ago. But it doesn't have the same visual impact with the printed version since the page sequence has been edited

https://archive.org/details/LustSlashDesire

If you have their contact addresss, kindly drop me an email.

Metalen #6

Metalen #6 (Nov. 2013)

32 pages, A5, English, pro-printed

Interviews

Grand Supreme Blood Court, Watain, Spiritual Holocaust, Immolation, Overoth, Necrocurse, My Dying Bride, Impiety, Karnak, Man Must Die, The Nihilistic Front, Chaos Invocation, Rex Shachath, Brett Hoffmann

The Undead Rise

Angur, Waldschrat, Vartras, Unhallowed, Torturized

Festival Report

Metal Invasion, Metal Days

Austria's No.1 Extreme Music Zine! That's the tagline. And this is the first Austrian publication in Bloodstained Vision. I saw it is printed on the front page "Europe: Free. Rest of the World: $1.50". Nice! But I bought this at RM30 thru some distro.

Layouts are 2 column per page, small font size, in full color. Fancy, typical magazine layout. It’s like having a half size Terrorizer Mag. No complaint on the layout.

Interviews are short, like 10 questions and consumed 1 page but it is nicely layout with pictures. The band's name & country of origin is written (mostly) at the top of page.

Reviews are not alphabetically arranged and not rated.

"The Undead Rise" is section for new underground bands which feature the bands info/short biography.

The last interview before the zine ends is the section called "The Last Supper". I think the concept for this column is about after reading the questions is on the individual being featured, not the bands or projects he/she is in. This issue featured the late Brett Hoffmann of Malevolent Creation.

This issue also comes with a CD sampler with 15 bands. Some of the releases of the bands featured is distributed by them as well.

The website is not working anymore. Would be great to know if the editor Manuel Rainer still run this zine or has any other projects.

Web

www.metalmusic.at

Vampiria #6 (2002)

Vampiria #6 (2002)

68 pg, A4, pro-printed, English

Interviews

Bathory, Deinonychus, Theatre Of Tragedy, Pentagram, Blood Red Throne, Louisa John-Krol, Shining, Hungry Lucy, Jose Moral, Curachan, Diabolicum, Molombra, Testify, Centurian, Unto Ashes, Judith, Mike Bonatch

Amazing that some distro still have a copy of this issue for sale. "Elite Magazine For Elite Creatures". Man, they know how to play with words.

All glossy paper. Simple layout (3 or 2 columns per page) on dark background. I like it this way. For reviews section it is 4 columns per page.

The interviews are OK. Mostly gothic/doom band/artist. Can't remember the last time time reading 'new' interview with Bathory. This one is made after the release of Destroyer of Worlds. The late Quorthon said he already answered 124 interview before this interview after the release of that album.

The reviews, "Writing Of The Occult Scribe" is music review (album) rated out of 100, alphabetically arranged. Plenty of stuff being reviewed but the reviews are short. On the top of the page is My Kingdom Music releases (tracklist and some info. but not a review). For promo CD/demo CDr, the editor named is as "Demo-Nizzati". There are also 4 vinyl reviews.

Also interesting is the zine review, "Underground Press". They are rated on the layout like 'good', 'mediocre', 'simple'. First time I saw editor doing review like this.

I also found an advertisement of Vampiria Mag of Spain in here. Now I know there are other Vampiria zine in this planet.

I should informed you that the editor also runs a label called My Kingdom Music. This issue comes 2 Free CD sampler. I like more of the bands on the first CD.

Contact

Francesco Palumbo

E-mail

vampiria@mykingdommusic.net

Web

www.mykingdommusic.net

Carbonized Cells #2 (March 2011)

Carbonized Cells #2 (March 2011)

26 pg, A4, xerox, English

Interviews

Abnorm, Hellish Crossfire, Terror From Hell Records, Orator, Violator, Christicide, Massacra, Graveless, Milovan Novakovic

Gig Report

Hell's Pleasure Metal Fest

The zine said, "Still Dedicated to Underground & Extreme Music". Please continue. Don't stop!

The zine is in cut n paste style using typewriter font type with frame artwork. The texts are arrange in 2 columns per page. Excellent use of space. 

The reviews covers all format (audio & zine) in one section called "Reviews From Hell". They are not alphabetically arranged and not rated. Not much to be read here. Just 2 page.

2010 Best Album is honoured with a review on the same page as the editorial page. For Carbonized Cells, it is Agalloch's 'Marrow of the Spirit'.

E-mail

carbonizedju (a) gmail.com

Web

http://carbonizedcells.blogspot.com/