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.