Ultimate Darkness Zine Anthology 1995 / 2017

Ultimate Darkness Zine Anthology 1995/2017

228 pg, A4, pro-printed, English

I am very much surprised when the editor informed me about this book.

What you will have all the three issues in one book. Just like Isten, Slayer Mag except Ultimate Darkness not as thick as those kvlt zines. Nevertheless, a nice to add in your collection.

The book starts with 4 page interview with the publisher and the editors; Karl & Ason. After that starts with issue 1, 1996. This issue is a bit 'primitive', although not in cut n paste layout, but uses electric typewriter type (2 or 3 columns per page), which is quite common at the time. Editors are moving away from normal typewriter or cut n paste to a bit 'organized' type of layout. Interviews in this issue: Angelcorpse, A Canorous Quintet, Nastrond666, Paganus Doctrina, Arckanum, Oberon, Usurper, Funereal Moon, Maredit, Absu, Dark Funeral, Out In The Cold, Rhymes of Destruction, Necromass, Feneral Rites.

Also in this issue; Icelandic Scene Report, band bios and music review.

The pictures are much clearer that I remember. The original issue is photocopy and this book is pro-printed and I assumed they scanned the mastercopy for printing. 

The second issue, release in 1999 starts at page 66. Interviews with Abyssos, Thy Primordial, Heloisa, Paragon of Beauty, Best Petrify, As Sahar, Krabathor, Memories Records, Burial Ground, Sakaratul Maut, Profanity, Blot Mine, Noctes.

In this issue, the editor move to using computer in making the zine. Still the layout is still the same style; 3 columns per page and a page frame (standard MS Word, unlike #1 which I think manually lined using marker pen). The review section is 2 columns per page and this time they rate the stuff being reviewed.

Issue 2 ends with Amon Amarth's interview.

Issue 3 starts at page 98. I just read this issue and you can find the review I made for this. The difference between the book and the actual zine is ofcourse the print quality. In this book is much clearer. I would advise just get this book instead because both are release in 2017.

The book ends with bonus interview Fredrick 'Hamoi' Melander, one of the founding members of Bathory. Interesting chat, almost 30 questions. This interview will be feature in the fourth issue.

The book doesnt have table of content. There are also full page ads which is not available in the actual release of the zine. The very last page is the stuff release by Cult Never Dies.

Do support the publisher and Ultimate Darkness.

Web

www.cultneverdies.com

cultneverdies.myshopify.com

Ultimate Darkness #3 (2017)

Ultimate Darkness #3 (2017)

126 pg, A4, xerox, English

Interviews

Venom Inc., Blasphemy, Sadistik Exekution, Mutilator, Merciless, Tormentor, Treblinka, Black Witchery, Pentacle, Belphegor, Master's Hammer, Opprobrium / Incubus, Infernal Majesty, Pan Thy Monium, DVC, Funeral Nation, Protector, Checker Patrol, Brain Dead, Eurynomos, Whipstriker, Venefixion, Cruciamentum, Obliteration, Vampire, Humiliation, Temple Nightside, Undergang, Farasu, Gorephilia, Skelethal, Battlestorm, Kryptos, Pathogen, Dead Congregation, Grave Miasma, Vulture, Englufed, Soulrot, Putrefied Remains, Necromorbid, Nuclear Warfare, Deathhammer, Panic Disorder, Suffocated, Pulverised Records, Necromorbus Studio

The second issue was released in 1998. And now they are back with the third. That is a long sleep. I remember having those issues. I also remember, if not mistaken, bought a demo from them, a band called Armageddish which the band refused to be known (not even an address or their country of origin). Maybe I am mistaken. Thats was a long time ago.

Anyway, back to this zine. It is still Ason and Karl (or now known as Hy-Karl) behind Ultimate Darkness. It is printed using laser printer so the quality is excellent. They layout is normal 3 columns per page with simple MS Word page border. The same style they did in the previous issue, I mean on the layout. The pages are numbered and have table of content. I think they wasted the page. There is 1.5 inches of blank space on top and bottom on the page. Definitely will cut down the number of page and look nicer too if can maximize the use of the page.

Interviews are vary. Most of it 17 questions or more. And that times the number of bands. That's a lot to read.

Reviews @ "Sepulchral Voice", only covers music reviews. Not rated, not alphabetically arranged.

Another section, "Old Funeral" are reviews of stuffs from the 90's (there is also a zine review there. Probably as filler).

And wait... another review section called "Pure Fucking Metal", the 'essential stuffs' that should be in your collection. Not a review actually. This question is asked to some bands and they replied what are the most important to them and why. 

The interview with Suffocated is interesting. They replied in Chinese and the band probably translated them to English too.

One page on gig report. It is Fleshgod Apocalypse show in Singapore contributed by Al Fahmy of Abysmal Scripture zine (the only zine review in 'Old Funeral') and plays in Beast Petrify.  

I hope Karl & Ason will keep continue with Ultimate Darkness.

Contact

Hy-Karl,

No.2, Jalan AU 2A/12,

Taman Keramat,

54200 Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia

E-mail

Ason: draugaldrahn@gmail.com

Hy-Karl: karl_udz@yahoo.com