Saturday, February 7, 2015

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

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

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: