Virus #9 (2019)

 

Virus #9 (2019)
60 pages, A4, English, xeroxed

Interviews
As I End, Heretic Execution, Radiation, Destruktion Records, Exothermix, Savage Deity, Destroyer Attack, Iszar, Nuclear Warfare, Sodom, Blasphamagoatachrist, Genocidal Sodomy, Deathly Scythe, Infernal Execrator, Desaster, Epidemic, Nebiras, Malevolent Creation, Archgoat, Devouror

5 years in the making from the last issue. I bought this many years ago and only realize haven't upload this issue yet.

Laser printed with some pages printed in color (the same quality as you can see from the front cover). In terms print quality, nothing to complaint about.

Layout still in same style. Some in cut n paste style, some with page border/frame artwork, some with background or just normal blank page with just electric type-writer font type. 2 or 3 columns per page. If you read my review on their previous issues Virus improved a bit on the review page (have page border, look nicer like this) and using background on some of the interview. Because the xerox quality is crystal clear, it looks just perfect.

Not all interviews done by the editor, Fauzi. Sodom by Ricardo Campos, Epidemic by Frank Stover. Also the Malevolent Creation interview with few writers involved. These interviews are very long one with small font size.

The pages are numbered and have table of content. There is also a short article on Witches Curse, a band from Sarawak and news section right after the editorial page.

Reviews not alphabetically arranged and not rated. It covers zine & music.

Mine is hand-numbered 40/200.

This is the best issue to date. Not sure any issue release after this. Fauzi also runs a label by the name of the email address below.

Contact
oldgoatcorpse at yahoo dot com

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

VIRUS Issue #8 (April 2014) out now!!!

VIRUS ATTACK!!!

Issue #8 (April 2014) out now!!!

New issue contains 22 interviews with Denouncement Pyre, Grave Desecrator, Demonic Rage, Artillery, Graveyard, Interment, Karamah, Kill, Master, Obsessor, Sorcery, Manticore, Terrorist, Tormentor, Vampire, Witchrist, Revel in Flesh, Necrocultus, Morbid Perversion, Beast Conjurator, Black Vul Destructor & Carnal Ghoul.
Metal news, reviews.
68 pages, A4 size, English written

PRICE:
RM15 (MALAYSIA) including reg.mail post
USD8 (ASIA) including reg.mail post
USD10 (EUROPE) including reg.mail post
USD12 (SOUTH AMERICA) including reg.mail post

PAYPAL ACCEPT, PLEASE ASK TO:
virus_zine@yahoo.com

Virus #6 (2010)

Virus #6 (2010)
56 pg, A4, xerox, English

Interview
Omen, Crown Ov Horns, Infernal Nightmare, Diabolical Demon Director, Maleficio, The Frost, Diabolic, Swamp, Soul Devour, Hellish Crossfire, Witchaven, Enthroned, Dark Funeral

A year later we have issue #6 and coincidentally putting Beherit on its cover (which Malaysian zine have Beherit on its cover in 2010? Go read the archived if you haven't read it before). I’m a bit disappointed with the xerox quality which can be made a lot better. Layout-wise it's almost the same like #5. Some pages in cut & paste style and some pages are just with border art or just plain 2 columns per page. The pages are numbered and with table of content. The news section is also available just like the previous issue. Yes, the editor's English is as bad as mine but still readable. However the bands are great in answering the interviews. The answers are like 10 times longer than the questions being asked to them. The review section covers audio stuff and zine. Both reviews are not alphabetically arranged and not rated. On audio reviews Fauzi is not alone, the infamous Mr. Ed and a 'mysterious man' also contribute their opinions. The articles presented in this issue are Pearl of Abyss (made by...you know who, right?) and Virus's original "Possessed by Sarcofago". I felt strange though looking at this tribute page. I noticed Virus's logo on the tribute page looks much better than the one on the front cover. My copies are hand-numbered #20 and also include the blue color stamping.

Virus #5 (2009)

64 page, A4, xerox, English

Interview
Inferis, Necrolisis, Enshadowed, Spearhead, Witchcurse, Black Abyss, Hellghast, Grave Desecration, Shackles, As Sahar, Maniak, Abhorer

Bio
Embrace of Thorns, Paganus Doctrina, Dark Breed, Tantrum, Symphony Jimbalang

Article
Scruples of An Old Metalhead, Slaves of The Portal, Pearls of Abyss

The thing that amaze me with Virus is, beside Deadhead Zine, Virus Zine is also the most interviewed editor in the local scene. Virus must be great I guess so I have very high expectation for this new issue. And luckily, it meet my expectation. This is my first issue by the way, never read them before (all back issues now sold out). First, the xerox quality is damn clear, the size is A4 (big size) and the layout is done the old cut n paste style and some with frame artwork, have table of content and page number, and the content are nicely arranged. So the visual expect pass 100% by my standard haha. How about the content or the reading material presented here? That's is hard to comment because that depend on your personal taste. The questions are OK, maybe not lenghty but it covered the 'musical aspect' of the band. Some people would also like to know non-music questions asked to the band (well, I read some review about this zine saying they want to see some 'life' questions) but I'm not. Not that I dont like to know what kind of food the band like to eat for dinner but for me that is not important. Some reviews here are contributed by some people which Fauzi gave the stuff due to lack of time. Probably they got few more stuff for reviews after this zine is complete so they give 1 extra sheet with some last minute reviews. Another thing, if you noticed the articles sounds familiar. Ok, those articles are written by Adam of NECROSCOPE ZINE. Adam also use that title for his articles in his own zine but that should not be problem. I think not many people read zine these days so will not know if that article already published elsewhere or not. I only detected 1 section on the article have been featured in issue #19. This issue also comes with a CDR sampler and the zine is hand-numbered in green. Oh yes, 1 last note before I end this review. I almost laugh looking at the blue stamped wording "YOUR COPY IS TRUE IF THE INK IS BLUE". But on serious note, do respect these editors. I will not mind if you made a copied of my zine but making profit out of it, that will piss me off. Oh, another last note hehe, you noticed ABHORER in the interviewed list, right. Well, that's done by Frank Stover, published with his permission and I think I do need to tell you who Frank is. Avid underground metal readers should already know.

Contact
c/o Fauzi
virus_zine@yahoo.com

Web
www.myspace.com/viruszine