Doomsday Testament

Doomsday Testament
116pg, A5, xerox, English

Interview
Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult, Hetroertzen, Tomhet, Kaosritual, Celestial Bloodshed, Sons Of Fenris, Horns, Wod


I bought this from some metalhead in NWN. Thanks! Layout wise I am impressed. 2 columns per page, frame art, using untraditional font type, small font size, clear laser printing, table of content available, have page number. Everything just fits nicely in A5 size format (folded A4 size actually).

Those artworks for the border/frame made by them too which show the editor is also quite talented (plays in Hetroertzen too). Empty spaces filled with drawings, occult symbols, runes and pictures. It is like looking at some medieval/ancient book.

I am also entertained with the interviews which have some interesting questions. The interviews are called "Immoral Conversations" Some are not straight forward questions. Fortunately the bands answer it well. Amazingly the questions are not repeated. Every band is asked different set of questions. That is crazy amount of time to make those long questions. For your information, the interviews are divided to 3 parts (copying the info stated in the zine):
i) Black Metal Audio Devastation (music)
ii) What is important (deeper discussion on the bands)
iii) The Carcinogenic Human Side (on superficial matters)

The reviews are rated out of 6 where 6 are the highest. The stuff will be reviewed and rated in all aspect of the release (lyrics, music, and artwork) or the overall feelings on the releases. Also includes 'best track' from the editor point. I am surprised to see one review with just 1 star.

Other content of this zine: 6 pages on flyers, some rip off list and article (Occult Writings as mentioned by the editor)

The Occult Writings for this issue is "The Swastika and Sauvastika in Germanic Tradition"
-with diagrams, pictures, detailed explanation including footnotes like a formal book or your final year thesis. 34 pages on this subject. I think this article have more pictures than the one in they contribute in Abgrundjabokiz - Ainaz MMVII.

My copy hand-numbered XXII/33. So I guess only 33 copies made? I am really looking forward for the new issue of this zine. Upon googling the web, found out this issue printed exclusively and for sale in Arosian Black Mass. No website available. The closest you can find some info are in some forum including NWN.

Encylopedia of Heavy Metal

Encylopedia of Heavy Metal (2003)

300pg, 29cm x 29cm, English

Author

Daniel Bukszpan

ISBN 978-0-7607-4218-1

I found this huge book on the shelf. Thinking I can get income tax rebate for book purchase, I bought the book although knowing most probably the book will be shitty in content. The book was in shrink-wrap so I can't flip through before purchasing.

Encyclopedia for heavy metal music? That is a very big words. Can you really make an Encyclopedia for heavy metal? I don’t think so. If you can do it, it will be more than just 300 pages. The author acknowledges this. He has his own criteria on selecting the bands such as Him as heavy metal. You can also see Katatonia, Napalm Death, Opeth, The Sweet and even Immortal from Norway in the list.

According to the book there 200 bands and 600 color photos. Info about the band including line-up, short bio and discography but not all has photos. There are some some indicators or icons are given to the band members and the lyrics. Example a 'syringe' indicates 'notorious drugs use' and inverted pentagram represent satanic. For band members, will have 4 maximum icons and lyrics will have 7 maximum. So I think if a band can score 4 + 7, then it must the truest heavy metal band. The highest is Black Sabbath (9) and then Type O Negative (7) 

Beside this there are also sections on info on genre of Heavy Metal, infamous band rivalry (example Mustaine vs Metallica), Heavy Metal fashion, Heavy Metal magazine (no Terrorizer?), Record label, Radio show, Drugs & intraband conflict (example Richie Blackmore). And not to forget the Top 10 best selling metal artist, Top 10 most essential album, Top 10 best album of all time and many more 'Top 10' according to the author.

To help you out, there are bibliography, index and appendix. This is a must for all books

The problem with this book is the size. I don't like it because it's not in the normal shape. I am having problem in putting it on the shelf at home.

The author founded the label call “Smoking in Bed” and has some tips from the late Ronnie James Dio (which also made the foreword) on vinyl playing.\

Overall, not really important to have this in your bookshelf. You can skip this. But honestly, I only like looking at the pictures. There are plenty.

Web

www.sterlingpublishing.com

Snakepit #18 (2008)

Snakepit #18 (2008)

112 pg, A4, pro-printed, English

Interview

Savage Grave, D.D.T., Kraken, H-Bomb, Artilerry, Sydney Product, Frigid Bitch, TNT, Juggernaut, Znowhite, Cyclone Temple, Charter, Chris Cronk, Hirax, Skullview, Fischel's Beast, Wehrmacht, Steel Assassin, Decapitator, Necropolis, Wargod, Morsure

My second issue, which I bought together with issue #17 from a local distro. Please bring more zines for sale!

Nothing much to add on the layout or the interview and other content of this magazine. If you like what you read and what you see in #17, you will definitely like this one. 

I have to agree with some people. This magazine is the magazine for the 80's. I hope all those seasoned metalheads bring out all the knowledge of the past and get them documented like what this magazine do before your life ends for the benefit of the scene and younger metalhead like me.

I think this is the time looking at the advertisement of Malaysia release in big magazine like this. It is Vulga - Mayhem With Mercy LP by Deathrash Armageddon. Yes, I know Deathrash is from Japan but somehow I am proud seeing Vulga in here.

The past issues are now reprinted with 7"EP. Now is your chance to get it before they are sold out again. You know where to get this.

Snakepit #17 (2008)

Snakepit #17 (2008)

112 pg, A4, pro-printed, English

Interview

Exciter, Beehler, Sortilege, Backwater, Assassin, Ruthless, Leviathan, Fatal Violence, Death (with Erik Meade), Burner, Trial, Commander, Bat Attack, Devastation, Overkill, Mayhem (US), Evil, Enforcer, Hammeron, Rainforest, Slayer (SA), Riot, Karion 

My first Snakepit. Been reading a lot of good words on this publication and now able to witness it myself. The editor  Laurent Ramadier and other writers such as Frank Stover, Eddy Vermeiren (Bel) and Malcolm MacMillan (UK) sure have lot of knowledge on the bands.

The layouts are very simple 3 columns per page. Pictures are very small too, sized just enough to fit in 1 column. There is table of content and the bands are arranged in alphabetical order, not by sequence of appearance in the magazine. Not much praised can be made on the layout. Very dull I must say. 

However if you look at the interview, they are very in-depth. The questions are quite detailed and very long. They cover anything music-related regarding the bands and its member. Sometimes answered by 2 or more band members and all of the answers are very detail and long too. Patience needed because not much graphic here just pure text madness which can put you to sleep. Reading the interview, it is amazing to find out that some 'bad blood' still prevails after 20 years or more. Whatever happens back then surely left a big and deep 'scar' in some people heart. The interviews often ended with discography at the end of the interview.

The reviews are rated out of 10 with 10 is the highest (Hirax EP got 10). The reviews covers audio/music formats and they are clearly identified and grouped together (Album & EP, Re-release and Demos).

If not mistaken this is printed by NWN and also comes with a 7"EP. I think its true looking at the quality of the printing, etc.

Contact

c/o Laurent Ramadier

La Calloterie

72210 Voivres Les Le Mans

France

E-mail

snakepit2(a)free(.)fr

Web

truemetal.org/snakepit

R'Lyeh #10

R'Lyeh #10
116 pg, A4, pro-printed, Polish

Interview
Morbosidad, Wehrmacht, Bulldozer, Widmo, Nuclear Death, Deadthorn, Cut-Throat, Conquest Icon, Moloch Letalis, Blackhorned Saga, Absence Of The Sacred, Bloodthirst, Tank, Neolith, Opera IX, Vader, Morbid Angel, Eric Daniels, Pyscho, Unseen Terror, Test Fobii Kreon, Haemorrhage, Afterlife Prod, Dragon Incantation, Prophecy Of Doom, Inquisition, Markiz De Sade, Exumer, Cryfemal, Plutonium, Negura Bunget

Thanks to Afterlife Prod for bringing some copies for sale. After reading some good reviews about this zine, now I have my chance to view it myself. I can only comment on the layout because everything is in Polish. The editor must have spent a lot of time in translating those interviews to Polish.

Not many zine in cut n paste format are printed professionally but if they can make one, I am sure the result will be as good as R'Lyeh. R'Lyeh has this very old school look using typewriter font type with border artwork. 2 columns per page or some 3 columns. Not entirely in cut n paste or they also use plain MS Office layout like Morbid Angel. They don’t have any specific style or consistency in the layout but they are all look great. Cryfemal layout/graphic is a bit different but nice. No page number and no table of content though. Some obscene pictures here and there which of course I like them a lot too.

The zine starts with gig report: Extinguished Party, Impiety and small news section. There also some gig report in between the interviews. About the interviews, there are lots of bands here. I might miss out some bands in the list above. Looks like interesting chat including with the owner of Afterlife Prod.

Reviews are rated including the zine review which I rarely see. All audio formats are combined in one section. There are also movie reviews.

Other than this you can also read about African scene report and one section featuring short articles by zine editors.

The editor, Adrian also plays in some bands. You might know this because I think this zine/magazine is quite well-known in Polish metal scene.

Contact
c/o Adrian
P.O.Box 20,
02-919 Warszawa 76,
Poland

E-mail
hellishband(a)o2(.)pl

Imhotep #7

Imhotep #7

72pg, A4, pro-printed, English

Interview
Katatonia, Enslaved, Malevolence, Soledad, Nile, Rebaelliun, Agathodaimon, Rhapsody, Opera IX, The Black League

This is a quite well-known in the underground. Roy Kristensen, the editor and with co-editor Sauli Vuoti and 3 contributors made this issue possible. I remembered having flyers of one of Imhotep issue in the 90's. But back then I don’t have money to buy a copy. I also remembered in some reviews I read, about the small font size. This issue is called "Invitation". This is my first Imhotep, very sad to say that.

Before start reading the zine, I thought I'm going to fall asleep reading a zine with lots of small text, less graphic or not in cut and paste. Unfortunately, no. The questions are quite elaborated and the answers are quite interesting and very long too. Some interview supposed to be featured in Slayer Mag but somehow it did not materialize and was printed here.

The layout, beside the small fonts, they are in 2 columns per page in normal desktop publishing layout. Not anything fancy. The pages are numbered and have table of content. Rhapsody poster in centerfold and in full color.

The review covers demo (rated out of 5), Album (alphabetically arranged, rated out of 7 or 5 or in percentage), zine review (alphabetically arranged and also rated) and also reviews on Live show and on books.

I guess I am a bit lucky in having this old issue. Looking from their website, looks like instead of retiring, like they evolved into a webzine project and having some digital issues available.

Web
www.imhotep.no

Domain #7 (2012)

Domain #7 (2012)
76pg, A4, xerox, English

Interview
Zygoatsis, Envenom, Battlestorm, Thorns of Hate, Nightwolf, Remains, Vault, Gempita Records, Lobotomy, Recrucify, Perversor, Goat Semen, Metalucifer

Article
Serial Killer: Mona Fandey

Good to see another issue of Domain. To date for me, this is best issue so far in terms of layout. Layout-wise, they are using frame/border artwork and Alan Corpse did a great job! As for the content, I have nothing to complain. Good selection of bands and the questions are interesting. I think this is the first time I read an interview with Gempita Records. For those who don't know, Gempita Records is Malaysian label which release some great vinyl title like the LP version of Sil Khannaz 1st album.

When you have Metalucifer, then you must have Neal Tanaka. Full page of him in inside the front cover and in the back cover.

The editor continues the tradition of having article on serial killer. I am not a fan of such article, but you rarely find any zine writes about Mona Fandey. You must read this. She's a witch and her victims probably killed for her black magic ritual.

Other 'tradition' is no table of content and the pages are not numbered. There is zine review and they are not rated and not alphabetically arranged.

My copy is hand-numbered #195 out of 400. This issue is already sold-out from the editor. I got this by trade with member of Goatlusting Chaos. After 6 month or more I finally got the zine. As for you, I found some distro in Germany that have some copies. Get this now!