Nordic Vision #1-2008 (2008)

Nordic Vision #1-2008 (2008)
80 page, A4, pro-print, English

Interview
Craft, Amok, Beastcraft, Strange Dolls (Beth Robinson), Leviathan, Enslaved, Kill, Tyrant syndicate, Aura Noir, Xploding Plastix, Satyricon, SunnO)))

Actually the size slightly bigger than A4. Anyway, this issue came out after 8 years since the last issue released. We certainly think that the editor quit the scene or stay "low profile". But they are back now.

For the old readers of this mag, you will surely be surprised with this new issue. Nordic Vision have changed (evolve?) to something different, that looks "un-metal" on the layout department. Also look at the front cover, Frost is smiling (normally metal would look fierce or macho on photoshoot haha).

This time, gone all the fancy looking layout which we usually see in a music magazine. What you can see here layout that looks like a journal, very clean and normal looking (or boring to some). Picture here will normally take a one full page and I thinks this is kind of good and original too.
Even the editor is using different name now (real name, I assume).

Old follower of this mag might be dissappointed. No more "Soundcheck" and "Sex and Satan" (honestly, "Sex and Satan" is not important at all but its just nice to look at the boobs).

There's an article entitle "Headhunting in the Nineties", complete with interview with a (real human) headcollector.

About reviews in this mag, if I count it right only 3 stuff being reviewed (how can people count it wrong?)

Despite the changes, I'm looking forward for the next issue. Its the content that really matters. Take a look at the cover story, Satyricon. It is very long and interesting chat and the same goes for the rest of the bands and people interviewed here.

And ofcourse, 80 pages printed on thick paper which mean this is a heavy mag and will cost some extra money for a copy due to the postage.

Web
http://www.nordicvisionmag.com

Nordic Vision #17 (2000)

Nordic Vision #17 (2000)
64 page, A4, pro-print, English

Interview
Incantation, Hypocrisy, Tormentor, Wolfen Society, Hammerheart Records, The Electric Hellfire Club, Morbid Angel, Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir, Zyklon

Another old issue that I bought together with other previous issues which I already reviewed before. If not mistaken, this is the last issue before Melankol-X "quit". This last issue has the best layout compare with all previous issues. It also looks like the same bands keep on apprearing in this mag. That's is not a bad thing because they are good anyway and worth reading their updates.

Other changes beside the layout is "Sexit" (previously know as "Sex & Satan"), and in addition to that to satisfy those perverts in the scene is the pull-out poster of naked ladies. Or if you dont like it, you can choose Maniac of Mayhem on the other side of the paper hehe. Oh yes, another hightlight is the picture collage of sexy girls partying and celebrating the 1st anniversary of "Sex & Satan", with Shagrath being massage by the girls. They made this in the center page for you to pull it out and put the wall if you want to.

"Fan mail" is back, and have 1 letter from Malaysia!

Regular columns such as "Soundcheck" & "Underground Avenue" is still here. "Underground Avenue" is a section where demo & vinyl is being reviewed (which I forgot to mention in my previous review).

In "Soundcheck", beside Fenriz, Frost, Samoth, Satyr & Shagrath, they invited a Finnish reader to rate the releases. Based on marks given, Guidance of Sin's "6106" is the worse release for this issue while Red Harvest's "Cold Dark Matter" is the best. Damn! Satyr is really hard to satisfy. 5 is the highest point he ever give out of 10.

Talking about Satyr (of Satyricon), he have his own column called "Megaphone Corners", which is new in Nordic Vision. In this issue Satyr gave his opinions on various subjects.

There are some live reports in Oslo (Cannible Corpse, Red Harvest, Iron Maiden). For some reason, not much fun reading them probably because I'm not into the bands.

But the last pages on the mag caught my attention is "World Domination". It has info on the print-run of Metallian, Close-up, S.O.D., Terrorizer, Metal Rules, Legacy & Nordic Vision and wanted to inform us they are dominating the metal press. Very big ambition. Most of the magazine still exist today but they probably dominate their local scene, not the world.

This is issue is for die-hard fans. Ludah Prod. probably have few copies left for sale.

Short, Fast + Loud #20 (2008)

Short, Fast + Loud #20 (2008)
88 pages, full size, pro-printed, English

Interview
Mind Of Asian, Flag of Democracy, ANS

I got hooked up with this mag because the local distro selling it says this is thrash zine. Only later after ordering the zine I got to know mag covers mostly 'non-commercial' hardcore/punk/grind.

Layout are OK but I dont like this kind of 'newspaper' printing. It will make your hands dirty after you finish reading.

The features of this zine:
Section "Gimme 5" where in this issue they asked 5 "toughest punks who could kick most ass",
12 page section called "Column", features articles of various topics and

there are reviews that cover noise stuff, demo (named as "Mosh of Ass"), other audio stuff (EP, CD, etc). Although its punk/hc zine, you see some BM stuff reviewed and some BM stuff being advertised here.

And after all that sections, come the interviews. Not the typical sequence you would normally see because most zine/mag put the reviews after the interviews.

But only 3 interviews? Is the interviews very long and indepth? Not really because Mind of Asian interviews are very short but that could be language problem.

Beside the reviews, other thing that make this zine 88-pages thick is the 20 page of advertisement. There's good and bad of this (lots of pages on ads). I think its good to see all those flyer and front cover artwork in pro-print but if you ordered this zine from outside USA, the postage price will be a problem at least for poor people like me haha.

This zine is released by Six Weeks Records. You can check out the cool stuffs released by this label beside info on past and present issue of this zine.

Contact
SHORT , FAST + LOUD
225 Lincoln ave.
Cotati,CA.
U.S.A. 94931

E-mail
sixweeksrecords@comcast.net


Web
http://www.sixweeksrecords.com/html/sfl.html
http://www.myspace.com/sixdub

Burning Abyss #6 (2008)

Burning Abyss #6 (2008)
56 page, A4, pro-print, English

Interview
Underdark, Mandatory, Bloodwritten, Panzerfaust Zine, Apocalyptic Visions, Throneum, Dead Congregation, Death Breath, Nomad, Manticore, Vulcano, Inseminator, Repossession, Afgrund

I saw the flyers for this issue. The urge to buy this zine growing bigger day by day. Fortunately some copies are available from Domain Zine distro and bought a copy. A very good issue in terms of presentation & and the content. Layout is very professional made by Wisdemon (wisdemon@o2.pl), not a single page have white background. Add that with the good content, then you have a great zine! Logo created by Szpajdel.

Maciek (the editor) is assisted by some writers (Hydrant, and also Sascha of Germany's Mandatory). As said by the Maciek, #6 is using different format and language. I'm guessing the previous issues is a xerox/photocopied-type of zine and is written in Polish. A wise change I must say. Maciek's english is much better than me and certainly not in the "kamikaze english" style hehe.

Most bands featured here are Polish bands (either the interviews or the reviews) which is great for us to discover and learn more on Polish metal scene.

Some columns which I think a regular feature in this zine: "News from the Abyss" (news section, ofcourse), "Reviews from the Abyss" (Audio reviews in alphabetical order, separated to two parts. Second part for stuff start with the letter M), "Burning Classics" (review for late 80's to mid 90's stuff) and "Burn Metal Press" (zine review)

My copy is hand numbered 399/500 but I think already sold-out by now.

Contact
b_abyss@interia.pl

Web
http://www.myspace.com/burningabysszine

Morbid Tales #6 (2009)

Morbid Tales #6 (2009)
107 page, full size, pro-print, English

Interview
Soothsayer, Elixir, Sacred Blade, Darkthrone, Pagan Altar, Metalian, Inepsy, Morne, Flower Travellin' Band, Trop Feross, Master's Hammer, Faustcoven, The Lamp of Thoth, Cauldron, Portrait, Voivod

One of the zine which I look forward to have because of many good words about the zine but I waited too long so the get sold out from the editor (1000 copies printed!). I manage to get a copy from a distro but at extra $. Not much to say on the layout or the visual aspect of the zine. Look very old-school and professional at the same time. The page numbered and have table of content. Mostly the layout is 3 column per page with some page have frame artwork. The font type really give the ancient look, very "old-school" feeling (add that with interviews with old bands). Excellent job on the visual aspect.

Same goes with the interviews, good and interesting chat. "Special feature" for Darkthrone is good too (with covers from demo till present release) as well as non-music question being asked. About reviews, reviews are not rated, some have artwork cover but mostly have band's logo on the reviews. "Under The Blade" is the section called for audio stuff (CD,LP, EP) and ofcourse, there's also reviews on fanzine & demo. Beside the usual interview/review, there's also section called "Metal Tourist Guide" which feature metal store or pub to go on your vacation. In this issue you have info about London, Prague, France and Montreal. Another interesting read is the 2 pages by Orlok (Countess), his tour memory with Barathrum/Sabbat.

In addition of metal music, flip upside down and start from the back there's another extra 13 page Hell Bent for Cooking "cookzine". This is another reason I wanted to have this zine. Not that I like cooking but "cookzine" + metalzine do not sound normal for me. So members of Goat Horn, Desolation of Angel, Barbatos, Toxic Holocaust, Countess, Ogre, Master, Anvil, Killers, The Gates of Slumber, Impaler, Elixir, warpig, Nailgunner, Debris Inc., The Lamb of Thoth, Gravewurm, Dan Beehler (ex-Exciter), Reverend Bizarre, Holocausto and Pilediver (have I miss any name??) shared some of their recipe. Ofcourse, the name of some of the meal have been "metalized" such as Macaroni Against Monotheism for example. Quite hillarious, looking at the 'chef' and the meal. The last page have some info about the bands contributed for the cookzine. If there's issue #7, would be interesting to know what Shyaithan of Impiety would want us to cook.

Some note from the editorial page, the editor (Annick) will change address. Editor also mention #6 will be the last issue or have a long break before #7 is out, to concentrate on other projects and band, Cauchemar. You already know she a cookbook out, right?

Contact
Annick Giroux

Email
go_yaten@hotmail.com

Web
http://annick.blackwidowpromotions.net/morbidtales/index.htm
http://www.myspace.com/satannick

Domain #5 (2009)

68 page, A4, xerox

Interview
Desaster, Evilord

This might be my shortest review. And you might assumed that is because it only contain 2 bands? But how come 68 pages? OK then, this issue is DESASTER TRIBUTE ISSUE and Syaiful have made a great tribute issue in the underground metal scene. He make the effort of interviewing the band members (past and present!) and also members of Hellbanger Moselfranken (short question asked about their view on Desaster). There are too many people interviewed here and I'm lazy to write them down. There's lots of photos & flyers as well as the band discography (and photos of that as well). There are also lots of photo and flyers of Desaster. This is my second issue of Domain. My first one was their debut issue release years ago. Back then, it was all xerox. But in this issue, the front cover are hard printed paper while the content are xerored. Xerox quality is good, I wish the print quality of the picture can be made better. Limited release of 300 copies, the first 50 copies comes with Evilord's MCDr + DVD of Desaster (Headbangers Open Air) and Desaster patch. My copy is hand-numbered 129 so I missed those goodies except for the patch.

Contact
M. Syaiful
Blk 670A #17-503
Choa Chu Kang Crescent
Singapore 681670
Singapore

Email
domainzine@hotmail.com

Nermun #8 (2009)

52 page, A4, xerox, English

Interview
EvilDead Prod / Bestial Hordes, Nefarium, Krypt, Purgatory, Lecherous Nocturne, Possessed, Jasad, Putrid Pile, The Great Kat, Hereafter

Bio
1349, Barbalans


This is one of the earliest zine in Sabah! I was informed that this issue took years to complete (so that's explain why some content look outdated in 2010). The editor, AR Kid helped by some contributors finally manage to release #8. Xerox quality is excellent! Lets go to the layout. All the interviews have background image or grey color background. Printing quality are excellent so its nice to look at those sexy pictures on the background. The font for the interview are too big for me but review section use the reasonable size and looks better. The page are numbered but no table of content however on page 3 have sort of a summary of the content of this issue. The reviews are rated and mostly have the front cover. Reviews on audio stuff specially named as "Loudblast" and there's also fanzine review. Most zine have news section and the same with Nermun too. Only different is this zine have special section for fanzine news report. I enjoy a lot reading the EvilDead interview but cant say the same with the others. This issue hand numbered, limited to 100 copies only. Mine #3! And also comes with CDR sampler with DVD-size booklet. The editor also play in a band and have few releases out. You might want to check that too when asking about this zine.

Contact
Ahmad Ramdhan,
City Apartment,
Block F / F-16-02,
Kiansom Road, 88450 Inanam,
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah,
Malaysia.

Email
nahtiays666@yahoo.com

web
www.myspace.com/nermunzine