Metal History Through Fanzines

Aggression (CAN)

Slayer #5 (Norway) 1987

Slayer #5 (Norway). 1987. Editor: “Metalion”

Fifth issue from long running, legendary Norwegian zine/”mag”…as only Metalion could deliver. Timely and historic features/reviews and interviews with Annihilator, Bathory, Black Uniforms, Mutilator, Aggression, Incubus, Kreator, Massacre, Mayhem, Mefisto, Messiah, Morbid Angel, Mutilator, Napalm Death, Nuclear Death, Obscurity, Poison (GER), Sabbat (YES!), Sadist, Sadus, Satan’s Holocaust, Schizo, Aggressor, Sepultura, Slaughter Lord, Slayer, Sodom, Soothsayer, Tribulation, Vulcano, Wehrmacht, and more…(thanks S.L.!)  ALSO SLAYER #5 and #7 ARE BOTH UP IN THE PDF DOWNLOADS SECTION NOW.

October 1, 2014 | Categories: Aggression (CAN), Annihilator (CAN), Demo Reviews, Incubus (US), Kreator (GER), Massacre (US), Mayhem (NOR), Mefisto (SWE), Messiah (SWZ), Morbid Angel (US), Mutilator (BRZ), Napalm Death (UK), Nuclear Death (US), Obscurity (SWE), Poison (GER), Reviews, Sabbat (UK), Sadus (US), Satan's Holocaust (GER), Schizo (IT), Sepultura (BZL), Slaughter Lord (AUS), Slayer (US), Slayer Zine (NOR), Sodom (GER), Soothsayer (CAN), Tribulation (SWE), Uncategorized, Vulcano (BRZ), Wehrmacht (US), Zine Reviews | 2 Comments

Phoenix Militia #7 (UK) 1987

Phoenix Militia #7 (UK) 1987. Editor: “Bill Steer”

Many thanks to Bernd B. again for a great contribution! This time it is the mega-classic from Bill Steer’s teenage years  –  be sure to check out the sincere and insightful editorial (btw this issue was photocopied and stapled 3 times from the front, which made it a very delicate operation to scan without splitting the pages, so some page-scans are unfortunately right on the border of the text). This issue features Bill’s influences heavily, stemming from both crossover/punk and metal, such as a very early demo-era incarnation of Napalm Death (before Bill was in the band), Hellbastard, an early interview with Jason Newsted (right after joining Metallica), Rapt, Desexult, Larm, Poison (GER) Anthrax, Discharge, Mace, Cryptic Slaughter and Extreme Noise Terror, plus write-ups and reviews on many others.

[edit Sept.27, 2016,  a note from a reader: just to give proper credits..Bill originally did a zine called “Violence & Force”, probably only 1 issue circa 1985. Pheonix Miltia/FTC was Pek and Middie’s creation..which they started in 1983 as a H.C. Punk zine but started covering Metal from the 5th issue on, Bill joined them at this point an maybe contributed the most in the later issues, but he didn’t start this fanzine.]

August 27, 2013 | Categories: Aggression (CAN), Anthrax (US), Celtic Frost (SWZ), Cryptic Slaughter (US), Demo Reviews, Desexult (DEN), Discharge (UK), Extreme Noise Terror (UK), Fanzines, Hellbastard (UK), Live Reviews, Mace (US), Metallica (US), Napalm Death (UK), News, Phoenix Militia (UK), Playlists, Poison (GER), Possessed (US), Repulsion (US), Reviews, Sepultura (BZL), Voivod (CAN), Zine Reviews | 4 Comments

Blowing Thrash #3 (Chile) Sept/Oct, 1986

Blowing Thrash #3  (Chile) Sept/Oct, 1986. Editor: “Anton Reisenegger”

The third issue from 1986 (#2 is below), also put together from Anton Reisenegger of Chile’s cult early death metal outfit Pentagram (and currently in Lock Up). His first in English, it features another mini-Chilean national report, KILLER interviews with SOD (Scott Ian), Detente, Sepultura and more interviews and/or (mostly) features on COC, DRI, Massacre, Morbid Angel, Watchtower, Wehrmacht, Master, Anvil Bitch, Holy Terror, Cryptic Slaughter, Death Angel, Agnostic Front, Voivod, Necrophagia, Volcano, Overdose, Blood Feast, Deathrow, and more.

September 17, 2012 | Categories: Aggression (CAN), Agnostic Front (US), Anvil Bitch (US), Blood Feast (US), Blowing Thrash (CH) (Español), Chile Scene Report, Corrosion of Conformity (US), Cryptic Slaughter (US), D.R.I. (US), Death Angel (US), Deathrow (GER), Detente (US), Holy Terror (US), Massacre (US), Master (US), Morbid Angel (US), Mordred (US), Mutilator (BRZ), Necrophagia (US), News, Playlists, Reviews, Sepultura (BZL), SOD (US), Voivod (CAN), Vulcano (BRZ), Watchtower (US), Wehrmacht (US) | Leave a comment

Violent Noize #2 (NY, USA) June, 1986

Violent Noize  #2 (NY, USA) June, 1986. Editor: “Borivoj Krgin ”

This zine is notable for being journalist and Blabbermouth.net founder Borivoj Krgin’s zine in the 80’s, and it reflects a biting (yet refreshing), critical writing style (…he did not hold back on his opinions!). It’s also notable that the term “death metal” is widely used in this zine, sort of forwarding the genre name almost as it was being invented. Includes cool demo reviews for bands that would later be signed like Blind Illusion, Holy Terror, Mordred, Assassin, Sepultura, Massacre, Death and Wehrmacht. The historical highlight here is certainly the interview with Chuck Shuldiner, where he talks about preparing to record ‘Scream Bloody Gore” (and a few other things). Also features interviews with Wehrmacht., Aggression, Terminal Death, Sacrifice, and although “Kreator” are listed on the cover, there is just an album review as far as I could tell…

 

May 5, 2012 | Categories: Aggression (CAN), Assassin (GER), Blind Illusion (US), Death (US), Demo Reviews, Fanzines, Holy Terror (US), Insanity (US), Kreator (GER), Mordred (US), News, Playlists, Reviews, Sacrifice (CAN), Terminal Death (US), Violent Noize Zine (US), Wehrmacht (US) | Leave a comment

Blackthorn #4 (Denmark) 1986

Blackthorn  #4 (Denmark) 1986. Editors: “Esben Sorensen and Henk Leviathan”

Ahh, Nasty Savage in full Technicolor on the cover! This issue was limited to 2000 copies, and is printed on the “A4” size standard (I think) in Europe at the time, stapled, with a nice original full-color pic of a young Mille from Kreator on the back (taken live in Copenhagen by a guy named Peter Markham). Highlights for this issue include an insightful Voivod interview right around when “RRROOOAAARRR” came out (coupled with intimate photos taken by Monte Connor, who later would become a dude at Roadrunner Records), features on demo-era Sepultura, Legacy (Testament), Holy Terror, Annihilator, Massacre,  interviews with Canadian tyrants Exciter and Razor, as well as Netherlands’ Thanatos, and a number of reviews on rare and long forgotten underground releases. LASTLY- there is a Megadeth merch order form circa “Killing is My Business…” !

 

April 28, 2012 | Categories: Adverts, Aggression (CAN), Annihilator (CAN), Assassin (GER), Blackthorn Zine (DEN), Demo Reviews, Dream Death (US), Exciter (CAN), Holy Terror (US), Kreator (GER), Legacy (US), Massacre (US), Megadeth (US), Nasty Savage (US), News, Playlists, Razor (CAN), Reviews, Sepultura (BZL), Testament (US), Thanatos (NL), Voivod (CAN) | Leave a comment

Deathcore #2 (Ontario, CAN) 1986

Deathcore #2 (Ontario, CAN) 1986, Editor: “Glenn Salter”

This was more of a crossover and hardcore-centered zine out of Ontario in the mid-eighties, and the content and interviews are very light, humorous, and brief. Still, very early interviews with Voivod, Sacrifice, Slaughter, Cyptic Slaughter, Celtic Frost, and a four-line “interview” with Kreator. Plus,  a pre-Cynic write-up for Seaweed! Lastly a cool global crossover-report…among other things…Cult!

 

January 2, 2012 | Categories: Aggression (CAN), Celtic Frost (SWZ), Cryptic Slaughter (US), Cynic (US), Deathcore Zine (CAN), Fringe-Diabolic Force Records (CAN), Kreator (GER), Lethal Aggression (US), Playlists, Sacrifice (CAN), Seaweed (US), Slaughter (CAN), Voivod (CAN) | Leave a comment

The Book of Armageddon #1 (NY, USA) 1986

The Book of Armageddon #1 (NY, USA) 1986, Editor: “Ed Farshtey”

A few weeks back, I put up BOA #4 with commentary from Ed Farshtey. This week, I have a super-rare copy of BOA #1 from 1986, and it features VERY early and cool (yet brief) interviews with DEATH (Evil Chuck when he was out in California – and hey I forgot he jammed with DRI drummer Eric Brecht then) , POSSESSED (Lalonde), CELTIC FROST (Warrior), DARK ANGEL (Hoglan-right before signing to Combat Records), a long interview with Quorthon from BATHORY (On recording “THE RETURN:” I was drunk every second during the recording…we had a great time“, live reviews, and several cool ads for DEATH‘s Mutilation demo, and a back cover ad for pre-CARCASS band “DISATTACK“.

 

November 14, 2011 | Categories: Aggression (CAN), Bathory (SWE), Carnivore (US), Celtic Frost (SWZ), Cro-Mags (US), Dark Angel (US), Death (US), Desecration (CA -US), Disattack UK), Gargoyle (US), Hirax (US), Leige Lord (US), Overkill (US), Possessed (US), The Book of Armageddon (US), Venom (UK), Voivod (CAN) | Leave a comment