Metal History Through Fanzines

Carcass (UK)

Crematory Zine #1 (Czechoslovakia) 1992

Crematory Zine #1 (Czechoslovakia) (1992) Editor: “Kerry” (in Slovak)

Slovakian zine from 1992, released in 1993. Has many of the classics in their prime. Although not much to read if you don’t know Slovak, the design is nice and features some band photos I have not seen elsewhere. Interviews and short features with Acheron, Amon, Beherit, Amorphis, Derketa, Mythic, Sentenced, Bolt Thrower, Carcass, Cenotaph, Darkthrone, Dismember, Entombed, Funebre, Malediction, Mayhem, Deceased, Xysma, Damnatory, Varathron, Unleashed, Bestial Summoning, Incantation, Putrid Offal and more.

The Editor of this zine also released two compilation tapes, Carnage vol.1 & vol.2 (thanks Daniel M. for sharing).

June 13, 2020 | Categories: Acheron (US), Beherit (FIN), Bestial Summoning (NL), Bolt Thrower (UK), Carbonized (SWE), Carcass (UK), Cathedral (UK), Cenotaph (MEX), Crematory Zine (CSK) (In Slovak), Damnatory (SWZ), Darkthrone (NOR), Deceased (US), Deicide (US), Denial of God (DEN), Derketa (US), Dismember (SWE), Entombed (SWE), Exulceration (SWZ), Funebre (FIN), Incantation (US), Malediction (UK), Mayhem (NOR), Putrid Offal (FR), Sentenced (FIN), Unleashed (SWE), Xentrix (UK) | Leave a comment

Mortuary #3 (Germany) 1992.

Mortuary #3 (Germany) 1992. Editor: “Christian Hillenbrand”

Massive German zine (in English) packed with tons of reviews and (brief) interviews targeting many of the underground’s death and black metal notables of 1992, as well as zine editors like those from Slayer and Isten, and even Earache Records (with Pete Lee from Lawnmower Deth representing). Features Beherit, Benediction, Bolt Thrower, Carcass, Cannibal Corpse, Dark Tranquillity, Darkified, Dark Millenium, Fleshcrawl, Demigod, Desultory, Furbowl, Goatlord, Goreaphobia, Gorefest, Inverted, Hetsheads, Malaphar, Mega-Slaughter, Immolation, Necrophobic, My Dying Bride, Mould, Pan-Thy-Monium, Samael, Tiamat, Traumatic and more. Thanks to Stefan Lons for sharing!

September 5, 2016 | Categories: Adverts, Beherit (FIN), Benediction (UK), Bolt Thrower (UK), Cannibal Corpse (US), Carcass (UK), Cemetary (SWE), Cremetory (SWE), Dark Millennium (GER), Dark Tranquility (SWE), Demigod (FIN), Demo Reviews, Desultory (SWE), Earache Records (UK), Fleshcrawl (GER), Furbowl (SWE), Goatlord (US), Goreaphobia (US), Gorefest (NL), Hetsheads (SWE), Immolation (US), Inverted (SWE), Isten (FIN), Massacre (US), Mortuary Zine (GER), My Dying Bride (UK), Necrophobic (SWE), News, Pan-Thy-Monium (SWE), Playlists, Reviews, Samael (SWTZ), Slaughter Records, Slayer Zine (NOR), Tiamat (SWE), Uncategorized, Zine Reviews | Leave a comment

No Trend Press #2 (Germany) 1987 (auf Deutsch)

No Trend Press #2 (Germany) 1987. Editors: “Boris Kadlicek” and “Servais Grivel” (auf Deutsch)

Crossover zine from ’87 with a good mix of thrash/core, hardcore and early death metal. In German (for those who can read it), features and interviews with Lärm, Annihilator, Cremains, Impetigo, Bad Attitude, Carcass, Autopsy, Chemical Waste, Realm, Atrophy, Desperate Minds, Messiah Death, Genoa, Kazjurol, Terminal Confusion, Lawnmower Death, Hellchild, Dead Conspiracy, Raging Fury, Macabre, Anacrusis,  Obliveon, Nox Mortis, Ice Age, Righteous Pigs, Savage Thrust, Despair, Sheer Terror, Shellshock, Malicious Grind, Sindrome, Wild Rags Records, and there is also an interesting anti-Carnivore rant, claiming they are nazis/fascists…I guess  Mr. Steele’s humour was lost in translation. Thanks to BERND B. for the contribution!

 

 

 

December 23, 2014 | Categories: Adverts, Anacrusis (US), Annihilator (CAN), Atrophy (US), Autopsy (US), Burnt Offering (US-IL), Carcass (UK), Carnivore (US), Cremains (CAN), Dead Conspiracy (US), Hellchild (JPN), Impetigo (US), Lawnmower Deth (UK), Lord Crucifier (IT/UK), Macabre (US), Messiah Death (JPN), No Trends Press (GER) (deutsch), Obliveon (CAN), Raging Fury (JPN), Realm (US), Righteous Pigs (US), Savage Thrust (US), Sindrome (US), The Accused (US), The Wild Rag! (USA), Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Thrash Em All #1 (Poland) 1991 (In Polish)

Thrash Em All  (Poland) 1/1991. Editor: “Mariusz Kmiolek” (In Polish)

Thanks to Paweł for the contribution. Another relic from the Polish scene to add to the collection. Features articles, pictures and/or interviews with Bendiction, Defecation, Carcass, Convulse, Cannibal Corpse, Death, Dorsal Atlantica, Exhorder, Kind Diamond, Loudblast, Master, Megadeth, Merciless, Paradise Lost, Pascal, Sadus, and more.

January 25, 2013 | Categories: Adverts, Benediction (UK), Cannibal Corpse (US), Carcass (UK), Convulse (FIN), Death (US), Defecation (UK-US), Demo Reviews, Dorsal Atlantica (BZL), Earache Records (UK), Exhorder (US), Incubus (US), King Diamond (DEN), Live Reviews, Loudblast (FR), Master (US), Megadeth (US), Merciless (SWE), News, Nuclear Blast Records (GER), Paradise Lost (UK), Peaceville Records (UK), Playlists, Polish Scene Report, Readers Poll, Sadus (US), Thrash Em All (Poland) (Polish), Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Mettalic Butcher #4 (Poland) 1992

Mettalic Butcher #4  (Poland) 1992. Editor: Rob Tarasiuk

EXCELLENT ZINE – VERY well laid out (with KILLER cover art!), put together by Mr. Tarasiuk, who apparently got most of the interviews and pics when he was in Belgium in 1991 or so (check out the editorial), catching all the classic tours of the 90-91 era…(really, who is not jealous reading this now?!) Numerous classic bands represented here, at the height of the ‘golden’ era of death metal, interviews with Benediction, Bolt Thrower, Cannibal Corpse, Carcass, Cathedral, Dark Tranquilitty, Dead Infection, Disgrace, Dismember, Gorefest, Grave, Immolation, Morbid Angel, My Dying Bride, and more…

 

October 18, 2012 | Categories: Adverts, Benediction (UK), Bolt Thrower (UK), Cannibal Corpse (US), Carcass (UK), Cathedral (UK), Dark Tranquility (SWE), Dead Infection (POL), Disgrace (FIN), Dismember (SWE), Gorefest (NL), Grave (SWE), Immolation (US), Mettalic Butcher (POL), Morbid Angel (US), My Dying Bride (UK), Peaceville Records (UK), Reviews | Leave a comment

Bestial Conspiracy Zine #2 (Chile) 1990 (Español)

Bestial Conspiracy Zine #2 (Chile) 1990, Editors: “Mauricio Perez R., Jose M. Rodriguez, Jorge W. Olate, Luis Salvo, and Moises Leiva Riffo, et al.” (Español )

This issue was a contribution from one of the zine’s editors (Mr. Jorge Olate), who graciously offered up the scans to share with everyone (as well as for the metal ‘historic record’). It was produced out of Chile at a very critical time in the underground, and a cursory glance through the ‘reviews’ sections will give you an idea as to how the underground was exploding at the time (and if your Spanish is up to par, it’s quite revealing). A look at the Chilean bands at the time reveals as well the depth of the scene there, plus interviews with Forced Entry, Doomwatch, Solitude Aeturnus, Carcass, Mayhem, and more.

Also, here is a recent, more specific outline of this particular issue from DEATHTHRASHER in Peru.

Lastly, a few notes from Jorge:

“This was our 2nd issue, 1990. This mag was printed in 4-5 moths with the help from a friend & his father. In Chile , during these years, only a few magazine were printed. Maybe INSANITY, BLOWING THRASH, and BESTIAL CONSPIRACY,  and reported on the Death Metal & Black Metal scenes to the Chilean metalheads. Our influences were MORBID MAGAZINE (NORWAY), UNIFORCE (USA), and the BOOK OF ARMAGGEDDON (USA), among others. 1990 was an incredible year, sadly many guys involved started with University, & other problems, and we never finished a third issue, many interviews with CARCASS, IMPETIGO, IMMOLATION, INCANTATION were never printed, sad. In 2009, we did a web page, only for one years, but too this web died. Our motto was “BESTIAL CONSPIRACY “Muertos desde 1989″……that translates to something like “BC died from 1989”.  – Jorge Olate, 2012

 


February 3, 2012 | Categories: Adverts, Bestial Conspiracy (CH) (Español), Blasphemy (CAN), Carcass (UK), Chile Scene Report, Demo Reviews, Devastation (US), Doomwatch (US), Forced Entry (US), Groovy Aardvark (CAN), Horde of Torment (US), Mayhem (NOR), Merciless (SWE), Morbid Angel (US), Morbid Zine - Emptor, Nocturnus (US), Reviews, Solitude Aeturnus (US), The Wild Rag! (USA) | Leave a comment

Pit Magazine #8 (Colorado, USA) 1992

Pit Magazine #8 (Colorado, USA) 1992, Editor: “Wendy Perelstein”

A massive update here….Pit Magazine was published by Mosh Pit Records, a metal record store out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, that is sadly missed. Their magazine started in the late 80s and ran into the 90s with ambitions of being a national magazine of sorts, and they eventually did get okay distribution, but in essence it was really just a nice pro-printed, national zine – and that is what made it cool (It seems there is also still some online presence, as they have a facebook page and an outdated website, yet I think the last print issue was put out about 5 years ago…I could be wrong).

With better content and interviews than most national mags, it was packed with all the relevant bands and more. This issue was no exception, featuring an interview with Metallica-Jason Newsted when the Black album dropped (talking about their songwriting and change), Bolt Thrower (!!!), Nick Menza around “Rust in Peace” era-Megadeth, Chris Barnes from Cannibal Corpse talking about serial killers and why he hates (hated?) Phil from Sacred Reich, Godflesh, Autopsy, Necroticism-era Carcass, Soundgarden, Solitude Aeturnus, Blessed are the Sick-era Morbid Angel interview with Dave Vincent, Anacrusis, an extended interview with Pete Steele for the Carnivore–Type O Negative fans, the Hoffman Brothers of Deicide, Exhorder, Immolation, Coroner, Entombed, Cancer, Grave, Gorguts, Napalm Death, Obituary, Unleashed, and many more.

 

January 6, 2012 | Categories: Adverts, Agnostic Front (US), Anacrusis (US), Asphyx (NL), Atheist (US), Atrocity (GER), Autopsy (US), Black Mark Productions (GER), Bolt Thrower (UK), Cancer (UK), Cannibal Corpse (US), Carcass (UK), Coroner (SWZ), Corrosion of Conformity (US), Deicide (US), Earache Records (UK), Entombed (SWE), Exhorder (US), Fear Factory (US), Godflesh (UK), Gorguts (CAN), Grave (SWE), Immolation (US), Massacre (US), Megadeth (US), Metallica (US), Morbid Angel (US), Napalm Death (UK), Nuclear Blast Records (GER), Obituary (US), Overkill (US), Paradise Lost (UK), Pestilence (NL), Pit Magazine (US), Primus (US), Sick of It All (US), Solitude Aeturnus (US), Soundgarden (US), Treponem Pal (FR), Type O Negative (US), Uncategorized, Unleashed (SWE) | Leave a comment

Chainsaw Abortions #2 (NY, USA) 1990

Chainsaw Abortions #2 (NY, USA) 1990. Editor “Brian Pattison”

This zine out of upstate NY was sent over (and edited by) by Brian Pattison, who you may also know as the guy (who along with Alan Moses) put out the Glorious Times pictorial-history book of the death metal underground (see the video review below). This issue has some timely interviews with Morbid Angel (w/ Dave, right after Altars of Madness), Obituary (pre-Cause of Death), Sacrifice (as Soldier of Misfortune was released), Derketa, demo era- Malevolent Creation, Carbonized and Grave, as well as tons of cool ads and record label promos.

October 30, 2011 | Categories: Adverts, Agathocles (BEL), Baphomet (US), Bathory (SWE), Carbonized (SWE), Carcass (UK), Cenotaph (MEX), Chainsaw Abortions (US), Derketa (US), Earache Records (UK), Goreaphobia (US), Grave (SWE), Incantation (US), Malevolent Creation (US), Morbid Angel (US), Nuclear Blast Records (GER), Obituary (US), Pungent Stench (AU), Revenant (US), Roadrunner Records (US), Sacrifice (CAN), Shroud (US) | Leave a comment

Disposable Underground #5 (VA, USA) 1992

Disposable Underground #5 (VA, USA) 1992, Editor: “Richard Johnson”

Zine #5 of DI, out of the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. TO RECAP: At the time Rich was in grind pathfinders ENEMY SOIL, prior to going on to playing in the likes of AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED and now DRUGS OF FAITH.  This long running zine, that can now be found online in downloadable format here.

This one has a particularly exceptional interview with Carcass‘ Bill Steer during their DC stop on the Necroticism tour (1992), and covers a lot of interesting points, both political and musical. Also are interviews and features with Finland’s Demigod, Napalm Death, Unleashed, Doomstone, Agnostic Front, Exempt and Obituary, as well as some cool live reviews and ads.

September 22, 2011 | Categories: Agnostic Front (US), Carcass (UK), Demigod (FIN), Disposable Underground (US), Doomstone (US), Exempt (SWE), Live Reviews, Metal Blade Records (US), Napalm Death (UK), News, Obituary (US), Unleashed (SWE) | Leave a comment

Slayer Zine #7 (Norway) 1989

Slayer Zine #7 (Norway). 1989. Editor: “Metalion”

To again celebrate the release of Metalion’s book, I unearthed the last copy of Slayer Zine in my possession, # 7 from 1989. This issue is an almost complete reflection of everything that was fresh and exciting about the underground at the time, featuring interviews with many ‘future titans’ in their demo days and/or on their first album. As always, encased with great DIY artwork and layout, highlights include Nihilist, Napalm death (Bill Steer!), Autopsy, Atheist, Morbid Angel (Best answer from Dave Vincent: “I personally love to play fast, so until my arm fell off, I want to play faster and faster as it is fun.” ), a SUPER long interview with Jeff from Carcass, Bolt Thrower, Merciless, and more.

August 5, 2011 | Categories: Abomination (US), Agathocles (BEL), Asphyx (NL), Atheist (US), Autopsy (US), Bolt Thrower (UK), Carcass (UK), Dismember (SWE), Filthy Christians (SWE), Grotesque (SWE), Incubus (US), Masacre (COL), Merciless (SWE), Morbid Angel (US), Mutilated (FRA), MX (BRZ), Nihilist (SWE), Norway Scene Report, Norwegian Scene Report, Nuclear Death (US), Old Lady Drivers (US), Pungent Stench (AU), Reviews, Sadistik Exekution (AUS), Schizo (IT), Sindrome (US), Slayer Zine (NOR), Sore Throat (UK), Thanatos (NL), Zine Reviews | Leave a comment

Slayer Zine #9 (Norway) 1991

Slayer Zine #9 (Norway), 1991. Editor: Metalion (highlights)

This is the second copy of several Slayer zines I have laying around (thanks to Grindfather Richard Johnson). From 1991, #9 is dedicated to the then recently deceased ‘Dead‘ of Mayhem (he is on the cover from 1987, with Morbid), and it features an obituary/rant of sorts in the back pages, where “The Duke…” indicts the ‘trendy death metal bands’ that were flooding the underground then,  championing instead the originality of the bands coming out of Norway at the time (all the forefathers of the black metal scene). Great interviews throughout, including early ones with The Gathering, Cathedral, and My Dying Bride.

As a reminder the “Slayer Mag Diaries” due out in June from Bazillion Points. 

May 11, 2011 | Categories: 7 inch Reviews, Abruptum (SWE), Beherit (FIN), Bestial Summoning (NL), Carcass (UK), Cathedral (UK), Furbowl (SWE), Head Not Found Productions (NOR), Immortal (NOR), Impaled Nazarene (FIN), Mayhem (NOR), Morbid (SWE), My Dying Bride (UK), Mythic (US), Nuclear Blast Records (GER), Prime Evil (US), Rotting Christ (GR), Samael (SWTZ), Slayer Zine (NOR), The Gathering (NL), Tormentor (HU) | 2 Comments

Adversity Zine #5, November, 1990

Adversity Zine #5, November, 1990. Editor: “John Krupa”

Stapled and photocopied from Connecticut. Nice “BUSH VERSUS SADDAM” cover, and an overall punk vibe. Features include live reviews, Houston and NZ Scene Reports, as well as interviews with Disrupt (!), Mortician, Ripping Corpse, Carcass, Skeletal Earth, Unleashed, and more.

March 22, 2011 | Categories: Adversity Zine (US), Adverts, Anal Cunt (US), Carcass (UK), Disrupt (US), Houston Scene Report, Mortician (US), New Zealand Scene Report, Ripping Corpse (US), Skeletal Earth (US), Unleashed (SWE) | Leave a comment

Uni-Force #7 (USA) 1990

Uni-Force #7 (USA) 1990. Editor: “Mark Sawickis”

This zine was put out by Impetigo guitarist Mark Sawickis, and although the print is small, there are some cool interviews with demo-era Grave, and a nice one with Carcass right around the time “Symphonies…” dropped. Also, there is a cool photo gallery featuring original live shots of Death, Autopsy and others and features/interviews with Blasphemy, Blood, Dead Horse, Deceased, Disharmonic Orchestra, Doom, Exmortis, Hellbastard, Macabre, Necrophile, Master, Pungent Stench, Tiamat and Xysma…

March 16, 2011 | Categories: Autopsy (US), Blasphemy (CAN), Blood (GER), Carcass (UK), Dead Horse (US), Death (US), Deceased (US), Disharmonic Orchestra (AU), Doom (UK), Exmortis (US), Grave (SWE), Hellbastard (UK), Impetigo (US), Macabre (US), Master (US), Necrophile (JP), Pungent Stench (AU), The Wild Rag! (USA), Tiamat (SWE), Uni-Force Zine (US), Xysma (FIN) | 2 Comments

Thrashikus #5 (CA, USA) 1992

Thrashikus #5 (CA, USA) 1992: Editor “Victor Hsieh”

This was a cool digest sized zine, packed with excellent interviews, again with many of the bands at the top of their game. Out of San Diego, it included live reviews, an interesting intie with France’s Osmose Productions, and a cover story on underrated death thrashers of the day Goreaphobia. With Brutal Truth, Carcass, Cannibal Corpse, Entombed, Deadhorse, Epidemic, Nunslaughter, Exhorder, Goreaphobia, Immolation, Exhorder, Gwar, Napalm Death, Immolation, Demise, Incantation, Paradise Lost, Authorize, Demolition Hammer, Morbid Angel, Hexx and more..