Metal History Through Fanzines

Rotting Christ (GR)

The Black Montanas Of Thy Septentrio #1 (United States, TX) October, 1993.

The Black Montanas Of Thy Septentrio #1 (United States, TX) October, 1993. Editors: “Equitant” and “Proscriptor”

A massive volume representative of everything mystical and ethereal about the early 1990s black metal underground. Based in Texas and produced by Equitant & Proscriptor from Absu, this zine is a document of an era; packed with not only interviews, but also with tons of newsletters and pages and pages of fliers (many of which were circulating the underground at the time, and some I have never seen before). Thanks to Equitant for scanning this and sending it over. Features, interviews, fliers with Zemial, Necromantia, Agatus, Rotting Christ, Varathron, Twilight, Grand Belial’s Key, Mortuary Drape, Ancient Rites, Chris Moyen, Lemegothon, Impaled Nazarene, Beherit, Divine Eve, Countess, Absymal, Vital Remains, Ungod, Emperor, Darkthrone, Enslaved, Burzum, Abruptum, Immortal, Master’s Hammer, Moonspell, Samael, Sarcofago, Celtic Frost, Liars in Wait, Sigh, Profanatica, Incantation, Thou Shalt Suffer, Occult, Blasphemy, Absu, Equimanthorn, Order From Chaos, Demoncy, Osmose Productions, Deathlike Silence, Decapitated Records and much more…

July 8, 2018 | Categories: Abbath, Abruptum (SWE), Absu (US), Abysmal (NOR), Agatus (GRE), Ancient Rites (BEL), Behemoth (POL), Beherit (FIN), Black Crucifixion (FIN), Blasphemy (CAN), Burzum (NOR), Celtic Frost (SWZ), Chris Moyen, Darkthrone (NOR), Deathlike Silence Productions, Decapitated Records (GRE), Demoncy (US), Divine Eve (US), Emperor (NOR), Enslaved (NOR), Equimanthorn (US), Equitant (US), Grand Belial's Key (US), Immortal (NOR), Impaled Nazarene (FIN), Incantation (US), Liers In Wait (SWE), Lullaby (BZL), Master's Hammer (CZ), Mayhem (NOR), Moonspell (POR), Mordor (SWZ), Necromantia (GR), Occult (NL), Osmose Productions (FR), Possessed (US), Profanatica (US), Rotting Christ (GR), Samael (SWTZ), Sarcofago (BZL), Satanism - Occult, Sigh (JPN), The Black Montanas Of Thy Septentrio (US), Thou Shalt Suffer (NOR), Uncategorized, Varathron (GR), Zemial (GRE) | 1 Comment

Holocaust #6 (Poland) 1993

Holocaust #6 (Poland) 1993. Ed: “Tomasz Krajewski”

Massive issue of this classic Polish zine, with timely interviews, features and reviews on a number of extreme metal bands from the second wave of the golden era circa 92-93. Including Asphyx, Bolt Thrower, Armoured Angel, Crucifier, Disharmonic Orchestra, Dismember, Embrionic Death, Eternal, Immolation, Impaled Nazarene, Macabre, Imprecation, Cartilage, Macabre, Malevolent Creation, Morgoth, Monstrosity, Mortified, My Dying Bride, Necromantia, Rotting Christ, Oppressor, Order From Chaos, Sentenced, Nocturnal Rites, Deranged, Church of Misery, Morgion and Schizo, as well as news, reviews, essays and scene reports from Poland, Ireland and Portugal. Thanks to P.W. for the contribution.

 

May 13, 2018 | Categories: Armoured Angel (AUS), Asphyx (NL), Astaroth (US), Bolt Thrower (UK), Cartilage (FIN), Chris Moyen, Church of Misery (JP), Crucifier (US), Crucifix (US), Demo Reviews, Deranged (SWE), Disharmonic Orchestra (AU), Dismember (SWE), Embrionic Death (US), Eternal (UK), Holocaust (POL), Immolation (US), Impaled Nazarene (FIN), Imprecation (US), Ireland Scene Report, Macabre (US), Malevolent Creation (US), Monstrosity (US), Morgoth (GER), Mortified (UK), Mutilated (FRA), My Dying Bride (UK), Necromantia (GR), Nocturnal Rites (SWE), Oppressor (US), Order From Chaos (US), Polish Scene Report, Portugal Scene Report, Reviews, Rotting Christ (GR), Satanism - Occult, Schizo (IT), Sentenced (FIN), Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Descent #1 (USA) May,1994

Descent #1 (USA) May, 1994. Editor: “Steve O’Malley”

Descent: An excellent offering from the mid-90s focusing primarily on black, dark and darker-oriented death metal [NOTE: While I included this issue on SBMS to make it searchable and ‘research’able in the broader archive, the editor (Steve O’Malley) actually has all of the issues online as PDF’s (along with autobiographical notes) on his website Ideologic.] Includes interviews with Burzum, Emperor, Accursed, Beyond Dawn, Solemn, In The Woods…, Necrophobic, Sigh, Bestial Warlust, Manes, Savior, Mangled, Nagual Mag., Immolation, a feature on Gorgoroth, as well as an essay on Heathenism in Classical Music, a US scene report and reviews.

 

 

August 22, 2017 | Categories: Accursed (US), Bestial Warlust (AUS), Beyond Dawn (NOR), Burzum (NOR), Chris Moyen, Descent (US), Emperor (NOR), Immolation (US), In The Woods (NOR), Mangled (NETH), Nagual (DEN), Necrophobic (SWE), Rotting Christ (GR), Sigh (JPN), Solemn (US), Uncategorized, US Scene Report | 1 Comment

Isten “Twin Sister” (Finland) November, 1997

Isten “Twin Sister” (Finland) November, 1997 . Created by: Mikko Mattila, Janne Sarna, Kola Krauze and Damhair.

60 pages on A4. 500 pressed. One of the most innovative, long running and well-written/designed zines in the history of the metal underground, recently enshrined in its own hardback anthology format via the Svart Records-published, 804 page “Don’t Break the Ghost” (which can be found here). This issue is the second in the so-called Headwind Trilogy, entitled Twin Sister. Unfortunately, like a lot of great analog media, the actual brilliance of the design can not be transmitted digitally in all its tactile and olfactory glory, but this can give you a hint. Featuring Canaan, The Great Kat, Agathodaimon, Brian Death Cobra, Metalucifer, Costa Stoios of Tales of the Macabre Zine, Rotting Christ, Bethel, Solstice (UK), Arch Enemy, Two Witches, Sup and more with reviews throughout the issue. Thanks to Pawel W. for scanning his copy and sending it over.

 

December 27, 2016 | Categories: Agathodaimon (GER), Arch Enemy (SWE), Isten (FIN), Metalucifer (JPN), Primitive Art Recrods, Reviews, Rotting Christ (GR), Solstice (UK), The Great Kat (US), Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Oath #1 (IRE) 1993

The Oath #1 (IRE) 1993. Editor: “Alan Averill”

This zine from Primordial vocalist Alan (aka A.A. Nemtheanga) is a time capsule of rabid, underground enthusiasm. Sincere, honest commentary, essays etc. Those were exciting days indeed…with reviews, a Danish scene report, interviews and features on Acheron, Afterlife (IRE), Fifth Dominion, Emperor, Gorgon, Impaled Nazarene, Sentenced, Misanthrope, Moratorium, Disaster Area, Necromantia, Nightfall, Rotting Christ, Sceptical Schizo, Therion and more…(thx to deathmetal.org for sharing).

 

June 8, 2016 | Categories: Acheron (US), Beherit (FIN), Danish Scene Report, Demo Reviews, Emperor (NOR), Gorgon (FR), Impaled Nazarene (FIN), Live Reviews, Misanthrope (FR), Necromantia (GR), News, Nightfall (GR), Playlists, Primordial (IRE), Reviews, Rotting Christ (GR), Satanism - Occult, Sceptical Schizo (FIN), Sentenced (FIN), The Oath (IRE), Therion (SWE), Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Hammer Of Damnation #3 (Finland) January, 1993

Hammer Of Damnation #3 (Finland) January, 1993. Editor: “Niko Sirkiä” (2nd press/July 1993)

Third issue of this exceptional zine from Finland. From the more transitional/experimental period of the early extreme underground of 92/93, this issue has features and/or interviews with Ancient Rites, Apator, Archgoat, Carnifex (FIN), Organic Infest, Barathrum, Burzum, Damnatory, Castle, Damonacy, Beherit, Depravity, Satyricon, a French Scene Report, Harmony Disturbed, Laceration, Sadness, Masters Hammer, Mordor, Abysmal, Mortician Magazine, Necromantia, Pyogenesis, Throne of Ahaz, Rotting Christ, Momentum, Septicemia, Unburied and more (thx to original owner/scanner via deathmetal.org).

 

April 14, 2016 | Categories: Abysmal (NOR), Ancient Rites (BEL), Archgoat (FIN), Barathrum (FIN), Beherit (FIN), Black Crucifixion (FIN), Burzum (NOR), Damnatory (SWZ), Damonacy (US), Depravity (FIN), France Scene Report, Hammer Of Damnation (FIN), Master's Hammer (CZ), Mortician Magazine (NETH), Necromantia (GR), Osmose Productions (FR), Playlists, Pyogenesis (GER), Reviews, Rotting Christ (GR), Satyricon (NOR), Sentenced (FIN), Septicemia (GR), Throne of Ahaz (SWE), Unburied (FIN) | Leave a comment

Pestilence Zine #2 (Chile) 1991

Pestilence Zine #2 (Chile) 1991. Editors: “Patrcio Illanes” and “Hector Guzman”

From Chile, this zine is half Spanish, half English…sticks to espanol for the Chilean interviews and reviews, and goes to English for the international…features a good amount of Morbid Angel content (including a tour flyer for the 1991 Blessed Are the Sick tour I have never seen…from Orlando) and a brief interview with Pete Sandoval, also a lot from the Chilean scene as well as short interviews/features on Astaroth (FL) Atomic Aggressor, Demigod, Disharmonic Orchestra, Rotting Christ, Lubricant, Malevolent Creation, Necrodead, Samael, Xenophobia and more…(thanks to Mario for the submission)

May 21, 2014 | Categories: Adverts, Astaroth (US), Chile Scene Report, Demigod (FIN), Disharmonic Orchestra (AU), Entombed (SWE), Lubricant (FIN), Malevolent Creation (US), Morbid Angel (US), Necrodead (CH), Pestilence Zine (CH), Reviews, Rotting Christ (GR), Samael (SWTZ), Unleashed (SWE) | 1 Comment

Hammer Of Damnation #4 (Finland) July, 1993

Hammer Of Damnation #4 (Finland) July, 1993. Editor: “Niko Sirkiä” (2nd press/English)

Early 90’s cult zine out of Finland by former Thergothon keyboardist/vocalist Niko Sirkiä, features and/or interviews with Septicemia (GR), Ancient Rites, Archgoat, Burzum, Damnatory, Beherit, Depravity, Masters Hammer, French Scene Report, Mordor, Abysmal (NOR), Necromantia, Sentenced, Black Crucifixion, Pyogenesis, Dolores Records Ad, Osmose Records ad, reviews and more…

 

February 2, 2014 | Categories: Abysmal (NOR), Ancient Rites (BEL), Archgoat (FIN), Beherit (FIN), Black Crucifixion (FIN), Damnatory (SWZ), Damonacy (US), Depravity (FIN), Dolores Records (SWE), France Scene Report, Hammer Of Damnation (FIN), Master's Hammer (CZ), Mortician Magazine (NETH), Necromantia (GR), Osmose Productions (FR), Playlists, Pyogenesis (GER), Reviews, Rotting Christ (GR), Sadness (SWZ), Sentenced (FIN), Throne of Ahaz (SWE), Unburied (FIN) | 1 Comment

Tales of the Macabre #1 (Germany) 1993

Tales of the Macabre #1  (Germany) 1993. Editor: “Costa Stoios”

This zine of Germany featured many prominent ‘early’ black metal contributions and is heavy on the dark/atmospheric genres of the early 90’s overall. The editor (Stoios) apparently also ran/runs Iron Pegasus records. Features and interviews include Beherit, Barathrum, Ancient Rites, Behemoth, Emperor, Immortal, Burzum, Osmose Productions, Gorgoroth, In the Woods, Mortuary Drape, Rotting Christ, Sigh, Nocturnal Rites, and more.

September 3, 2012 | Categories: Adverts, Alastis (SWZ), Ancient Rites (BEL), Barathrum (FIN), Behemoth (POL), Beherit (FIN), Burzum (NOR), Decapitated Records (GRE), Demo Reviews, Emperor (NOR), Funeral Winds (NL), Gorgoroth (NOR), Graveland (POL), Immortal (NOR), In The Woods (NOR), Mock (NOR), Mortuary Drape (IT), Nocturnal Rites (SWE), Osmose Productions (FR), Pentacle (NL), Playlists, Reviews, Rotting Christ (GR), Sigh (JPN), Tales of the Macabre (GER), Ungod (GER), Unpure (SWE) | Leave a comment

Deathvomit Zine #2 (US) 1990

Deathvomit Zine #2 (US) 1990. Editor: Jeff McClelland

This printed, stapled zine comes from the Virgina side of Washington DC, pressed and edited by Jeff McClelland, who if I am not mistaken was also vocalist in the band Doomstone (featuring members of Deceased). The cover was an original drawing by a guy named Tom Harrison, and the back cover shows that I have here a hand-stamped “issue #108.” When you look inside you immediately notice the odd choice of colors that run through the zine, with the yellow heading/font being the hardest on the eyes- I can imagine he was not happy when he got these back from the press. But with all zines of the era, the content and interviews is what matters, and this issue is a historical goldmine for the underground.

Featuring VERY EARLY interviews and/or articles on Mortician, Tiamat, early Polish pioneers Imperator (best quote to read in Polish accent: “We had some nice gigs lately together with a lot of slammers, divers and we had alcohol/sex after shows“). As well as Amputation (pre-Immortal), Afflicted Convulsion (pre-Afflicted), Macrodex, “Cromlech” demo-era Darkthrone interview with Gylve Nagell (aka Fenriz), Rotting Christ, Gorefest, Nun Slaughter, Asphyx, Therion, Crematory, Abhorrence (pre-Amorphis), an Old Funeral article, and much more.

June 13, 2011 | Categories: Abhorrence (FIN), Abominog (US), Adverts, Afflicted (SWE), Amputation (NOR), Asphyx (NL), Blasphemy (CAN), Cadaver (NOR), Cenotaph (MEX), Cremetory (SWE), Darkthrone (NOR), Deathvomit Zine (US), Derketa (US), Funebre (FIN), Gorefest (NL), Imperator (POL), Macrodex (SWE), Massacra (FR), Mortician (US), Nunslaughter (US), Old Funeral (NOR), Phlegethon (FIN), Rotting Christ (GR), Therion (SWE), Tiamat (SWE) | 2 Comments

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