Metal History Through Fanzines

Sigh (JPN)

Blasphemous #1 (Greece) 1991

Blasphemous #1 (Greece) 1991. Editors: “Morbid”, “John”, “Stephan” and “Photis”

 

Received this fantastic early 90’s gem directly from the source (thanks for sharing Swamp beast!); a bit uneven in parts but the ambition is undeniable; pretty much a ‘who’s who’ of both black and death metal circa 90/91, from the demo reviews to the articles and interviews. Now out bound in book form from Fryktos! Features Abbhorrent, Transgressor, Blasphemy, Alastis, Desecrator, Sentenced, Atrocity, Baphomet, Beherit, Mortify, Darkthrone, Noktunral, Deadhead, Convulse, Deceased, Sigh, Entombed, Horrified, Septic Flesh, Messiah, Misanthrope, Mortuary Drape, Mystifier, Necromantia, Nocturnus, Septic Flesh, Pentagram (MEX), Phlegethon, Rotting Christ, Bolt Thrower, Necrofist, Sadus, Sargatanas, Sarcofago, Ripping Corpse, Satanas, Necrophobic, Sextrash, Vader, Varathron, Vital Remains, reviews and more….

 

October 24, 2018 | Categories: Alastis (SWZ), Atrocity (GER), Baphomet (US), Beherit (FIN), Blasphemous (GRE), Blasphemy (CAN), Bolt Thrower (UK), Convulse (FIN), Darkthrone (NOR), Dead Head (NL), Deceased (US), Entombed (SWE), Messiah (SWZ), Misanthrope (FR), Mortuary Drape (IT), Mystifier (BZL), Necromantia (GR), Necrophobic (SWE), Nocturnus (US), Nokturnel (US), Sadus (US), Sarcofago (BZL), Sentenced (FIN), Septic Flesh (GR), Sex Trash (BZL), Sigh (JPN), Transgressor (JP), Uncategorized, Vader (POL), Varathron (GR), Vital Remains (US) | Leave a comment

Charontaphos #1 (Netherlands) 1993

Charontaphos #1 (Netherlands) 1993. Editor: Ndizi Na Nyama

Dutch zine with a wide range of early 90s underground notables. Interviews with Absu, Apator, Belphegor (that old logo!), Belial, Burzum, Dark Tranquillity, Ceremonial Oath, D.A.B., Decayed, Elbereth, Gorgon, Gorement, Inverted, Wombbath, Katatonia, Malefic Oath, Spina Bifida, Nuclear Death, Mordor, Necropsy, Cartilage, Nembrionic Hammerdeath, Momentum, Nightfall, Gutwrench, Pyrexia, Sentenced, Sigh, Throne of Ahaz, Witches, Sathanas, a Norwegian Scene report, reviews and more…this was a submission, but after some research, it appears it was originally scanned and shared to Asmodian Coven by Pawel (so thanks for preserving the history Pawel!)(Also interesting, the editors ‘nom de plume’-“Ndizi Na Nyama” -is actually Swahili for “bananas/plantains and meat”). PDF in downloads section.

 

September 6, 2018 | Categories: Absu (US), Belial (FIN), Belphegor (AU), Burzum (NOR), Cartilage (FIN), Ceremonial Oath (SWE), Charontaphos Zine (NL), D.A.B. (FR), Dark Tranquility (SWE), Decayed (POR), Displeased Records (NL), Elbereth (SP), Gorement (SWE), Gorgon (FR), Inverted (SWE), Katatonia (SWE), Mordor (SWZ), Necropsy (FIN), Nembrionic Hammerdeath (NL), Nightfall (GR), Norway Scene Report, Norwegian Scene Report, Nuclear Death (US), Pyrexia (US), Sentenced (FIN), Sigh (JPN), Throne of Ahaz (SWE), Uncategorized, Witches (FR), Wombbath (SWE) | Leave a comment

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

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

Pure Fucking Hell #2 (FIN) 1994

Pure Fucking Hell #2 (FIN) 1994. Editor: “Pete Ilvespakka”

Zine from former Depravity (among other acts) bassist ‘Pete’ Ilvespakka, features a number of highly regarded early 90s underground icons, including No Fashion Records, Enslaved, Emperor, Varathron, Deranged, Merciless, Mortuary Drape, Occult, Order From Chaos, Pungent Stench, Tormentor (HUN), Beherit, Ancient Rites, and much more. Credit and thanks to deathmetal.org and original scanner/owner.

 

August 14, 2016 | Categories: Adverts, Ancient Rites (BEL), Astaroth (US), Beherit (FIN), Deranged (SWE), Dismember (SWE), Emperor (NOR), Enslaved (NOR), Mayhem (NOR), Merciless (SWE), Mortuary Drape (IT), No Fashion Records (SWE), Nuclear Blast Records (GER), Occult (NL), Order From Chaos (US), Osmose Productions (FR), Pungent Stench (AU), Pure Fucking Hell (FIN), Sigh (JPN), Tormentor (HU), Uncategorized, Varathron (GR) | Leave a comment

The Oath #2 (IRE) 1994

The Oath #2 (IRE) 1994. Editor: “Alan Averill”

Issue #2 of this classic zine from Primordial vocalist Alan (aka A.A. Nemtheanga). Features and interviews with Decoryah, Fleurety, a German Scene report, an essay on Glen Benton, Monumentum, Graveland, Mordor, Illska, No Fashion Records, Mayhem, Balder, Cruachan, Gorgoroth, Mortuary Drape, Moonspell, Sigh, Varathron, and more. (Thanks to original scanner and host darklegions for sharing)

 

July 10, 2016 | Categories: Cruachan (IRE), Decoryah (FIN), Deicide (US), Fleurety (NOR), Germany Scene Report, Gorgoroth (NOR), Graveland (POL), Mayhem (NOR), Monumentum (IT), Moonspell (POR), Mordor (SWZ), Mortuary Drape (IT), No Fashion Records (SWE), Sigh (JPN), The Oath (IRE), Uncategorized, Varathron (GR) | 1 Comment

Isten #5 (Finland) 1990

Isten #5 (Finland) 1990. Editors: “Mikko Mattila” and “Luxi Lahtinen”

Fantastic, long-running zine from Finland (in English) that is one of the few to achieve truly ‘cult’ status – and on that note, they are apparently constructing a retrospective book (!) that is currently closing in on 800 pages. Stay tuned- (Their F-book page is here for updates). This is issue #5 from Mikko and Luxi, just an amazing example of DIY publishing from the golden era of death metal. Thanks to Vladimir P. for sending it over. This MASSIVE 93+ page issue features interviews and features with/on Acheron, Afflicted, Asphyx, Vacant Grave, Baphomet, Devastation, Darkthrone, deadhorse, Deceased, Disgrace, Disharmonic Orchestra, Entombed, Exit-13, Funebre, Gorefest, Impetigo, Invocator, Maple Cross, Metalion (Slayer Mag), Morgoth, Order From Chaos, Paradise Lost, Phantasm, Phlegethon, Seraphic Decay Records, Sigh, Therion, Vital Remains, Xysma, reviews and many more.

November 25, 2013 | Categories: Acheron (US), Afflicted (SWE), Asphyx (NL), Baphomet (US), Darkthrone (NOR), Dead Horse (US), Deceased (US), Demigod (FIN), Devastation (US), Disgrace (FIN), Disharmonic Orchestra (AU), Entombed (SWE), Exit 13 (US), Fanzines, Funebre (FIN), Gorefest (NL), Impetigo (US), Invocator (DK), Isten (FIN), Morgoth (GER), Order From Chaos (US), Paradise Lost (UK), Phantasm (US), Phlegethon (FIN), Playlists, Reviews, Seraphic Decay Records, Sigh (JPN), Slayer Zine (NOR), Therion (SWE), Uncategorized, Vacant Grave (US), Vital Remains (US), Xysma (FIN), Zine Reviews | Leave a 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

Sinistrari Zine #1 (USA), 1992

Sinistrari Zine #1 (USA), 1993. Editor: ZAID

I picked this zine up somewhere around 1992/93, and it quickly became a favorite. Well written, in multiple languages (in some interviews), with well thought-out questions revealing an international vibe that reflected the multi-national unity of the nascent death/black underground. First issue, top notch-not sure if he put any more out. It’s from my home town area of Washington DC, although I can not remember how I got it. There was no editorial, but after some research, it seems it was published by Gelal of the band GRAND BELIAL’s KEY. Anyways, great interviews from a crucial period when there actually was a real ‘scene.’

April 27, 2011 | Categories: Anatomy (AUS), Bands, Barathrum (FIN), Belial (FIN), Blood Duster (AUS), Cabal (SWE), Cartilage (FIN), Convulse (FIN), Cryptic Tales (POL), Death Metal Zine Poland (interview), Deceased (US), Demigod (FIN), Desultory (SWE), Disaffected (POR), Emperor (NOR), Godforsaken (FIN), Human Remains (US), Hypocrite (SWE), Impaled Nazarene (FIN), Lobotomy (SWE), Lubricant (FIN), Morbius (US), Mordicus (FIN), My Dying Bride (UK), Necrophobic (SWE), Nocturnal Rites (SWE), Pan-Thy-Monium (SWE), Phantasm (US), Polish Scene Report, Samael (SWTZ), Sarcoma (US), Sentenced (FIN), Sigh (JPN), Sinistrari Magazine (US), Transgressor (JP), Unholy (FIN), Virginia Scene Report, Vital Remains (US) | Leave a comment

Enigmatic Delusions #4 (NY, USA) 1993

Enigmatic Delusions #4 (NY, USA) 1993: Editor “Fawn”

Stapled on Xerox copies. Featuring Enemy Soil, Internal Bleeding, Sigh, Astaroth (notable for VERY early Tony Laureno), Impetigo, Acheron, Sigh and more…

September 10, 2010 | Categories: Acheron (US), Astaroth (US), Enemy Soil (US), Enigmatic Delusions (US), Flotsam and Jetsam (US), Impetigo (US), Internal Bleeding (US), Mercyful Fate (DK), Relapse Records (US), Sigh (JPN) | Leave a comment

Subcide Zine #1 (Christchurch, NZ) 1994

Subcide Zine #1 (Christchurch, NZ) 1994. Hand Numbered Issue #66 – Editor: Chris Rigby

This debut issue of the New Zealand Fanzine was killer, focusing on the visiting Carcass’ shows and subsequent interview in NZ. Also features Internal Bleeding, Dying Fetus, Haemorrhage, Pungent Stench, Sigh, Angelkill, and Blood Duster:

August 6, 2010 | Categories: Angelkill (US), Blood Duster (AUS), Carcass (UK), Dying Fetus (US), Haemorrhage (SP), Internal Bleeding (US), Pungent Stench (AU), Sigh (JPN), Subcide Zine (NZ) | Leave a comment