Metal History Through Fanzines

Slayer Zine (NOR)

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

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

Disposable Underground #3 (VA, USA) 1991

Disposable Underground #3 (VA, USA) 1991, Editor: “Richard Johnson”

Issue #2 of DI, out of the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. Again, Rich was in early grind outfit Enemy Soil, prior to going on to playing in the likes of Agoraphobic Nosebleed and now Drugs of Faith.  This long running zine can now be found online in downloadable format here, both new and old issues.

This issue has live reviews, adverts, reviews, opinions (one from Deceased guitarist Mike Smith) features and interviews with/on the Foundations Forum, Riki Rachtman, Slayer Zine, Cannibal Corpse, Atheist, Autopsy, Bolt Thrower, Coroner, Death, Dark Angel, Grave, Gorguts, Hexx, Fates Warning, Impetigo, Believer, Overkill, Queensryche, Pestilence, Relapse Records, Suffocation, Sacrifice, Unleashed, Century Media and much more…

 

June 7, 2014 | Categories: Adverts, Anacrusis (US), Atheist (US), Autopsy (US), Believer (US), Bolt Thrower (UK), Cannibal Corpse (US), Century Media Records, Coroner (SWZ), Dark Angel (US), Death (US), Demo Reviews, Fates Warning (US), Foundations Forum, Gorguts (CAN), Grave (SWE), Gwar (US), Hexx (US), Live Reviews, Mythic (US), Overkill (US), Queensryche (US), Relapse Records (US), Reviews, Riki Rachtman, Sacrifice (CAN), Slayer Zine (NOR), Suffocation (US), Unleashed (SWE), Virginia Scene Report, Washington DC Scene Report | Leave a 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

Exhume Zine #4 (Tennessee, USA) July 1993

Exhume Zine #4 (Tennessee, USA) July 1993. Editor: James Kelly Enochs III.

This was the fourth and final issue of Exhume (issue #3 was put up a while ago), and like the previous, it was stapled on thick, copied paper. This makes for some hard eye-squint reading in places, but nothing that zooming in can not fix. The editorial reflects the interesting time that was 1993 in the underground, as ‘first wave’ death metal bands were either breaking up, getting weird/stagnating/soft, or signing to major labels. Some bands you may know like Samael, who are still going today, and others like Afflicted and Seance were very cool bands that broke up shortly thereafter. Also check  scene reports from Lithuania and New Zealand, as well as an interview with Metalion of the Slayer Zine from Norway.

November 6, 2011 | Categories: Absu (US), Acheron (US), Adverts, Afflicted (SWE), Ancient Rites (BEL), Blood (GER), Denial of God (DEN), Eve of Mourning (US), Excidium (IT), Excruciating Terror (US), Exhume Zine (US), Furbowl (SWE), Grand Belial's Key (US), Head Not Found Productions (NOR), Lithuania Scene Report, Necrony (SWE), Necrosanct (UK), New Zealand Scene Report, Reviews, Samael (SWTZ), Seance (SWE), Slayer Zine (NOR), Symphony of Grief (US), Varathron (GR) | 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 #10 (Norway) 1994

Slayer Zine #10 (Norway). 1994. Editor: “Metalion” (highlights)

This is a massive issue, 75+ pages of (nearly all) black metal, featuring almost every major name in the scene at the time. Printed on thick paper, with a red cover, it ushered in yet another step in great quality from this long running Norwegian zine. Also check out the Bazillion Points Press of the “Slayer Mag Diaries” -out now. Highlights include VERY early interviews with Opeth (even before Timo Ketola masterfully reworked their logo) and Dissection, right after the release of The Somberlain. For dark humor, I suggest the great answers provided in both the Nifelheim and Sadistik Exekution interviews. And well, for all the black metal history buffs, this one is just stocked with it (check out the prison interview with Thorns) . Also of note is the fantastic Bathory retrospective.

July 14, 2011 | Categories: Abruptum (SWE), Absu (US), Adverts, Bathory (SWE), Burzum (NOR), Cradle of Filth (UK), Dark Funeral (SWE), Darkthrone (NOR), Deceased (US), Dissection (SWE), Emperor (NOR), Enslaved (NOR), Equimanthorn (US), Euronymous (NOR), Gehenna (NOR), In The Woods (NOR), Insanity (US), Marduk (SWE), Mayhem (NOR), Mortiis (NOR), Mysticum (NOR), Necrovore (US), Nifelheim (SWE), Opeth (SWE), Ophthalamia (SWE), Order From Chaos (US), Reviews, Sadistic Intent (US), Sadistik Exekution (AUS), Satyricon (NOR), Slayer Zine (NOR), The 3rd and the Mortal (NOR), Thorns (NOR), Thou Shalt Suffer (NOR), Ulver (NOR) | 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

Slayer #8 (Norway) 1991

Slayer #8 (Norway) 1991. Editor: Jon “Metalion” Kristiansen (highlights)

Present at the creation, this is perhaps the most famous death/black metal zine ever out of Europe. This long-running example of underground gold was seemingly always packed with the best and most notable interviews, surrounded by top-notch DIY art and layout, on great pro-print. It really speaks for itself, and for die-hards I highly recommend the recent hardback pressing of the final issue, as well as the “Slayer Mag Diaries” due out in June from Bazillion Points.

March 10, 2011 | Categories: Acheron (US), Atrocity (GER), Bolt Thrower (UK), Carbonized (SWE), Deicide (US), Disharmonic Orchestra (AU), Earache Records (UK), Entombed (SWE), Immolation (US), Master's Hammer (CZ), Mayhem (NOR), Napalm Death (UK), Nocturnus (US), Nuclear Blast Records (GER), Paradise Lost (UK), Peaceville Records (UK), Slayer Zine (NOR), Therion (SWE), Tiamat (SWE), Unleashed (SWE) | Leave a comment