Metal History Through Fanzines

Metal Blade Records (US)

Brain Damage #1 (USA – CA) 1984

Brain Damage #1 (USA – CA) 1984. Editors: Vadim Rubin” and “Ron Nieto”

Out of Long Beach, CA with help from Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel) and others, this zine features some rare photos, insights and  playlists from the very pivotal year of 1984. Interesting also Slayer is called “black metal”- just shows you how interchangeable all the terms were at the time (before certain sub-genres separated themselves)…check out the reviews as well for Mantas’ demo, among others…[Thanks to the original scanner, this was forwarded to me by a supporter of the archive]. Features and interviews with Hirax, Destruction, Dark Angel, Death Angel, Celtic Frost, Jag Panzer, Mercyful Fate, Omen, Overkill, Possessed and Voivod.

April 5, 2015 | Categories: Brain Damage Zine (US), Celtic Frost (SWZ), Dark Angel (US), Death Angel (US), Destruction (GER), Hirax (US), Jag Panzer (US), Mercyful Fate (DK), Metal Blade Records (US), Omen (US), Overkill (US), Possessed (US), Reviews, Slayer (US), Uncategorized, Voivod (CAN) | 1 Comment

Rock Hard #8 (NY, USA) 1986

Rock Hard #8 (NY, USA) 1986. Editor: “Keith Miller”

Rock Hard (not the most original name through the years, by any means) was a US fanzine based out of upstate NY that covered mostly heavy metal, but you could see the heavier stuff creeping in by 85-86, and the extensive record reviews are cool to check out for a nice run-down of all the pivotal albums that were dropping at this time…a very transitional period indeed. Also interesting to see eventual Roadracer/Roadrunner A/R guy Monte Connor in his college radio days here, with the Baruch College playlist featured. Interviews and features with the likes of Wehrmacht, Executioner, Holy Moses, Queensryche, Fastway, Bitch, New Renaissance Records, Savage Death (pre-Nokturnel), Metal Blade Records, Savage Thrust, Siren, Burning Starr, Blacklace and more.

October 11, 2013 | Categories: Bitch (US), Blacklace (US), Burning Starr (US), Executioner (US), Holy Moses (GER), Metal Blade Records (US), New Renaissance Records (US), Nokturnel (US), Playlists, Queensryche (US), Reviews, Rock Hard Zine (US), Siren (US), Wehrmacht (US) | Leave a comment

Kick Ass #26 (NY, USA) July 1984

Kick Ass #26 (NY, USA) July 1984. Editor: Bob Muldowney

Incredible piece of metal history here, right down to the Metallica Ad and a Witch Cross feature (who just had their album re-released on Hell’s Headbangers records I might add- get it, a forgotten classic). Features, Ads, live reviews and interviews with Anvil, Angel Witch, Battleaxe, Blacklace, Nasty Savage, Hades, Hirax, Manilla Road, Raven, Motorhead, Lee Aaron, Running Wild, Venom, Twisted Sister, Sodom, and more…

April 6, 2013 | Categories: Angel Witch (UK), Anvil (CAN), Battleaxe (UK), Blacklace (US), Hades (US), Hirax (US), Kick Ass (US), Live Reviews, Manilla Road (US), Metal Blade Records (US), Metallica (US), Motorhead (UK), Nasty Savage (US), News, Playlists, Raven (UK), Reviews, Running Wild (GER), Sodom (GER), Twisted Sister (US), Venom (UK), Witch Cross (DEN) | Leave a comment

Brain Damage Zine #1 (California, USA) 1984

Brain Damage Zine #1 (California, USA) 1984. Editors: “Vadim Rubin and Ron Nieto”

Here is classic from Long Beach – straight from the dawn of the underground. Thanks to Adrian at Pest Webzine for sending these scans over and helping me get a post up despite me being away from home for another 10 days. This issue has write-ups on Slayer, Mercyful Fate, Overkill, Omen, Destruction, Hirax (interview), Death Angel, Celtic Frost, etc.

 

February 24, 2012 | Categories: Adverts, Brain Damage Zine (US), Celtic Frost (SWZ), Dark Angel (US), Death Angel (US), Destruction (GER), Hirax (US), Jag Panzer (US), Mercyful Fate (DK), Metal Blade Records (US), Omen (US), Overkill (US), Playlists, Possessed (US), Reviews, Slayer (US), Voivod (CAN) | Leave a comment

M.A.R.S. #4 (NY, USA) May, 1987

M.A.R.S. #4 (NY, USA) May, 1987, Editor: “Alec Dana”

This photocopied and stapled ‘zine’ was more of a newsletter (the editor stated as much), and this is actually the first issue to feature interviews extensively rather than just album reviews. Mid to late-80s, they focused on speed and power metal primarily (as the “best of 1986” indicates), and this issue features interviews with under the radar bands like Steel Prophet Siren, Oliver magnum and Sacred Oath, live reviews from NYC including Slayer on the World Sacrifice tour,  as well as a cool essay on the then NEW music media COMPACT DISCS! What to make of those strange things…? (but at least they lasted longer than 8 tracks). Contrary to the cover, Dream Death was actually not in this zine….The real gem here is the short but entertaining interview with “Peace Sells…” era Megadeth (w/Dave M. and Dave E.). One notable comment is somewhat timely today, as Dave Mustaine rips apart Motorhead, who actually in recent weeks he ‘personally’ invited onto his signature Gigantour next year (2012). I guess things change over 24 years…

October 3, 2011 | Categories: Live Reviews, M.A.R.S. News letter, Megadeth (US), Metal Blade Records (US), Playlists, Sacred Oath (US), Siren (US), Slayer (US), Steel Prophet (US) | 1 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

Disposable Underground #6 (VA, USA) 1993

Disposable Underground #6 (VA, USA) 1993, Editor: “Richard Johnson”

This zine was almost hometown for me, coming out of the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. At the time Rich was in grind pathfinders ENEMY SOIL, prior to going on to playing in the likes of AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED and DRUGS OF FAITH.  He is called the “grindfather” for a reason, and his early work for the scene was carved out in this long running zine, that can now be found online in downloadable format here, (where you can also find FULL ISSUES dating back to the glory days, including this one…check it out!) Features God Forsaken, Resist, Monstrosity, Sick of it All and more..

December 26, 2010 | Categories: Disposable Underground (US), Godforsaken (FIN), Gwar (US), Live Reviews, Metal Blade Records (US), Monstrosity (US), Morbid Angel (US), Relapse Records (US), Sick of It All (US) | Leave a comment