BITE THE BULLET ‘zine #1
rating: 4, 5 of 6
There’re lots of underground zines, especially in United States, however I think that Bite The Bullet won’t get lost in the mass of faceless and boring mags pretending to be ‘metal’ ones. This zine features some interesting sections like “video reviews” (on horror movies like Lucio Fulci’s “Zombie”, “Bloodsucking Freaks” and “Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn”), “tribute page” and “old school page” as well as some usual stuff in the shape of interviews (with CIVIL CARNAGE, GROINCHURN, DICHOTIC, SPAZZ, etc.) and reviews, being quite interesting to read through. Of course, design and layout could be much better, but in the same time, they’re not bad for the underground edition. I’m looking forward to the second issue…
Contact: Bite The Bullet, 86 Nelson’s Landing #216, Bedford, N.S. B4A 4C6m, Canada
Email: noclass71@hotmail.com
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

METAL MAFIA ‘zine, issue #6
rating: 3, 5 of 6
This is quite a pleasant to look at and to read through ‘zine made by three females. Unfortunately, it doesn’t feature a lot of info, only the interviews with LIVIDITY, GARDEN OF SHADOWS, THE REEFER HUT, ADNAUSEAM, D.A.G., SKINNED and Intellektual Spew ‘zine + CD, ‘zine and gig reviews (about 120 in a whole, although extremely short ones!!!). Some of the interviews are good (like the one with Mary of GARDEN OF SHADOWS), while other ones suck really bad (f.ex. with LIVIDITY and D.A.G. – too boring and typical questions…). I also would appreciate if you girls didn’t make the inties become outdated… Also, I’d like to see reviews being bigger in size. Of course, I understand that it was done due to the little amount of space, but… The design is rather average, although it’s fine for an underground edition. All in all, I think you should check it out…
Contact: Dea Evenbeck, PO Box 5101, Fostoria, OH 44830-5101 USA / Jenn Matthews, 19 Wilson Blvd., Eagleville, PA 19403, USA / Jill Girardi, PO Box 308, Deer Park, NY 11729, USA
P.S. Remove that ‘artistic humour corner’ and paintings now!!! They’re just ridiculous!
P.S.S. One more little advice – if you want to promote a band, you should ask them interesting questions provoking interesting answers, unlike you did in the D.A.G.’s intie. Questions there are banal to the core, and answers are just stupid. However, I guess I couldn’t expect anything else from a ‘live’ interview answered by 16-year old kids playing hardcore…
P.S.S.S. Oh, and one more thing… Despite that q’s are mostly splendid ones, you should ask more about the band’s music itself. Eventhough I’ve read the intie with REEFER HUT and LIVIDITY, I couldn’t understand what are these acts all about…
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

NEW ROCK REVIEW magazine, issue 22
rating: 3 of 6
This is a bit not my cup of tea, that’s why the rating is so low. New Rock Review mostly feature the bands which I’m totally unconversant with; like ADRENALIN KICK, POUNDHOUND (a band formed by Doug of KING’S X), TOWNE CRYER XXI, ROOT and such. The only name I’m familiar with, is Dave Ellefson (MEGADETH’s bassist), as well as aforementioned Doug. Besides interviews, this issue has some splendid gig reviews (I really like the one on FANTOMAS’ performance! Matt Walsh (the guy who wrote it) is really talented when it comes to writing reviews – at least, he made me to wait impatiently for the debut effort from this band…!), ROOT’s coloured poster and quite a big number of reviews, rather short but enough informative, although phrases like ‘I am a slight fan of good death music, always hated the vocals, but this is a bit much, even for death metal’ (review on BETWEEN THE FROST’s CD) or ‘The sampler highlights many of black metals biggest groups from Sweden, Germany, etc. If you are looking for a true goth metal experience, pick up the sampler. But if you’re not into the music that sounds like TYPE O NEGATIVE, pass it up’ (review on “Gods Of Darkness”, a Nuclear Blast’s BM sampler) make me somehow embarassed. If you write a review on black metal stuff, you should know what this music is all about, or at least, have to see difference between TYPE OF NEGATIVE and CRADLE OF FILTH! Anyway, all in all it’s a nice zine, but not for black metallers for sure!
Contact: New Rock Review, 7438 Allsup Str., Houston TX 77061-3820 USA
Email: NewRockMag@aol.com
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

SATAN’S CANDY BUSKET ‘zine, issue #3
rating: 5 of 6
Ah, and this is something I like!!! This ‘zine is very well packaged and published (almost in a professional way, although that underground feeling is still here…), featuring interviews with CANNIBAL CORPSE, FEAR FACTORY, INSATANITY, FLESHGRIND, SEVERANCE, JUNGLE ROT, IMMOLATION and many others, besides there’s surprisingly can be found the one with Bruce Campbell (Ash from “Evil Dead 1, 2, 3”) amongst them! Besides exciting interviews (the questions are well thoughtout and lack any trace of banality), this ‘zine has lots a “news” section and tons of various reviews; on videos (as always, mostly horror movies), gigs, ‘zines, CDs and demo tapes. Most of them are good, however I have to say that I can’t understand why does Burt reviews and gives a high rating to such shit as BLACK EYED PEAS, the ones who play hip hop??! Seems like we have different tastes in music, that’s for sure… There’s also too much hardcore in the “ear candy” (i.e. reviews) section… Ok, enough with it. It’s just my own opinion. Let’s better talk about the good sides of Satan’s Candy Basket. One more pleasant thing concerning this edition goes for the good sense of humour Burt has. I really appreciate it… The volume 4 should be out very soon, so beware! And while now, get this one immediately!
Contact: Beowolf Productions, 644E High Street / Apt. 2B, Pottstown, PA. 19464 USA
Email: BeowolfCo@aol.com
(review by Herr Stalhammar)