BLACK LIGHT
Issue #11 (Summer 2001)
rating: 5 / 6
It seems like Black Light appears as the Spain underground media’s leading star, and there’re no reasons for me to state that they don’t deserve such a title. Once again we have a chance to read through in-depth interviews with DEICIDE, ANCIENT, CHAOSTAR, VIVIAN BLACK (who the hell is that???), DIMMU BORGIR, SIEBENBURGEN, PANDEMIA, GOD DETHRONED, RAKOTH (these kids become more and more self-confident as time’s passing by… a pity, indeed), BEFORE GOD, PANTHEON, AS ALL DIE and NARGAROTH, as well as a pretty entertaining article on Varg Vikernes and highly exciting chat with Peter H.Gilmore (no need to tell anything regarding him to those who’re already familiar with this name… as to others – well, check out this mag and find out yourselves what Mr. Gilmore stands for). Surprise, surprise – this issue also features an interview with NARGATHROND (the band I take part in), as well as a review on Vae Solis in WWW section. Add a certain quantity of reviews, tabs and few more sections – and you’ll get one of the best mags around. The only problem goes for the fact Black Light is all Spanish-written. The time has come to learn few more languages, don’t you think?
Email: blacklight@unholycross.com
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

BLACK LIGHT
Issue #13 (Autumn 2001)
rating: 5 / 6
Well, everything’s basically the same as before: a pile of well-crafted chats with ANCIENT WISDOM, EINSATZ KOMMANDO, CASUS BELLI, AVERSE SEFIRA, Sarah Jezebel Deva, ANCIENT RITES, as well as  VIRGIN BLACK, ENID, DORNENREICH, GRAVEWORM and AD INFERNA (taken from Romania’s Kogaionon mag) + interview with the representative of Templo Del Vampiro (by Vincent Crowley @ ACHERON) and satanic artist Rex Diabolus, news, reviews, WWW section and a couple of tabs. Check it out folks!
P.S. By the way, good news for those of you who don’t speak Spanish: this month Black Light will also be available in English.
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

LEATHER N’ SPIKES
Issue #6, 2001
rating: 3,5 / 6
Total underground this time. You don’t ever have to read anything featured in LnS; just take a look at the “coverart” and you’ll immediately figure out what this zine stands for. Usually I like editions of this kind, but only when they’re thoroughly soaked with presence grim… otherwise, you get something like Leather n’ Spikes: lotsa ugly humour, scary layout, mostly average and sometimes near stupid questionnaires. Nevertheless, it has a couple of highlights, such as all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-DISSECTION article (16 pages of exciting reading and valuable info), as well as pretty amusing chat with DECAYED (this one’s definitely worth reading!). Then you also have some reviews (NOT worth the reading… although, who said that mine are better? Hmm… Self-criticism rolls in, doesn’t it?) and ten more inties (w/ KREATOR, DISCIPLES OF POWER, OUROBOROS, ANARAZEL, SONS OF SATAN, … AND OCEANS, TERMINAL DESCENT, CULT OF DEATH, IRON YOUTH and ARCTIC CIRCLE). All in all, concluding whether LnS is worth checking out or not… it depends.
Website: www.geocities.com/nuklearcath
Email: clac@globetrotter.net
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

VAMPIRIA
“My Kingdom” (#5)
rating: 5 / 6
Welcome back! “My Kingdom” is much better than “Lilith’s Dream”, the previous issue, and taking into account that one was a really good one, you know what to expect from this “new and improved” thing, don’t you? Most probably, Vampiria is Italy’s best independent edition, at least I haven’t ever read a better mag of the same origin. First of all, it’s doubtlessly pro-done in terms of print quality and overall appearance – and, secondly, Vampiria features rather excellent, well-constructed chats (w/ bands like NECRODEATH, ZYKLON, NOTRE DAME, CANAAN, GIRLS UNDER GLASS, VARATHRON, ARISE FROM THORNS, GOTHICA and a dozen more), even though questions suffer a bit from certain kind of gigantism. Unsurprisingly, this mag also comes with a reviews section and article on Aleister Crowley and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn AND double-CD compilation. Obviously, perfection has no limits, and therefore, I won’t be surprised if a follow-up to “My Kingdom” turns out even more intriguing…
Email: Vampiria@inwind.it
(review by Herr Stalhammar)