BLACK LIGHT
Issue #10
rating: 5 of 6
I may be mistaken, but it seems like Black Light is one of the leading mags in Spain. I guess that metalheads over there should be twice as thankful for getting such an edition. This one comes with brilliant pro-printed appearance, featuring both long and short chats with ASTARTE, VINTERSORG, IN EXTREMO, MACTATUS, OPERA IX, DREAMS OF SANITY, CHRISTIAN DEATH, HIMINBJORG, THUNDERBOLT, VIOLATION, PENUMBRA, JUDAS ISCARIOT, ERED and AKERBELTZ, news section, reviews, tabs, letters section, WWW reports (i.e. descriptions of various web-sites dealing with musical and religious issues this or that way), doubtlessly exciting article on Vlad Tepes, as well as free CD a MYSTIC CIRCLE poster. What I don't like, is the way Emilio Hueso (one of the contributors) compiles the questionnaires: sometimes he succeeds in delivering pretty intriguing interviews, however his attempts most often appear as rather incomprehensible. To put it straight: I prefer the inties made by Alex Hdez. Unfortunately, Black Light is all Spanish-written, therefore it looks like you guys have to learn this language. Sooner or later. Black Light is worth it. (Herr Stalhammar)

EXTREME DENSE ART newsletter
Issue #1, Autumn / Winter Anno 2000
rating: 4 of 6
Quite enjoyable piece. If I'm not mistaken, this is the first issue brought forth the light by Tomasz, and it seems like he's definitely succeeded in this venture. This one comes with comprehensibly composed reviews, as well as chats with APOCALYPTIC RAIDS, REDIVIVUS, MISTRESS, AUTUMNAL REAPER and TEMPLE OF BAAL (the questions are fine, even though they deal only with musically oriented subjects) and yet one more article covering this somewhat hackneyed vampiric theme (entitled "Vampires: Myth Or History"… quite entertaining, to say the least). All in all, this newsletter appears as undoubtedly worthy piece of underground, therefore don't hesitate to contact Tomasz in order to obtain your copy (as well as ordering the latest work by THRONEUM, the band he takes part in).
Email: tomaszh@poland.com
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

FORGOTTEN CHAPEL
Issue #3
rating: 4 of 6
Polish zine, rather entertaining to say the least. Coming with plenty of reviews and interviews ("stylistically" varying from TWISTER TOWER DIRE to GOSPEL OF THE HORNS) and solid doze of humour (sometimes utterly stupid), this zine is worthy enough to check it out.
Email: sinner@yoyo.pl
       metalmat@go2.pl
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

KOGAIONON
Issue #7 (Spring 2001)
rating: 6 of 6
Whew! What a surprise! This Romanian mag strikes as one of the best I've ever read! Brilliant and well-structured interviews definitely is what makes Kogaionon an outstanding edition. I confess, I wish that the interviews I place in my own mag would be AS exciting. Doru undoubtedly put a lot of time and effort into this venture - and well… he succeeded! The only weak point is the review section. If I wrote the reviews the way he does, I would most possibly compose hundred a day. Too short and lacking the info each of us is hoping to find - that's the reason why I wouldn't say that Kogaionon is a synonym for perfection. However, it's still the sort of mag you simply HAVE TO obtain.
P.S. Amongst others, you'll find chats with ORPHANED LAND, OPETH, GRAVEWORM, MY DYING BRIDE, DORNENREICH and CREST OF DARKNESS (all in all seventeen inties).
Email: kogaionon@warpnet.ro
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

THE LAND OF SORROW
Issue #6
rating: 5 of 6
Quite an exciting piece we have here. If I'm not mistaken, two girls appear as the masterminds behind this mag, and hey, they're definitely doing a good job! 6th issue features chats with HERESIARH (most intriguing intie here), SERPENT LORE, FALLACY, CALLENISH CIRCLE, NIFELHEIM, THE FIRSTBORN, CRANIAL TORMENT, HOLOCAUSTO CANIBAL and ANACHRONIA, as well as Madeira and Ireland's scene reports, reviews and a couple of live reports. What made me to fell in love with this mag, is the way these girls compose the questionnaires and reviews, which are surprisingly long, revealing everything that should be revealed when it comes to this or that band's effort. Written in a (fairly) good English, hauntingly enrapturing since the very beginning till the very end, The Land Of Sorrow undoubtedly appears as the best way to spend your spare time on. Surely one of the best 'zines I've got myself acquainted with so far.
Email: realmofsorrow@yahoo.com
       negativeghost@clix.pt
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

UNDERWORLD zine
Issues 1 & 2
rating: 1,5 of 6
This is crap, man! Totally underground (unfortunately, this time in the worst sense of this word), featuring chats with mostly unknown acts, such as NYARLATHOTEP, BEAST PETRIFY, SPIRITUAL IMPURITY, 11 in total (when it comes to the second issue), as well as reviews and "partial listing of distros / labels", this is definitely not the kind of zine I'd ever buy. Well, I must confess, few questions work out really good, however others appear as utterly impregnated with a wicked sense of humour Roy (the mastermind) has, and needless to say, I almost hate these ones. Furthermore, don't expect glossy paper or whatever, since Underworld is a xeroxed edition. Lastly, I guess I have to say that both issues come with a compilation CD, and unfortunately, I wouldn't consider it an advantage, at least in case with Underworld. To figure out "why", check out the review featured above ("various compilations" section, as all of you have already probably guessed). The only thing I appreciate, is Roy's sincerity - but that's not enough to have a good time reading a certain mag, don't you think…?
Website: http://drop.to/underworld
Email: roysrealm@yahoo.com
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

VAMPIRIA
Issue #4, "Lilith's Dream"
September 2000
rating: 4,5 of 6
Well, first of all, this is not Spanish Vampiria, but the one emerging from the Roman Empire. To start with, I have to admit that this mag is done quite professionally when it comes to layout, as well as appearance in the whole. It's black and white (or more likely, GREY, black and white) when it comes to color palette, however that even adds some kind of certain somber ambience. The questionnaires are well composed, featuring lotsa intriguing and sometimes a bit weird sort of questions; the same goes for reviews… and actually that's all, since there's only one (rather boring) article besides the aforementioned sections to be discovered while getting yourselves acquainted with Vampiria. And now drawbacks. First and foremost: this mag severely suffers because of rather poor English, it's not AS poor to become completely incomprehensible, but still quite irritating. And secondly… Well, seems like I've already mentioned that: interviews, reviews, small news section and one single article… that's not enough, Francesco! Nevertheless, Vampiria is a mag definitely worth mentioning… and ordering (buying, stealing).
P.S. Almost forgot… "Lilith's Dream" features chats with ANUBI, ABORYM, UMBRA, AUTUMN TEARS, ILDFROST, LUNAR AURORA, MALDOROR, LOVE LIKE BLOOD, NAZCA, GOSPEL OF THE HORNS, THYRFING, FURVUS, DECAPITATED, NOVEMBRE, RAISON D'ETRE, ULCUS, PRIMARY SLAVE and HATRED. I only hope that one of the next issues will feature an intie arranged with me and ROSSOMAHAAR. Don't you think the same way, Francesco?
Email: vampiria@inwind.it
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

VAMPIRIA
Issue #5
rating: 4 of 6
And now Spanish Vampiria. Unfortunately, I have to admit that this one proposes definitely less exciting reading, at least if one would compare 'em to their Italy's namesakes. This is mainstream in it's purest form, however don't get me wrong: I'm talking about the finest sense of this word here. Coming with excellent appearance and usual mainstream mag's contents (reviews and interviews (chats with BAL-SAGOTH, VADER, SOLEFALD, FALL OF THE LEAFE, MERCYLESS and few others (11 in total)), Vampiria won't be a waste of money (especially taking into account the fact it has a free CD inside), but only if you reside in Spain or at least speak Spanish, since… yes, just like Black Light, it's all Spanish-written. And by the way: making the questionnaires a bit less hackneyed would be much appreciated. At least when it comes to my humble person. (Herr Stalhammar)
Email: vampiriazine@hotmail.com
(review by Herr Stalhammar)