FACEWARD WIND ‘zine
Issue #1, Winter 2000
rating: 5 of 6
This is one of the best of a kind! Being only a first issue, this ‘zine strikes as undoubtedly exciting one! All materials are original (i.e. no “band articles” (except for Sweden’s TYRANT and a couple of short bios on various acts emerging from Russia)), coming in the shape of interviews, reviews, Ulyanovsk and Samara metal scenes report, some kind of Russia’s underground press release as well as one short yet definitely intriguing article regarding heathendom. If you’re wondering if this one is informative, I’d say: “more than enough”. Is it well written? Well, the answer’s the same. It goes for everything: q’s, reports, reviews and stuff, you see. Lastly, it comes with a very good layout. Isn’t that enough for you to order this magnificent piece of work…? Ah, yes, seems like I forgot to mention the bands Faceward features… Ok, here they are: SEPTIC FLESH, SILENT STREAM OF GODLESS ELEGY, THYRFING, TINTAGEL, WINTER NIGHT OVERTURE, MORBIT and SIVER, as well as rather long intie with now defunct Surly Sullen Bell webzine. Should I say that I await the second issue more than impatiently…?
Email: faceward@mail.ru
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

METAL FORCE ‘zine
Issues 1 and 2, 1999 – 2000
rating: 4 of 6
This is a good zine, although it’s far from being perfect. Look here: the first issue features mostly articles on various bands, such as ARCH ENEMY, MARDUK, VIA DOLOROSA, EDGUY, BORKNAGAR, CASTRUM, METALLICA and SCORPIONS (!!!) (the latter ones were more likely reviews on the live shows these bands have performed in Ukraine) as well as the news section and a couple of live reports. Quite poor content, don’t you think so? I do. Anyway, it comes with a good layout and qualitative paper. The second is worse in terms of paper’s quality, although it’s much more informative, thus featuring more self-made interviews (exclusively on Russian / Belorussian / Ukrainian acts, with an exception for those US weirdos, the ANAL CUNT (get your hands off Chris Barnes, shitheads!)), this time also adding certain number of demo reviews and yes, live reports again. Second issue is written in two languages simultaneously, Ukrainian and Russian (while the first edition all comes in Ukrainian only), however it didn’t cause me any problems, since these languages are pretty similar to each other. All in all, this is not bad, but more work and variation is an absolute necessity!
Email: metalforce@ingok.com.ua
(review by Herr Stalhammar)