BURNING SHADOW ‘zine
Issue #1, year of 2000
Rating: 4, 5 of 6
“From my early steps in the metal world, one of greatest pleasures was to buy metal fanzines and “study” them ‘til my eyes were closing from the reading. They have something that big, monthly magazines don’t. Maybe it’s the passion, maybe that they mainly focus on unknown yet interesting bands, maybe the feeling I had that I was helping the scene, maybe all of them”. This is the statement placed above the reviews on various underground ‘zines in Burning Shadow. And yes, that was a pleasure for me too to read through this edition. Even though, it’s xeroxed stuff, Kostas (the only guy behind the ‘zine) contrived to make Burning Shadow look enough impressive. Furthermore, it’s not only (rather) good visually, the contents are the same as exciting (at least, most of them). This issue features interviews with ANATHEMA, THE CROWN, MALIGNANT ETERNAL, HATRED (US), SOILS OF FATE, JACKAL’S TRUTH, SO?! (the pop / rock (!) project featuring Jan Kenneth of IN THE WOODS…), MORTIS DEI, INHUMATE and lots of others (mostly (still) underground acts). Some of the interview are great, others are just good, and few are quite mediocre… Besides that, we have plenty of reviews, BUT. The main shortcoming here goes exactly for reviews section. First of all, it might be better if they would be placed in alphabetical order, and secondly, Kostas gives only snail mail address, while obviously it’s easier to contact anyone via email. And yeah, there’re too much albums / demos getting high ratings… however, it seems that Mr. Anastasakis managed to stay quite subjective anyway. But nevermind. Burning Shadow also comes with some news and few articles on bands like f.ex. KALISIA (my favorite one too, Kostas!) or CROON. That’s it. The English could be better, of course… but it’s not that bad, anyway. All in all, very good for a debut.
Email: lordcrest@hotmail.com
(review by Herr Stalhammar)
 
ENCOMIUM Webzine
Issue #2, year of 1999
http://castrum.tripod.com/encomium/
rating: 5 of 6
Surprise, surprise, here comes decent Ukrainian webzine. This is a brainchild of Cornelius, guitarist, bassist and keyboardist for CASTRUM (see the review elsewhere) and this mag is as worthy as the band. The design is quite unpretentious, although it’s pleasant for the eye. Regarding sections, there are lots of interviews (with such acts as ABSU, ANCIENT, CRYPTHOWL, DEMIMONDE, INTERNAL BLEEDING and SUNCHARIOT to name a few… obviously, Cornelius interviews both well-known and totally underground bands), a pile of album, demo and zine reviews, surprisingly written in a fairly good English (yeah, by the way, Encomium is all-English written zine), as well as playlists, Peruvian scene report (just like in case with Vae Solis and Meathooked, written by Martin Lazarte Castro of Explosion Cerebral 'zine), contacts and, of course, introduction, kinda a word from the creator. All in all, this is splendid edition, the best one (after Vae Solis, of course :)) among the ones spawned by ex-USSR countries’ residents. I’m looking forward to the third issue… (Herr Stalhammar)

MEATHOOKED ‘zine
Second Revilement. Sundown Of The Millennia. (1999)
rating: 5 of 6
Meathooked is one of my absolutely favorite zines (the printed ones) in Europe. This is soooo long-awaited second issue, simultaneously better and worse than the first one. First of all, even though the design is (almost) professionally done this time, I dislike it somehow, especially if you will let me speak about the way GANDALF’s interview is arranged (I mean, visually). But nevermind anyway. This volume features ints with … AND OCEANS, BETHZAIDA, RED HARVEST, JESUS MARTYR, IN THE WOODS…, THYRANE and many others, as well as few Meat Hook’s own bands, such as UNHOLA (even though, they’re signed to Plasmatica Records at the moment), GOREWINTER and others + certain record labels, Season Of Mist and Aurora Productions, some local bands and still 500% UG-level, neophyte acts like Swedish JOTUNHEIM. Furthermore, Peruvian and Baltic scene report (the latter one is quite incomprehensible, I must admit), “a biographical survey” by Ville, the editor-in-chief, as well as lots of reviews on CD’s, tapes, vinyls and videos (+ THE GREAT KAT CD-Rom’s review). These guys are very good in English, the fact which gives one more point to this publication, the interviews are well-crafted and so are the reviews. Also, there’s a certain doze of good, healthy humour… not offensive, like Bill Zebub’s, you know. Generally speaking, this is the sort of zine you should buy at once.
Email: wille@pp.htv.fi
       kapartan@hotmail.com
       samheiku@hotmail.com
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

SANG FRAIS ‘zine
Numero 6, year of  2000
rating: -
Unfortunately, I can’t write more or less comprehensible review on this mag, since Sang Frais (“Fresh Blood” in French) is all-French written. This edition was sent to me by the same guy behind APHASIA and I feel I should say few words in regards to it anyway. There’re only two individuals behind Sang Frais, however it’s pretty well executed. Coming with a splendid appearance, it features the interview with QUO VADIS, FROZEN SHADOWS, NECROTIC MUTATION, SPASME, S.O.D., IN FLAMES, MOONSPELL and NECRONOMICON as well as lots of reviews on various music kinds, few articles (?) and live reports (?) and some other stuff. I wish I could understand French… :(
Email: pouilleuxqc@videotron.ca
(review by Herr Stalhammar)