"CALL TO THE INFERNAL HORDES #4"
(June 2008, 80/A4 pages, Xeroxed, English, interviews: THORNSPAWN, WOLFTHROAT, SURRENDER OF DIVINITY, ARS MACABRA, VULCANO, SPETALSK, GRIMA MORSTUA, ZYGOATSIS, HOD, DEATH LIVING, EVIL DAMN, CORPUS CHRISTII, NAZARENE DECOMPOSING, NOMINON, DEATHCHAIN, FORNOST, HEADHUNTER D.C., SODOMIZER, LUCIFERIAN, FUNERAL MOON, WARBRINGER, BURIAL HORDES, RESURRECTION, MYSTIFIER, INFERNAL CONJURATION, NERVOCHAOS, IMPETUOUS RAGE, UNSPOKEN, AGARES, ufff!!!)
"C.T.T.I.H. #4" contains almost 30 interviews, can you believe that?! But since this issue has got as many as 80 A4 pages written in a small font-size, it shouldn't be a big surprise. Without bullshit, it's one of the most impressive zines I've seen and read recently, starting with an amazing professional layout (what a pity it's Xerox copied only!), through well-conducted interviews and very solid not too long and boring reviews to finish with. The editors' knowledge of English is also impressive, so you'll have a really enjoyable read for sure. Maybe the interviews aren't the deepest I've ever read, but they are still way far from being standard chats. Band line up is OK as far as my taste in music goes, all the hordes display dark music (darkness seems to be a common denominator for all of them) be it death or black metal and that counts. On the other hand the zine is saturated with antichristian attitude and this is my and the editors' common denominator, ha! I'm really looking forward to holding next issue in my hands as soon as possible and I hope Gilbert & Co. don't disappoint me.

"FORGOTTEN CHAPEL #6(66) / R'LYEH #6" - SPLIT
(Winter/Spring 2008, 72/A4 pages, Xeroxed, Polish, "F.CH" interviews: TERROR FROM HELL, LIE IN RUINS, EMBRIONAL, NEBULAR MYSTIC, EMPHERIS; "R." interviews: NECROSCOPE zine, MORD'A'STIGMATA, FORGOTTEN CHAPEL zine, MODER, AMAROK, LEICHENGOTT, DEVASTATOR, WISHMASTER)
Apparently this issue of "FORGOTTEN CHAPEL" was written in hurry, because there are lots of spelling mistakes, also in the band/label/release names, some interviews start at the end of a page and there are many other small shortcomings like that! The simple layout evoked in me a quite substantial feeling of insufficiency as well. But Matt's nice sense of humour, his funny news and comments make up for the layout. The big advantage of "FORGOTTEN CHAPEL" are also well-done interviews with lots of in-depth questions and such answers vide EMBRIONAL, TERROR FROM HELL REC., EMPHERIS to name a few. There are lots of reviews on strictly underground releases you haven't heard about before (and you'll probably never hear of), well, maybe except the die-hard readers of "NECROSCOPE zine" he,he. But Matt is a keen tape-trader and exotic band-seeker, so his reviews on groups from e.g. Armenia, Georgia or Vietnam shouldn't surprise, should they? This is only a full-size 36 pager, but frankly one could fit much more content in it, because the font-size used by Matt in some inties and articles was too big, for example in TFH REC., NEBULAR MYSTIC or a report from the Turkey's scene and the ABHORER story. Maybe was it made on purpose to cover the same number of pages as "R'LYEH" had got?… To make a long story short, "FORGOTTEN CHAPEL #6(66)" features a very good content-related texts, pity that it was made in too big hurry.
On the other hand, Adrian didn't fail and prepared a very good issue, as he always does. A neat yet very simple layout, very good inties and reviews, reliable live and scene reports - these are invariable characteristics of every issue of "R'LYEH zine". Adrian really knows how to absorb the readers and not to bore them to death. So buy his fuckin' zine now!

"IRON HAMMER #2"
(November 2008, 60/A5 pages, Xeroxed, English, interviews: RADEMASSAKER, BLIZZARD, ALCOHOLIC RITES, SHACKLES, HELL TORMENT, HELLKOMMANDER, DEATHHAMMER, CAST IRON, CHAINSAW/PROSELYTISM)
It's a very good stuff done old cut 'n' paste way! 60 pages full of text in a small font-size, so you'll have reading for a few Metal evenings, believe me. I read this issue with a genuine pleasure for Jeff writes freely and in an interesting manner. Mr. Greza's reviews are the highlight here - they are all informative, not too long and boring, also two live reports featured are OK. As far as interviews are concerned, their quality depends on the interviewees, so some talks are interesting and some failed. As a matter of fact, the editor tried to ask good, unusual questions, but I wouldn't say that his inties are very in-depth. Anyway, I can recommend to you some good chats with e.g. RADEMASSAKER, CAST IRON or CHAINSAW/PROSELYTISM. Well, to make a long story short, there are many great, mostly old school black/thrash/death bands interviewed and reviewed here, plenty of them are totally unknown to me and that's what I really like! Also take into consideration that it's a fanzine made by a fan for fans, so that's why Jeff wrote only about the stuff he likes/buys and as a result 99,9% of his reviews are very, very positive. Unfortunately...