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  • Rock Hard #8
    (NY, USA) 1986

    Rock Hard #8 (NY, USA) 1986. Editor: “Keith Miller” Rock Hard (not the most original name through the years, by any means) was a US fanzine based out of upstate NY that covered mostly heavy metal, but you could see the heavier stuff creeping in by 85-86, and the extensive record reviews are cool to […]

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  • Battlefield #6
    (GER) 1986
    (Deutsch)

    Battlefield #6 (GER) 1986. Editors: “Armin Nolzen” and “Bernd Backhaus” (auf Deutsch) Speed/thrash/crossover classic zine from Germany, a mid-80s DIY beast with interviews and write-ups on many great bands in their demo-days/first album-era – including Detente, Death, Onslaught, Heresy, Concrete Sox, Holy Terror, Lethal Aggression, Assassin, Poison (Ger), Excel, Desexult, Kreator/Destruction/Rage live review, Negazione, Sacrifice, Schizo, […]

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  • Phoenix Militia #7
    (UK) 1987

    Phoenix Militia #7 (UK) 1987. Editor: “Bill Steer” Many thanks to Bernd B. again for a great contribution! This time it is the mega-classic from Bill Steer’s teenage years  –  be sure to check out the sincere and insightful editorial (btw this issue was photocopied and stapled 3 times from the front, which made it […]

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  • Metal Forces #21
    (UK) 1986

    Metal Forces #21 (UK) 1986. Editor: “Bernard Doe” [Once more, it’s a given that Metal Forces was certainly not a fanzine, yet it still deserves archival status. As previously stated, the importance of the magazine for the development of the global underground and all ’extreme’ genres can not be understated – they covered many notable bands […]

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  • Totentanz #2
    (Germany) 1988
    (Deutsch)

    Totentanz #2 (Germany) 1988 (auf Deutsch) Editor: “Arno Brettraeger” (+Mitarbeiter: Thomas Hanzen) A nice one from Germany (thanks much to B.B. for this great classic from the late 80’s!). If you can read German, you are in luck, if not, still some great content..check out the early Nuclear Blast ad for example, back when the […]

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  • Thrash Em All #1.4
    (Poland) 1992

    Thrash Em All #1.4 (Poland) 1992 (in Polish) Editor: “Mariusz Kmiolek” Another issue of Thrash Em All from Poland (thanks again to Pawel). Features some really cool live/band  shots I have not seen before, from the likes of Bolt Thrower, Samael and Nocturnus among others, as well as features/interviews/pics on Vader, Believer, Betrayer, Earache Records, […]

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  • Metal Massacre #1
    (Germany) 1984

    Metal Massacre #1 (Germany) 1984 (in German/auf Deutsch). Editors: “Dieter Machleid” and “Mario Erceg” A relic from the German heavy metal scene circa 1984. I did not see an actual date printed anywhere, but judging by the albums featured, I can safely say this was put together in the latter half of ’84, and might […]

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  • Pulverizer Zine #5
    (Scotland/UK) 1993

    Pulverizer Zine #5 (Scotland) May, 1993. Editor: “Bill” (The intro here is cited/sourced as background info from the Dark Legions Archive hosted at deathmetal.org):  “Pulverizer zine was a killer mag from the early nineties, back when the death metal scene was giving us loads of cool bands. After Pulverizer #5, the editor Bill went on […]

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  • Metal Madness #2
    (USA-New Mexico) 1984

    Metal Madness #2 (USA-New Mexico) 1984. Editor: “The Hellion” Out of Albuquerque NM, this short zine featured an early Overkill (super-brief answers from Rat Skates), Satan Jokers from France (interesting name..and still active!), Manilla Road (who explain what ‘false metal’ is), a Dee Snider centerfold (!), Mania from Germany (who ended up on Noise Records), […]

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  • Impulso Repulsivo #1
    (Chile) 1989
    (Español)

    Impulso Repulsivo #1 (Chile) 1989 (Español). Editors: “Andrés Padilla” and “Cristian Gonzalez” Another zine from the vibrant Chilean scene of the late 1980’s, also another one that Andrés Padilla had a hand in (presently of Grinder Magazine and the Underground Never Dies! book). Packed with interviews and reviews, a good cross-section of the scene at […]

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  • Kick Ass #26
    (NY, USA) July 1984

    Kick Ass #26 (NY, USA) July 1984. Editor: Bob Muldowney Incredible piece of metal history here, right down to the Metallica Ad and a Witch Cross feature (who just had their album re-released on Hell’s Headbangers records I might add- get it, a forgotten classic). Features, Ads, live reviews and interviews with Anvil, Angel Witch, […]

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  • Grinder #1
    (Chile) Noviembre 1993
    (Español)

    Grinder #1 (Chile) Noviembre 1993 (Español). Editor: Andrés Padilla Exciting news from Chile these days. Andrés Padilla, who used to do Violence Zine (Chile) in the late 80’s, and currently editing the long-running Grinder magazine, recently published the book Retrospectiva al Metal Chileno (1983-1993), with a limited edition 12″ LP compilation released by IronBonehead Productions (Ger) that includes […]

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  • Message From the Gutter #1
    (Germany) Oktober, 1987
    (Deutsch)

    Message From the Gutter #1 (Germany) Oktober, 1987. Editors: “Markus Staiger” and “Martin Purr” (Auf Deutsch) Message From the Gutter – the zine from Nuclear Blast Records’ head guy Markus Staiger from 1987 (along with Martin Purr of Cyclone Empire Records). This issue represented very much the punk/hardcore/grind roots of the label, features (for those […]

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  • Thrash Em All #1
    (Poland) 1989
    (Polish)

    Thrash Em All #1 (Poland) 1989. Editor: “Mariusz Kmiolek” (In Polish) Thanks again to Paweł for the contribution. Another relic from the Polish scene to add to the collection…features interviews and features on Coroner, Slayer (Kerry King), Annihilator, Astaroth (PL), Black Sabbath, Kreator, Running Wild, Sodom, Vendetta, Defiance, Mordred, Ghost (PL) and much more.

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  • Gray Matter #2
    (TX, USA) August 1987

    Gray Matter #2 (TX, USA) August 1987. Editor: “Chris Orloski” Out of Texas, packed with reviews (especially demo reviews), a long interview with Gene Hoglan from Dark Angel and Jason Newsted after he joined Metallica, news, a feature on Ron Jarzombek, a Watchtower/Agony Column live review, interviews w/ Lethal Aggression, Hades, Liege Lord, Drifter, Devastation, […]

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  • Anatomia#1
    (Scotland) Oct. 1993

    Anatomia#1 (Scotland) Oct. 1993. Editor: “Bill” Well-designed zine out of Scotland from the early 90’s featuring a very diverse lineup of interviews, cool reviews, Norwegian scene report and more, featuring Crucifier, Edge of Sanity, Embalmed, Furbowl, Sentenced, Gorefest, Imprecation, Malediction, Depravity, Nocturnal Rites, Vital Remains, House of Usher, Thus Defiled, Vomitory etc.

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  • Mettalic Butcher #4
    (Poland) 1992

    Mettalic Butcher #4  (Poland) 1992. Editor: Rob Tarasiuk EXCELLENT ZINE – VERY well laid out (with KILLER cover art!), put together by Mr. Tarasiuk, who apparently got most of the interviews and pics when he was in Belgium in 1991 or so (check out the editorial), catching all the classic tours of the 90-91 era…(really, […]

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  • Thy Kingdom Come #5
    (Lithuania) Winter 1992/1993

    Thy Kingdom Come #5  (Lithuania) Winter 1992/1993. Editors: “Arunas Norvaisa” and “Saulius Krusna” Very underground selection of second wave death metal and others from the Baltic land of Lithuania, some diamonds in the rough here…interesting note I guess he did not have the letter “W” on his typewriter so it was “VV” as the next […]

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  • Blowing Thrash #3
    (Chile) 1986

    Blowing Thrash #3  (Chile) Sept/Oct, 1986. Editor: “Anton Reisenegger” The third issue from 1986 (#2 is below), also put together from Anton Reisenegger of Chile’s cult early death metal outfit Pentagram (and currently in Lock Up). His first in English, it features another mini-Chilean national report, KILLER interviews with SOD (Scott Ian), Detente, Sepultura and […]

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  • Tales of the Macabre #1
    (Germany) 1993

    Tales of the Macabre #1  (Germany) 1993. Editor: “Costa Stoios” This zine of Germany featured many prominent ‘early’ black metal contributions and is heavy on the dark/atmospheric genres of the early 90’s overall. The editor (Stoios) apparently also ran/runs Iron Pegasus records. Features and interviews include Beherit, Barathrum, Ancient Rites, Behemoth, Emperor, Immortal, Burzum, Osmose […]

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  • Blowing Thrash #2
    (Chile) 1986
    (Español)

    Blowing Thrash #2  (Chile) Marzo, 1986. Editor: “Anton Reisenegger” (Español) Fantastic contribution from the vibrant Chilean metal scene during the 1980’s, put together by none other than Anton Reisenegger of Chile’s cult early death metal outfit Pentagram (and currently in Lock Up). Features Chilean national report, a lengthy Slayer segment and interviews and features on […]

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  • Esoteric Mag #3
    (Poland) 1992

    Esoteric Mag #3  (Poland) March, 1992. Editor: “Miroslawa Mackiewicz” With features and interviews with Monstrosity, Astaroth, Unholy, Baphomet, Thergothon, Dead, Absu, Demigod, Morbid God, Immolation, Immortal Fate, Nightfall, God Dethroned, Gorefest, Misanthrope, Revenant, Vital Remains, Pyogenesis, and more.

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  • Death Scream #3
    (NY, New York) 1987

    Death Scream #3  (NY, New York) 1987. Editor: “Richard Casale” This very DIY zine out of Bronx, NYC features a few brief articles and interviews, the most notable being Annihilator, but also with unsigned/regional acts such as Wotan (Germany), Merciless Sin, Damnakleez, and Primal Scream (New York). However, there are many cool demo and album […]

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  • Headfucker #4
    (Italy) 1997

    Headfucker  #4  (Italy) January, 1997. Editor: “Raffaella Guerini” Released during the dark days of the death metal underground, this exceptionally well designed, well-printed, and well written zine out of Brescia (in Northern Italy) had a very nice run and was a standout for the death metal scene at the time. While traveling in Europe during the […]

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  • Eruptions From Below #5
    (Toronto, Canada) 1993

    Eruptions From Below  #5  (Toronto, Canada) 1993. Editor: “Laurie Fortune” Copied and stapled zine out of Ontario (formerly out of Buffalo). Solid and packed with ads, representing the ’93 death metal underground quite well. Features numerous reviews, and (brief) interviews with Cannibal Corpse, Lucifers Hammer, Deteriorate, Angelkill, Exterminance, and more, with the highlights being the killer […]

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  • Under the Corpse Zine #1
    (?)
    (NY, USA) 1993

    Under the Corpse Zine  #1 (?)  (NY, USA) 1993. Editor: “Paul Beyer” I recently got this xeroxed and stapled issue from a friend in Montreal.  It’s a nice one from ’93, and features interviews with bands like Pyrexia, Internal Bleeding, Nokturnel, (a long one with) Biohazard, Life of Agony, Type O Negative. Ossuary, Corpsegrinder, Sick of it […]

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  • F.E.T.U. #7
    (Japan) 1989

    F.E.T.U.  #7  (Japan) 1989. Editor: “Ayako Usuki” Final issue from this notable and internationally distributed zine out of Japan. Acronym title is short for “The Fatal Execrable Transmaniacon Undertakers.” Features interviews with SNFU, Prime Evil, Bulldozer, Injustice, Asbestos, Axemaster, Witches Hammer, and more.  

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  • Holocaust #5
    (Poland) 1991

    Holocaust #5 (Poland) 1991. Editor: “Tomasz Krajewski” Classic  zine from eventual Pagan Records (Poland) founder Tomasz Krajewski. Features an interesting editorial on the prevalence of trendy death metal people inhabiting the scene at the time, as well as an article on the occult called “The Voice of the Dark” by a fellow from Mexico named […]

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  • Circle of the Grind #2
    (Tokyo, Japan) 1992

    Circle of the Grind  #2 (Tokyo, Japan) December, 1992. Editors “Narutoshi Sekine” and ” ? “ Nicely printed zine from Japan that featured both English and Japanese versions of most interviews, with an extensive focus on the Japanese scene at the time. Features interviews/write-ups with Brutal Truth, Ceremonial Oath (pre-In Flames etc.), Benediction,  Eternal (pre-Electric Wizard), Evocation, Gore Beyond […]

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  • Violent Noize #2
    (NY, USA) 1986

    Violent Noize  #2 (NY, USA) June, 1986. Editor: “Borivoj Krgin ” This zine is notable for being journalist and Blabbermouth.net founder Borivoj Krgin’s zine in the 80’s, and it reflects a biting (yet refreshing), critical writing style (…he did not hold back on his opinions!). It’s also notable that the term “death metal” is widely used in this zine, sort […]

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