Kill Yourself!!! 'zine #4

Kill Yourself!!! Magazine, issue 4 (1995)Interviews:
Mortiis
Darkwoods My Betrothed
Hades
Sigillum Diaboli (now Diaboli)
Vlad Tepes
Thornium
Behemoth
Gehenna
Full Moon Productions
Ancient
Ancient Rites
Black Funeral
Nåstrond
Mayhem (Euronymous, reprinted from Rotted Anus#2)
+reviews scattered around the 'zine

Reuploaded

I think it's about bloody time I posted a 'zine I've scanned by my lazy self. Like I've mentioned before I'm terribly lazy when it comes to scanning stuff so I've been more than happy with the 'zine contributions but every now and then I get a grip and do something... well this one I scanned already a while ago, I just wanted to post the contributions first. So, here's the fourth and I think final issue of Kill Yourself!!! 'zine, done by the Autumn Verses-guys. Or actually it would be more correct to say the KY-guys also did Autumn Verses as the 'zine existed first - #4 might be a little bit misleading in a way as it was first called Rotted Anus for two issues and was much more death metal-oriented, gearing more towards black metal around the second issue and then full steam ahead after the name change. Unfortunately, all the older issues were written in Finnish so I don't think I'll be scanning them, despite the interesting content. I would like to see the first issue myself.

The Kill Yourself issues are more compact compared to the 2nd Rotted Anus which was 120 pages (I haven't seen the first issue which was 68 pages long) and the writing style/editor's attitude changed quite a bit along the way as well. The guys were very young when they started with the 'zine which certainly showed, something like 15-16 I think. Rotted Anus had some humorous content thrown in as well, but Kill Yourself was Serious Business. The interviews here are quite interesting as are the interviewees too, which can be said for the back issues as well. Shame they were in Finnish. Layout and print quality are nice and readable, even if my scanning was again kind of half-assed. Should be a worthy download to all nostalgics and would-be time travellers.

Autumn Verses - Legions to Come promodemo 1994

Autumn Verses - Legions to Come promodemo 1994
1) Creating the Mighty Kingdom of Flames
2) I Ride the Wings of the Raven

Reuploaded

Some people might have heard the only album "Tunes of Disconsolation" by this band by the editors of the Kill Yourself!!! 'zine (which started as Rotted Anus and most issues were written in Finnish). Well, this demo or promodemo as they called the release (for some reason people seemed to be fond of the abomination of a word back then, couldn't probably make up their minds) sounds QUITE different compared to the pretty sophisticated Thy Serpentish approach of the album. My copy is a dub I got from them, no covers so I've slapped up there the cover image I took from the flyer published on their 'zine, seen below.


However, a proper cover exists as shown by the quite poor Metal Archives image:


As usual, I'd like a proper scan of the cover if anyone has it. Onto the music, here we have the K.Y.!!!-boys do drums and guitars while their session members J.Kuru aka Wrath of Black Dawn/Enochian Crescent does the vocals and U.Leponokka harmonies which I presume means the synth occasionally present. The demo consists of two pretty long tracks and as the guys insisted it is not black metal! Sure, it certainly sounds like something that could've come out of Norge at the time but the message isn't black metal. I guess this goes lyrically more into Immortal territory. The sound is clear and yet quite awful, mostly due the annoying, weakish and jangly guitar sound. There's no bass probably even in the same building at the time this was recorded. The synth parts that pop up now and then are ok and the vocals are also ok, more in his Black Dawn style. Drums blast away, doing their job. Considering the extremely harsh reviewing style of Kill Yourself!!! 'zine back in the day one can't but wonder at their double standards putting out this tape. Don't get me wrong, it's not horrible while it certainly isn't good either, but reading the 'zine makes one a harsh critic of their product. Recommended for ug-maniacs into raw shit, collectors of releases featuring Wrath and so on.

Amortization #2

Amortization #2 (1996)
Inteviews:
Necromantia
Absurd
Thornium
Skogsposten/Sverdstorm
In the Woods...
Azazel
Denial of God
Dark Funeral
Ancient
Skadi's Evernight
Darkthrone
Gehenna
Darkwoods My Betrothed
Ragnarok
Pazuzu
Pervertum
Golden Dawn
Helheim
Burzum
Dimmu Borgir
+ reviews, scene reports and stuff

REUPLOADED

Yeah you whom amongst the flock are literate might find delight with this post. This is the second issue of the Finnish 'zine Amortization, very similar in look to Kill Yourself but interesting content.
I'm drunk in the midsummer hell so no more words, recommended.

Ok now that I've hangover instead of being drunk I suppose I should write a bit more. This 'zine was also borrowed from comrade passetiermes and scanned by me. Thanks again! I don't know if more than two issues of Amortization were made but I do know they changed the name to COD magazine (I don't know if that's supposed to be an acronym or just the fish? UPDATE: Looks like a case of illiteracy, it's GOD, not COD. Should be pretty clear what that means) and at least one issue was released.
Like already mentioned the lay-out and overall feel of the 'zine is pretty similar to Kill Yourself, the interviews are on the long side and occasionally the English gets a bit funny ("How is the training camp of Azazel...") but it is still a decent read. Note that the Burzum interview is recycled from Ovl. Svithjod's "A 1000 Years..." 'zine.

Kill Yourself!!! 'zine #5

Kill Yourself!!! Magazine, issue 5 (1997)
Interviews:
Abruptum
Demonic
Denial Of God
Det Hedenske Folk
Baron Drakkheim Abaddon (aka Michael W. Ford, Black Funeral/Valefor/Darkness Enshroud/etc...)
Thy Serpent
Thromdarr
Marduk
Behemoth
Bathory
Malicious Records
Falkenbach
Triumphator
Wanderer
+reviews scattered around, gig reports

Yandex / Depositfiles

A 'zine post today. Recently me and comrade Kurgan conspired to acquire some old fanzines, with him assisting in the funding I got the 'zines and scanned them and now post here for your benefit. Not much of an evil plot, is that? Anyways, this one was something I had forgotten existed, see the earlier post here for more on KY 'zine's history. I was under the impression issue 4 was the final one but this came out two years later, delayed due military service. I'm pretty sure this one is the last chapter then!

Lay-out and pretty much everything else remains same from the previous issues and several of the interviewees are making a reappearance as well. Overall I don't find the line-up very exciting as many of these people appeared in several 'zines all the time in that time frame (especially Behemoth), the Bathory interview was a rare one, yet I seem to recall him appearing a bit more around that time in general, following the release of Blood on Ice. It's a pity Timo did only two of the interviews as Esa's were quite formulaic here. Besides the interviews there are reviews, mostly negative, all over the 'zine, a page of gig reports and an amusing journal of the guys' trip to Saarijärvi. If you enjoyed reading the 4th issue I'm sure you'll like this one too!

Ichor #2

Ichor 'zine, issue 2 (summer 1997)
Interviews:
Malign
Abigor
Graveland
Faerghail
Horna
Cradle Of Filth
Gates Of Ishtar
Kyprian's Circle
Agathodaimon
Articles:
Mundanus Imperium
Evemaster
Arthame
Warloghe
Alghazanth
Poles Apart
+old news, reviews, awesome art

Mega

Zinezeit, here's a Finnish one I scanned already in June and was actually going to post earlier but then I didn't. Again courtesy of brother passetiermes' generosity in lending these to me for scanning, we salute you! Ichor 'zine was made by Striga of Arthame and co-editor, who for this issue was a mysterious Juha, and at least two issues were made (obviously). The guys also ran a distro/productions of same name with, according to this issue, three other guys and were planning on releasing some demo tapes. Not sure what happened to those plans, perhaps someone more versed in the Vantaa-lore might enlighten us?

Yeah, so it's a Finnish black (mostly) metal fanzine made by a guy with a synth-project. With a memorable backcover art. Is this worth my time? you ask, disinterested look on your face while you sip absinthe, lying vacant-eyed on a divan, surrounded by swirling smoke of burning incence and the faint light of flickering candles. Yes, it is. As seen above, the band roster is interesting and not filled with the most predictable household names of the day. No Behemoth, Marduk or Mortiis this time. It's neat and clear in regards to lay-out, no overtly fancy computer-shenanigans... well ok, it actually looks quite a bit like Kill Yourself!!! now that I think about it. Not as much as Amortization did, though. The look is not the only similarity, the editor gets occasionally agitated and "argues" with the interviewees, as much as you obviously can in an interview made by letter that is. See Graveland for an example, or the Gates Of Ishtar one. I've always found this a bit unfair for the interviewee but understandable enough, the editors are of course entitled to their opinions but it's a bit one-sided when the other part won't have a chance to respond anymore. I'm digressing again, am I not? Right, it's an entertaining read, despite or because of the editors' attitudes (they are more of the booze'n'metal school rather than artsy intellectual-wannabes). Standout interviews include Malign, Graveland and Kyprian's Circle (mainly since I haven't read any before). Horna interview was made over phone which makes it a bit different from the others. Recommended reading.

Dark Drakkar - La Creación demo 1997

Dark Drakkar - La Creación demo 1997
1) Intro (Dark Drakkar)
2) Ley Vikinga
3) La Creación
4) Einheriar (Guerreros del Valhalla)
5) Ragnarok (El Ocaso de los Dioses)
6) Blasfemia al Dios Cristiano
7) Utgar (Instrumental)

Reuploaded

Here's something you don't see everyday, another odd, twisted warped thing from the 90's uncovered. Dark Drakkar were a Spanish viking black metal band who released a couple of tapes and changed name several times. Yes, that's right, Spanish viking black metal. With Spanish lyrics to boot. This demo is the only product I've heard from them under any of the various monickers they went and was sent to me by a tape trader who didn't have the cover. But I happened to have a flyer of theirs which seemed to include the cover image so I used that. See below for the complete flyer, apparently they spread their gospel only in the homeland.

I am also experimenting with the Russian Narod service as I don't trust Mediafire anymore at all. Let's see how this works.

But let us discuss the music, how do they sound like? Well, the intro is fitting and promising enough, synth and sound effects, pretty standard fare. I like how they transfer to the first proper track, the sudden keyboards sound like something off a 20's film. Unfortunately the black metal that follows isn't as exciting. Quite fast and with a rather weak guitar sound which takes much away from the overall experience. They do slow down and add some synth to the background which I suppose works okay. Notably the bass is very audible as well. The drums are too loud compared to the guitars. Main voice is a hoarse scream/yell of average quality, you should be able to figure out at least part of what he's screaming if you understand Spanish. They use some death metal support vocals which don't really fit too well. A different sort of a scream would've been better, or maybe even clean vocals though we've seen how well they work for demobands before, haven't we? There are also some female voices employed, these are of spoken word variety and most likely a band member's girlfriend/sister/school mate, but that's ok as she's not trying to sing. In the end their take on viking black metal is quite fast, melodic and often more in common with melodeath than black metal. It's not as bad as you probably think from the initial shock (Spanish viking black metal! In Spanish!) but I can't say I'd really enjoy it either. Have a listen and decide for yourself, it won't kill you, only steal half an hour of your life.