Heavy Metal literature

Some random fanzines from past. "Guillotine" was deathrag from Florida (around 1984/85) and they were the first to feature such newcomer act like Mantas or later Death. It was "Guillotine" who printed early articles, reviews and pictures of Mantas/Death first. "Brain Damage" featured also new hot acts like Tormentor (pre-Kreator), Sodom, Mantas, Antichrist (UK), Possessed, Bathory, Death etc etc and it was "Brain Damage" from where I read that Metallica´s "Ride the Lightning" was wimp-out sign from Metallica. I just could not believe my eyes when I read it first (it was around 2000 I think). "Slayer" 3/4 featured first in-depth feature of the true Mayhem (although without any recorded music stuff during that time). "Bathory" from Sweden has artwork done by Mefisto guy. "Cascade" zine was run by Grotesque guys.

Drawing (copying) logos were essential if you did not have camera or xerox possibilities. These are from 1991-1992 (its the first time I saw Mayhem logo and I liked it immediately, nicked from C.O.T.I.M. fanzine along with other satanic symbols)

Prior to digital photo techniques the labels sent out such transparency slides to metal press so we could see how our beloved acts looked like besides the interview pages. Here are presented Infernäl Mäjesty (1987), Deicide (1990), Cannibal Corpse (1991) and Bathory (1987/88). These were dug out from Metal Forces basement.

The Sin of Sodom

What we have here are some early (1983/84) period Sodom shots. On the far up right is 1st Sodom singer Agressor. Live shots are the very first Sodom live appearances during Venom autograph session in Frankfurt (23.09.1984) organized by Venom´s Legion Deutschland. Destruction guys were also in the audience and they got also chance to play some time (as can be seen from the picture). By the way the blue denim jacket that Angelripper wears on stage was stolen after the gig. So if somebody knows where it is today, please return this back to Angelripper.

Some Swedeath

Just some excellent ripping black/death metal here... Grotesque and Treblinka are true legends from the past but the other stuff is not much worse either... Maim, Invidious, Repugnant and Necrovation know how to do their work. Thumbs up for releases like those!

Ghostrider / Necrodeath

I remember in mid 80s my parents had some Italian music at home: Albano and Romina Power LP and it was highly appreciated back then. Eventually Italo disco was genre of its own, full of melodies and nice harmonies. Well, lets turn 180 degrees from there and we get early Ghostrider and Necrodeath recordings: filthy and primitive stuff, especially this Ghostrider. But appealing at the same time. Necrodeath was also way ahead of their time. And look at their photos, what a freax they must have been :) (joke). Ripping stuff. I recommend to check those deatheads out if you like stuff like Hellhammer demos, old Bathory, Necrophagia demos and 1984/85 Euro black metal!

Morbid "December Moon" demo 1987

I think I am little bit more than average music fan. I like to get albums (CD or LP) if I like something, I am not satisfied with MP3 file or cassette copy of my fave stuff. I want to get more. Yet I am not collector who gets stuff insanely/blindly (lack of interest + lack of money). So, what do we have here: black metal anno 1987, featuring one of the greatest extreme metal vocalists Pelle "Dead" Ohlin, even the cassette and box have special dedications from "Dead". This is the real thing, this is one of the few Morbid demos that exist (have survived) in original form (100% proven!) and was sent out by "Dead" back when this stuff was hot.
Musically everybody, who still reads this blog, knows about it and what it includes.

The Misfits

Needless to say The Misfits rules. Songs like "London Dungeon", "Attitude", "Last Caress" and "Hollywood Babylon" just kill! Unbelievable stuff dating back to year 1979/80.

Top of the Pop, October 1990

My faves and raves around 1990

Deathcore örgy

For some reason I am totally obsessed by ancient black and death metal bands. The more noisy, satanic and rotten they are, the better. Especially the 1987-90 period is very interesting for black metal as it was literally dead back then. First black metal wave (ca 1984-85) had died out. Satanic bands got ridiculed in press and some older satanic/death bands turned to more technical thrash/speed direction ("look we can play also"). But luckily some die-hard Venom/Bathory/Sodom freax continued to produce further our beloved deathnoise and the spirit still lives on.
But do not forget its music we deal with here. Enjoy it or hate it, its just a music.

Blasphemy demo review ca 1989

NB: Also deathcore meaning today is totally different from its meaning lets say from mid-to-late 80s. In the 80s deathcore was the fastest and the craziest form of extreme music... the best sample would be Necrophagia demos in years 1984-86.

Outrage (Ger)

OUTRAGE - Ancient Black Metal band from Pforzheim/Germany (not to be confused with Japanese Outrage!). Their first period existed in 1983-88 and in 2004 they reformed and are back for attack. What I like most about the band is those ripping riffs and Frank´s "The Voice of  Hell"  torture of the microphone. Also the artwork of their releases are quite interesting, seems like they have some continuos story to tell (I mean old demos and first CDR releases). Some of their hits are immortal black/thrash metal anthems ("Go to Hell", "Slave Trader", "Astaroth" etc). Lot of their stuff is DIY, maintaining special underground feeling and touch. I hope one day I can hold Outrage vinyl in my hands.

On the picture:

Demo I 1985
"From Nightmares and Myths" demo 1986
"Back for Attack" CDR 2004
"A Mute Reminder" CDR 2005
"7 is Take One" CDR 2007
"Tales of Counted Sorrows" CDR 2006
"Order in the Court" CD 2008
Demo I 1985 re-issue
Demo II 1986 re-issue
"From Nightmares and Myths" demo re-issue
"The Book of Seven Seals" demo re-issue
"Conspirator" CD 2010
"Go To Hell" CD 2011
"Go To Hell - Demo(n)s 1985-87" compilation tape  #2/20
Outrage "book" with Outrage history, pictures, outtakes, flyers etc. Yeah, they played live with POISON in 1985!

BLACK METAL - DEATH METAL - THRASH METAL - SPEED METAL

In order to understand better what is going on here we need to know/remind the basics. Yeah, its about Heavy Metal here: long hairs, chains and leather, loud guitars, offensive album covers and usage of swear words. This is how some heavy metal subgenres were autopsied in the 80s (taken from Muusik #3 1990):
THRASH METAL - extreme fast, extreme heavy and extreme blurry heavy. Arose from the mixture of heavy and punk.
SPEED METAL - somewhat close to thrash but more with rafined sound and structure. More melodic.
DEATH METAL - close relative to black metal and thrash metal. Extended usage of death-related in the lyrics.
BLACK METAL - Venom started it. In most cases the music goes in the thrash vein, lyrics are full of satanism and black magic.
DOOM METAL -  slow, doomy and dark.

I like those descriptions. Death and Black Metal were not standardized back then yet (now Death Metal is connected almost always with Cannibal Corpse type of brutal thing (nothing against CC, just an example), and also Black Metal is connected with high pitched shrieks and muddy shitty sound. And Venom and Mercyful Fate are not considered Black Metal anymore by most new people. But who cares anyway about such labelings...