R'LYEH 12 (2015)

September 2015, 124/A4 pages, printed, Polish, interviews: VON MORTEM, ZEMIAL, SADISTIK EXEKUTION, ETERNAL ROT, SINISTROUS DIABOLUS, ACHERON, JAMES MURPHY, HEADHUNTER D.C., SADISTIC INTENT, HAZAEL, MYSTIFIER, STURMTIGER, NOCTURNAL DAMNATION, DECEASED, MAYZEL, NECROPHOBIC, MORPHUS, VARATHRON, POSSESSION, INCANTATION, ANGELCORPSE / PERDITION TEMPLE, THE DEAD GOATS, EVIL MACHINE, PESTIFER, ILLDISPOSED, OUTRAGE (Ger), EQUINOX, IMPALED NAZARENE, ESOTERIC, NECROMANTICAL SCREAMS, KATECHON, MONSTRAAT, KHTHONIK CERVIIKS, VOCIFERIAN, ANTICHRIST HOOLIGANS, FANTHRASH.

Let me start the thing in such a way: this issue, however slightly, but beat the previous one. And unhesitatingly I can say that Adrian has infected the underground tissue with the bettermost venom (yes!) in his zine career so far. Though there are no any surprises, since the first letter I have been devoured by obscure slimy R’Lyeh might. Anyway, it’s not a secret that zine reviewing section is the first thing I embark reading paper issue upon. This time Adrian delivered 52 pieces of press, although one title made me wonder. Namely “Astronomia amatorska” bringing some cosmic dimensions on the table. Is it necessary here? I don’t think so… It would be definitely better to see “Nurkowanie amatorskie” with great pictures of R’Lyeh itself and heart-to-heart talk with Cthulhu. Sounds perfect, isn’t it? All right, then music section with 262 reviews (18 of them written by Von Mortem, Open Casket). The Adrian’s style didn’t change, that’s good for sure, but alphabetical order is missing unfortunately. The second novelty is displaying the best albums on almost each page with Polish Exorcist as a winner with the highest mark.

The reading black-white content is enormous, it gave me many fruitful hours and if the interviews are concerned, there’s no shameful defeat in Anal Vomit vein. Maybe two or three chats are with few short laconic answers, yet overwhelming majority is good or very good reading with the best Evil Machine (number one I guess!), Fanthrash, Von Mortem, Headhunter D.C. (did Sergio give shitty intie at any time?), The Dead Goats, Perdition Temple, Equinox, Zemial (good as always!), Incantation, Varathron, Illdisposed or Impaled Nazarene. So, if the reviews and interviews are the base of every zine, it’s good that the title has some added values. And R’Lyeh isn’t poor fellow in this regard. Just take a look on first pages where Artur Szokalski, like Mr. Kolonko, gives us reportage on Blake Judd. Interesting! Furthermore many live reports, mainly from abroad done by Artur again, however his memories from 1987 (Kat in Lublin) could crush the hardest rock. Applause! For sure this die-hard definitely improved his style as compared to #11. Continuing archeological subject, there’s a need to mention about Drrrama gigs. Then many articles: about metal conversions to Christianity, about rip-offs and cheaters, about money in Underground (“Biznes Metal”), report from the frontline (yes, Ukraine…), “Metal from the jail” with words coming from two sides of barricade, “Uważaj gdzie pijesz” which seems to be a some kind of warning to all nice drinking metallers, “Golden lips” (Entropia from Oleśnica fuckin’ rulezzzz!), interesting inquiry concerning xeroxing xeroxed paper zines, losing battle with daily paper Fakt. In turn in “Kawaii metal and tentacles” Adrian assures us that Empheris won’t be a part of world-wide tour with Baby Metal. Of course, the pages couldn’t get along without Northern Plague syndrome, this time War-saw is a hero with their blanket offer. Well, let’s allow my imagination run wild, I’m just closing my eyes and… I’m on my hometown square and see the stage. The names? Yeah, Northern Plague, War-Saw and Terror Tactics covering the whole “Reign in Blood”. The whole (?) should be propagated in the underground by Entropia (flyers, for zine’s sake!), recorded and released by Bloodwritten in tape format exclusively. Fuck, time to descend upon the ground…

Has R’Lyeh any drawbacks? I’m not going to stickle (fewness of misprints, typos), yet some spelling serious errors made my eyes open really wide. In addition, the orthography of nouns and adjectives concerning nationalities hasn’t been dissolved to date, showing a complete free choice. But changing into a totally different field, I have to admit that R’Lyeh starts to evolve: not only conflagration and death, not only horns and hooves or antennae, but a health and sanity. I’m not claiming the Adrian’s child becomes health-focused underground program, yet health-improving side is noticeable. Not being proofless, I invite you to catch a glimpse at Beer-o-metr with hangover as the main topic. To fight with this ‘the morning after the night before’ is more challenging task than giving some money on your local parish-priest’s tray. To the point, from quail’s eggs, fruits like Chinese gooseberries, peaches and melons to fluid replacements (even by alcohol according to some freaks). Then James Murphy goes with a handful of advices in the last his answer that should be taken into consideration. In aforementioned article about Japanese inventions Adrian shows deleterious influence of tentacle (?!) porno on our minds. And the last thing from that subject: there is a note about Rytmonorm, commonly used medicine to treat arrhythmia. Adrian gives us another really good and accurate (!) indication, yet he didn’t convince me about selling it without prescription. Although I wonder if all those advices have any sense in time of reading Korean Nocturnal Damnation prophecy that reveals the only truth: Mephistopheles and his earthly reigns by means of nuclear weapons. Anyway, I’d like to convince all of you to purchase this great title until is not too late and support Adrian’s undergroudish doings. Number #13 is more than welcome. Only in paper version. As always. 

ADRIAN

P. O. BOX 20

02-919 WARSZAWA

POLAND

hellishband@o2.pl

9,7/10

-Tlacaxipehualiztli

(written in September, 2015)