August 2020, 72/A4, printed, English, limited, interviews: EXHUMATION, ATARAXY, MATHIAS FRIBORG, DARIO DERNA, RESONANCE SOUND STUDIO, QUESTION, VASTUM, TUNJUM, ASTRIFEROUS, BLOODSOAKED NECROVOID, CEREBRAL ROT, ROTTEN TOMB, DEATH DIVISION RITUALS, KRYPTS, EVIL PRIEST, CALIGARI RECORDS, ANASTASIS VALTSANIS, UTTERTOMB, CENOTAFIO, DEATH OVER MEXICO, THULSA DOOM, OATH OF CRUELTY, ANGELCORPSE, SPECTRAL VOICE / BLOOD INCANTATION, JULIO VITERBO.
Beside the worldwide interminable covid madness, the past year was pretty interesting when it comes to the underground zine titles. Surely, the newest Peruvian Crypts of Eternity with the number 7 is definitely one of them, being the first meeting with the works of Ricardo Lucas. The evocative front-cover invites into the crypts of death... Yep, this zine is completely dedicated to the death metal genre. So, what we've got here? Layout is computer made with some really compelling graphics, not eye-burning fonts and both white and black backgrounds. The whole is pretty clear, however it would be better to see some inties (questions / answers) separated in a clearer way. As for bands content, Ricardo did really fantastic job featuring many exciting names with rather comprehensive answers, although Ian from Cerebral Rot treated it a bit laid-back and for sure I expected more from the last Mathias answer on Black Mass Pestilence tour and Mexico in general. Either way, it's hard to choose the absolute leader as nobody has failed as a matter of fact. Of course, my heart started to pump the blood much faster while reading Julio Viterbo chat and his role in the mighty The Chasm, being for me one of the best musical acts ever emerging from the underground. Anyway, absolutely absorbing piece to read, from Julio's beginnings in Tormentor and Shub Niggurath to his last so far activity in Cenotaph and Heavens Decay.
All right, let's carry on, those interviews belong to the highlights of the issue as well: Ataraxy (this is my first reading meeting with the Spaniards if I well remember, both musicians gave interesting and long answers, just like the music they create), Dario Derna where Ricardo asked about many acts he has been / is involved in (Threnodist, Infester, Evoken, Funebrarum, Drawn and Quartered, Ritual Chamber), completely unknown for me Peruvian Tunjun or Paul Riedl concentrating on Spectral Voice and Blood Incantation. It's worth to mention a commemorative while with Gene Palubicki, as Ricardo build an altar for „Exterminate” album his home. It's hard to believe this album is 23 years old... All the inties runs quite smoothly, the editor is an experienced devoted death metal freak with questions related to music, lyrics, recording gear and death in general. As it's has been published in August, 2020, coronavirus is an unwanted hero between the verses too: several topics deal with Death over Mexico gig that took place in March last year, being one of the last festivals before the pandemic lockdown. Great that Ricardo managed to ask Gerardo Lugo about it. And I found one small sport trace, Ricardo hails Roma and Francesco Totti in Thulsa Doom chat.
Amid these pages, there are merely 31 reviews of music. Ricardo's method of dissecting is rather perfunctory, just like the stuff written by his collaborators, yet they give a proper guidance and informations, I really had a hope to read about more titles though. But the baffling thing is: no zine reviews included! And if we are still in 'describing section', The New Blood from the Uku Pacha should be mentioned, where Ricardo gave a place for three young Peruvian bands: Hell Trepanner, Arkhon and Antropomancia, more complex than the reviews itself, with the news, line-up and the like. Two more bands (Disburial, Archaic Tomb) got such a space too, reminding me a method from the old zines – I like it a lot. On the end one can adore the only live report from... 1990 with Morbid Angel that is written with unconstricted passion by Eduardo Slayer. Summing it up: this issue is yet another very fine title in my paper collection, however I'd like to see less advertisements next time, yet the whole is really enjoyable, it smells underground, it smells death metal to the core. Yep, exactly, next time... Who knows what future will bring because Ricardo announced a break (interview from Necromaniac 11) in his zine / label activity. Hm... I do hope Crypt of Eternity will open once again and infect the bowels of the underground.
cryptsofeternity@outlook.com
9/10
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(written in January, 2021)
