May 2014,
46/A4 pages, xeroxed, English, interviews: UNDER THE CHURCH, AZARATH, PROFANAL,
SLEIPNIR, CHAOS INCEPTION, DEAD BREAD, BEYOND MORTAL DREAMS, PATHOGEN,
ECTOVOID, DEATHSTORM, DECAYING, SCENT OF DEATH, INCARCERATION, VOIDHANGER,
ETERNAL ROT, SLAUGHTER MESSIAH, ENGULFED.
First of
all, it’s a really great idea that Marcin, the chief editor, decided to spread
these deathly words through the resurrected Panzerfaust paper zine. I repeat:
PAPER, as he is known for running the blog under the same moniker and providing
his reviews on Encyclopaedia Metallum page. The amount of over 500 pieces looks
really impressive. And it seems it has no end! That’s good, but the better
thing is I can write about something real, something tangible right now. As it
was clearly stated at the beginning, 90% is taken from the blog however it is
not an obstacle for me. As a matter of fact, I know several chats and the best
part of reviews, but I have it in the zine, in the place where it always should
be! What is more, my eyes have breathed again seeing black font on the white
paper at last! Yes, it’s a way better as compared to the blog with the inverse
situation.
Catching a
glimpse on the front page and the words on it, one thing definitely should be
sure as shooting: death metal to the bone! Yeah, reading band’s names I knew it
would fit my tastes perfectly. And amongst all the chats maintained rather in
in-depth manner, the interview with Matt Barnes of Chaos Inception is the best
one here. He provided very, very interesting answers concerning musician’s
life, metal in general and metal celebrities (just take a careful read the
penultimate question/answer). What’s next? For sure Decaying (after reading a
review of their latest “The Last Days of War” album written by Marcin on metal
archives, I bought it immediately and I’m… truly impressed!), Scent of Flesh,
Eternal Rot, Beyond Mortal Dreams to name a few. Marcin uses his English in
kindly and completely understandable way, yet the questions are
well-thought-out and he knows what he is asking for. Simply he listens to the
all these crews. And only one interview is a kind of editor’s failure. I mean,
Turkish Engulfed placed as the last one really surprised me in a negative way.
You know, questions are longer than the poor answers, it made a boring stuff
unfortunately. And one can ask: you are such a known band and don’t need a
support? If yes, I can understand. It’s pity because Turkish bands aren’t something
common in underground press.
The modest
layout looks really cool, but there’s more important thing: Marcin added 82
reviews of music and 1 review of zine only, however it took him one whole page.
He described pretty in detail the Chilean beast called Compilation of Death #2.
Man, I didn’t even know if such a book (more than 200 pages, divided into two separate
parts) exists! To put it short: I have to buy it. About music, there are two
sections, one consisting of short vinyl releases (EPs, 7”) and the second part,
much larger, with the rest of the stuff. Generally I can find only pure
underground, no any mainstream names, with only one release with maximum mark
(Trench Rot’s demo “Dragged Down to Hell”). And here I definitely prefer when
Marcin describes the music carefully and with even some historical touch. I
like the way he writes, as he knows a lot about the underground. Passion, devotion,
knowledge, metal, all these elements are easy to be found in the pages of
Panzerfaust.
Any
complaints? For sure it wasn’t planned putting some repetitions (two reviews in
vinyl section, or one question in Beyond Mortal Dreams interview). Also, I
don’t consider lack of zines reviews as a serious defect, for sure it would be
more interesting to read. The second thing: it’s a pity Marcin didn’t put
descriptions of old classic albums in separate part like he did it for metal
archives. “Beneath the Remains”, “Left Hand Path”, “Show No Mercy”, Bathory or
Asphyx lps and so forth. It would be definitely another strong point of
Panzerfaust. I don’t care if such albums are known by heart by metallers, but
reading about timeless and immortal stuff is always something magic as far as I
am concerned. I hope to see it in the next issue. Maybe whole Dismember’s discography?
Anyway, if I am writing about possible next Marcin’s attack, one thing is sure:
we, all the readers, won’t read a chat with… Kataklysm. Ha, I got to know
Marcin’s opinion about the Canadians, but reading some words on the bygone “The
Mystical Gate of Reincarnation”, “Sorcery” and “Temple of Knowledge” splendid
times should be exciting, don’t you think? And one more band comes to my mind
after the Panzerfaust shot, namely Paracoccidioidomicosisproctitissarcomucosis.
If I remember well, this name of Mexican sickos can be found two times on the
pages, so maybe it is a good idea to contact them to make some intie? However
they seem not be a band from favorite editor’s genre…
To cut it
short: I had many pleasant moments while studying the content of Panzerfaust
work. I have missed its previous issues somehow, but I will buy the next one
for sure. And when I think over the Polish underground press, I find these months
a very good period as so many killing titles walks around: R’Lyeh on December, then
the resurrection of Infernal Death and the next Necroscope and now Panzerfaust joins
the team. Dealing with this Marcin’s armoured offer, I state to all of you that
it wasn’t a waste of time, moreover this vinyl maniac seems to be a shepherd
amongst the flood of new countless exhalements of the underground scene. Thus if
you don’t feel like an orphan, follow this guy. You won’t be disappointed.
m_olczak@wp.pl
http://www.panzerfaust666zine.blogspot.com/
8,5/10
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(written on May, 2014)
