September 2020, 72/A4, printed, English, hand-numbered, interviews: PHLEBOTOMIZED, PERPETUAL HOLOCAUST, VIEW BEYOND RECS, RUHO, SUFFER, UTUMNO, WOODS OF BELIAL, KOLAC, OLD COVEN, NEMBRIONIC, KRASHING, BEYOND BELIEF, MARTWA AURA, CROSS FADE, JIM MUTILATOR, REPUGNANCIA, ERUPTED EVIL.
Fast glance at the cover with Garristown old church and everything is clear: new Forgotten Chapel zine is ready to be dissected. Finally, after five long years, in this fucking completely unpredictable season. It has been confirmed in several words of introfuckinduction, editor's daring plans got painfully verified by daily life. Luckily, Fogotten Chapel opened its gateways once again being number 10 in Mateusz ongoing zinecareer. His choice of featured crews in this jubilee issue is mostly sentimental journey into the past, sometimes becoming an art of archeology as our adventure begins in ancient Greece, not because Jim Mutilator has been interviewed, but due to philosophical concept of Aristotle on music itself. Rejecting great Greek philosopher thoughts whatsoever, I dived immediately into the ominous halls of the Morgoth's stronghold. Yes, Utumno. Despite building an altar for „Across the Horizon”, I can't now remember if I have ever seen any talk with this band and despite I was expecting something unusual, I got just a decent one. But as for a real reading highlight, I stay in the land of Sweden. Suffer nailed it, as Perra gave really interesting answers. Then, being still in Europe, I move to the Netherlands. Yes, I can feel that, Mateusz loves this country serving stuff from Phlebotomized that opens the issue, Nembrionic and absolutely fantastic Beyond Belief (attitude in the underground, the answers – the true essence, but, damn, one answer has been cut off). Worth to check out is definitely Kolac with long full-informative answers, however it won't change my impression that Serbia is still exotic land in Europe. Then, two representatives of South America: Repugnancia from Peru with three questions merely but veeeery long and exciting (it's a part, full intie in Legion of Torture zine) and Perpetual Holocaust, the shortest in the family and the only one being just average. The issue features two Polish acts as well: very popular currently in zines Martwa Aura (very decent piece provided by Diabolizer, the editor of Worship Him zine, and yes, „The Final Countdown” album rulesss!) and Erupted Evil.
There's nothing to complain about: the zine looks oldschool, sometimes really organized, sometimes a bit chaotic (Necrosanct), and it smells oldschool as the issue has been buried for several days. Nobody should be surprised after reading Mateusz's previous issue, he is still following the same dark and rotten track, he is an old campaigner, he has got his own style absolutely. As for the reviews, kept rather a shorter way, yet totally comprehensive, with general number of 106 music (however Galvanizer's „Rehearsal Tape” isn't a review, but it is fully explained) and 16 zines. He dissected some bootlegs from Paradise Lost, Trouble and Exodus as well which I found a great idea. Also we can read about some very old zines. As compared to the nine, there's no „Return of the Vinyl Man” (luckily Tape Ghetto survived!) and live reports which is easy to understand, yet Mateusz included one short polling on front cover artworks and one, rather sad in its purport, article called „Collector's rant”. His archeological acumen confirms „Old Rotten Not Forgotten” section with such names as Dissect, Dark Opera and Ascaris. Summarizing, this is really interesting piece: horror inspired and metal obsessed with a tribute to cut'n'paste execution, we've got it all and it's good to know that Mateusz is not going to cease his paper crusade, the issue number 29 is scheduled on 2108! And one more thing on the end, let me quote some editor's words: „Zines were blood of the scene once, now they are artefacts”. Well, I cannot dispute with that, it's just the face of our modern times. In a nutshell, I can't wait for his next move.
9/10
- Tlacaxipehualiztli
(written in December, 2020)
