VIRUS ZINE # 5
(64 pages, A4, xeroxed, in English)
Now this is what I call true underground dedication for a change! Haven't seen many zines like this in quite while... you know, those that are really fan made in b/w, xeroxed with a layout that still has this typical old school feel to it. Zines that really deserve the title FANzines as opposed to being totally professional made magazines... The same also goes for the content in this case here. Editor Fauzi was digging really deep in order to give several completely unknown (at least to me) exotic bands such as AS SAHAR, BLACK ABYSS, SHACKLES, INFERIS, HELLGHAST, WITCHCURSE, ENSHADOWED / BURIAL HORDES, MANIAK or NECROLISIS a platform to spread their views. In fact, the only names I was already familiar with in this issue were UK's SPEARHEAD, GRAVE DESECRATOR, EMBRACE OF THORNS and ABHORER (and the latter is even a reprint from the interview we have on our website)... And I wouldn't necessarily call those bands popular either... So, VIRUS has a very cool overall attitude, that's for sure! Several specials and reviews complete this highly interesting piece of reading... the only little letdown is the rather weak English, which should definitely be improved... But as this is a fanzine and the main focus should be the featured bands and their music, it doesn't matter too much in the end anyway as you still find out enough about the individuals featured in here (a free CD-R compilation with tracks from all the featured bands is also included by the way). It sells for 10 RM (Malaysia), 4 US $ (Asia), 6 US $ (Europe) or 6 US $ (South America) from: Mohammad Fauzi Bin Ali, Jheoa NS/Melaka, TKT 4, Wisma Persekutuan, 70000 Seremban, N.Sembilan, Malaysia, email: virus_zine@yahoo.com. More info: www.myspace.com/viruszine
Frank Stöver
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