Hell this article is the reason why I got into Nifelheim! It made me search/hunt for a CD copy of the excellent A Journey In Darkness (1994) by Ophthalamia for years... This even made me buy, without listening to it first, the first and only Opeth album that I own Orchid (1995). Don't get me wrong it's a great album but I lost interest in them after that.
Looking back Metal Zone was an alright magazine, but the path it lead me into and the contribution by Jon Nödtveidt and Ole Öhman made it worth way more then my money when I was 14 years old. I got every issue except for #3 back then (still looking for it).
The magazine was heavily focused on "regular" Heavy Metal, grunge and AOR crap, this issue had Alice Cooper and Stone Temple Pilots on the cover had on articles with Clawfinger, Pride And Glory, Gilby Clarke, Benediction and Napalm Death
More important a Bathory one. Jon Nödtveidt interview Quorthon for his solo album called just Album (1994) but Jon focused very much on the whole history of Bathory it's greatly written.
If you want an English translation it's included in Slayer Mag X. If you don't want to hunt for that issue it's of course included in the amazing book Metalion: The Slayer Mag Diaries from 2011 can't recommend that book enough it's a must have for anyone interested in great music.
Equally as important as the "Extreme Zone" and the Bathory article in this issue was a Dissection interview with Jon Nödtveidt (read a English translation here) it Also the Emperor interview done by Jon. It made me buy In The Nightside Eclipse (1994) that same year, actually it was the very first Norwegian Black Metal album I bought. See an English translation I did over here.
I can say that it was thanks to Jon Nödtveidt that I discovered MANY bands in 1994.
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Article
written by Jon Nödtveidt published in 1994 originally in the Swedish magazine
Metal Zone #5 of June/July.
Translated by
@herr_black_metal on Instagram
www.herrblackmetal.blogspot.se
Extreme Zone
A guide to the underground
Welcome honored death-heads! Extreme Zone is
back now on a bit larger scale than before. We will of course continue our
strive to make these Devilish pages expand even more so we don’t totally choke
on all the pussy-rock, AOR (or whatever it’s called) that this magazine is
filled to the brim with otherwise. We need all the support we can get and we want
to know what you as readers viewpoint, so write and state your opinion! All
critique, positive or negative, is necessary for the development of Extreme
Zone to make it as strong and satisfying as possible. Every extreme Death,
Thrash, Black Metal band grab your senses and immediately send your demo tapes,
albums (+ preferably with photos and info) or whatever it might be, to get an
honest review. This time we have also chosen to include some reviews of
fanzines and we will continue to do so if there’s an interest and depending on
what we’ll get. So every fanzine editor that want to give your zine some
publicity, send us your creations!
First out this time is EINHERJER from Norway with their demo “Aurora Borealis”. Einherjer plays according to them they play epic
Viking Metal and the description is more than fitting because of the Norse
music atmosphere. Despite the fact that Einherjer does have a pretty own sound
it’s mixed with some influences from the two latest Bathory albums and also a
whole lot of Black Metal. Of the demos four tracks it’s the last song, “Einherjer” that distinguish itself most
with its dark mood. Also the opening song “De
Sorte Sjoers Land” is very good. The singing varies mostly from traditional
raw to “regular” so to speak. Quite tiresome in the long run, but at some
moments very recommendable. “Aurora
Borealis” can be ordered for 30 NKR.
Here are a couple of guys that apparently
have been listening too much to Deicide and Cannibal Corpse. LEGION from Kiruna delivers a tight and
well played Death Metal, but sadly with none sort of originality. One actually
begins to think if they strive to sound as standard American as possible. This
is Legion’s second demo and because of the fact it’s no treat I hope for the
sake of the band they will pull themselves together and put them in some sort
of creative approach. If this had been recorded 5-6 years ago it would be on a
whole other level.
Once again we heed to our neighbors in the
west. HADES is one of the more new
Norwegian bands and has accomplished to create a nice debut demo. “Alone Walkyng”, is the title and
consists of three songs in heavy Black Metal spirit. “Unholy Congregation”, “Hecate (Queen of Hades) (absolute best of
the three) and the titletrack “Alone Walkyng”. It comes as no surprise
that Hades musically is almost identical with other Nordic Black Metal bands
meaning it’s quite predictable at times. But quite good! Except for the demo “Alone Walkyng” that’s available for 30
NKR, they also have t-shirts available for 100 NKR.
A new single with rerecordings of three
songs from EMPEROR’s debut demo “Wrath of the Tyrant” will be released
within a couple of days. The single will be printed in a limited edition of
1000 numbered copies (with a sticker). Certainly a very sought after release.
The easiest way to obtain it is to send 40 crowns to Nocturnal Art Productions,
namely Emperor themselves. (Herr_BM: it’s “As The Shadows Rise” single Jon is writing about here.)
We have had the honor to take part of four
new songs from a fresh new recording done by the extremely cruel psychopaths in
NIFELHEIM from Dals-Långed. A
recording that really reeks of hate and death! Songs like “Sodomizer”, “Witchfuck”, “The Devastation” and “Eternal Evil” is explicitly said so hellish awesome that all
other new Black Metal sounds like gospel in comparison. Loyal readers of
Extreme Zone of course noticed these guys in MZ nr 3, when we praised their
debut demo, but this is the best! Fast, raw and crushing “Satanic Speed Metal”
with an atmospheric aura of the blackest devilish evil. Sadly this recording is
unofficial, but do not despair, because the excellent Nifelheim demo is still
available to order if you’re fast enough 30 crowns + postage (an investment
smarter than smartest). It will not be too long until we get to hear Nifelheim
on an album. They’re going to appear on a compilation album on American Necropolis Records and later probably a
whole full length album on the same company. We wait with big expectations…
The
Northern Darkness Tour* with IMMORTAL and MARDUK is
postponed because the organizer has been changed. The tour was originally was
going to start on the first of April, but will instead begin on 27/5 and
continue until 12/6. Totally 17 gigs and to us Northmen sadly not one in
Scandinavia. *(Herr_BM
note: the tour was actually called “Sons of Northern Darkness 94” and they
played in Denmark so I would say they did play one gig in Scandinavia, I don’t
know if that was changed or if Jon got the wrong info)
Swedish OPHTHALAMIA’s
album debut “A Journey In Darkness” (Avantgarde
Music) have after many circumstances finally been released. But not all the
problems of Ophthalamia have been solved. The Italian record label Avantgarde
Music has because of disagreement with the band cancelled all plans of any
tours. The lack of distributors also cause that “A Journey In Darkness” still is very hard to get ahold of, but
hopefully that’s going to change. The record is now available at House of Kicks
and Heavy Sound.
OPHTHALAMIA’s songwriter “IT” is as you know with “EVIL” from MARDUK on his side also involved with the mythical and notorious
“project” ABRUPTUM, their second
album was recently released. “In Umbra
Malitiae Ambulabo, In Aeternum In Triumpho Tenebraum” is the title and the
album is published on the ghost label Deathlike
Silence Productions. The planned razor (!) with the exhortation “cut your
wrists” that was supposed to be attached on limited editions, never got done
because of different reasons. The one who seeks out to be torn apart by the
sharp claws of evil should thoughtfully consider looking after this hard to
understand masterpiece.
UK based Candlelight Records some time ago signed the Stockholm band OPETH to its army of (mostly) high
quality bands. The debut record “Orchid” is on its way to be released and is a
result from a visit to the now widely used Unisound
Studio in Finspång. The song titles are “In
Mist She Was Standing”, “Under The Weeping Moon”, “The Apostle In Triumph”, “Forest
Of October”, “Oath” and “Silhouettes”.
The promo tape shows proof of may musically talents. Strongly influenced by
Norse Folk Music and Progressive Rock Opeth debuts in a very promising way. We’ll
wait with further comments until the album is released.
Like we said in the beginning we’ll henceforth
review fanzines so we take a short moment and look at what we got thus far. It
should also be added that these magazines are also looking for demos and to
review.
The Gathering Zine #1
A very good fanzine written in English.
Mostly consisting of Black Metal. Good interviews with bands like: Abruptum,
Monumentum, Funeral Nation, Katatonia, Dissection, Throne of Ahaz, At The Gates
etc. Also an interview with Slayer magazine. A memorial article dedicated to
Mayhem, the history of Mercyful Fate, articles of the occult, album reviews,
etc. 56 pager in A4 can be ordered for 20 crowns. Recommended.
Peerless
Fanzine #2
Swedish written fanzine in A5. 64 pages full
of Swedish Metal. Many reviews of demos/albums/fanzines, talk about songs and
other good things. Interview with: Decameron, Merciless, Necrophobic, Edge of
Sanity, Dissection, Dark Tranquility and Deranged, just to name a few. An
entertaining magazine available for measly 10 crowns + postage. Well worth the
price!
Zelot
Zine #2
Astonishing great! Incredibly well written
and a very professional layout. Packed with interesting reading throughout.
Informative interviews with among others: My Dying Bride, At The Gates, Desultory,
Overflash, Anathema, Seance, Pan-Thy-Monium, Nocturnal Rites and In The Colonnades.
Articles, demo/album reviews, news and everything one can think of. Also a
three paged tribute article on the kings of gothic rock Fields of the Nephilim.
As you’d already understand this is a 68 paged A5 that’s characterized with a
very high quality and I say easily that Zelot Zine are at the top of the
Swedish fanzine elite, order immediately for 20 crowns. Overwhelming!
Nordic
Vision #1
Nordic Vision is a Norwegian produced
fanzine that according to me is a bit sloppy. Boring layout and so on, but
because this is their first issue one can only hope that the coming numbers
will get better. This can however be interesting for you that want to read some
more about Black Metal. Interviews with: Rotting Christ, Marduk, Darkthrone,
Monumentum, Dissection, Satyricon, Slayer Magazine and No Fashion Records. Also
a bunch of reviews. It cost 30 crowns and we are only getting 22 pages.
Expensive?
Dark
Dimensions #2
Last out we have Dark Dimensions. Here’s
served Black and Death Metal in a large amount! 62 pages on A4 written in
Swedish. The interviewed bands are: Rotting Christ, Necrony, Vomitory, Tiamat,
Dark Tranquility, Decameron, Marduk and a bunch of others. To my delight (and
surprise) there’s also a 4-paged interview with the Progressive total favorites
Landberk! Lots of reviews and such. Sadly the layout is in this otherwise good
fanzine a bit disappointing, that affect the full impression some. For you that
got 20 crowns too much why not invest in this magazine?
Enough of drivel for this time. Goodbye!
Jon
Nödtveidt
