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| 2002 ZINE REVIEWS: PAGE 1 - PAGE 2 |
| 4 MINUTE WARNING #5 |
| Winter 2002 **** |
| Welcome to the UK'S most regular hardcore punk fanzine. 4 Minute Warning is big, it's juicy and it's out a lot more regular than my current gig going routine! It's also got a diverse legion of punk print to trawl through this time out. For starters London's premier Anarcho outfit Active Slaughter get this issue off to a bright red & black start. They give us the lowdown on some of their more pressing engagements in their busy direct action calender. They are followed like a bad smell by an impressive cartoon of Mr Colin Conflict in action (circa early 80's), done by Mitch's sidekick Hog. I never knew a dread locked St Annes punk could be so talented! However it's just a pity 4 Minute Warning and all the contributors just won't admit the current Conflict bubble is well 'n' truly burst. We are treated to two very biased reviews from their recent London Astoria appearance. Brainwashed springs to mind. Why these Anarcho fans can't suss out Conflict are a front just as much as the Pistols these days, is beyond me? They say love is blind! More cash-ins follow as Vitek Formacek (4MW'S Euro contributor) gives us a clued up review of the recent Dead Kennedy's gig in the Czech Republic, and follows it with a good backstage interview with new lead man Brandon Cruz. Vitek also supplies a smaller interview with some local band who are way out my league to pronounce. We then get a massive HITS 2002 rundown from Mitch herself. And when I say rundown I mean hatchet job! She really goes to town on the organisation, the shoddy treatment she got at the hands of violent European punks, and to top off her bad day experience...a taxi ride of terror! Real life is sometimes not very nice, and the image of happy punks sitting on sun swept beaches having their pictures taken by Granny's from Barnsley is a myth that gets blown right out the water in this expose! We also get a look back at the late 70's Plymouth punk outfit Sabotage? Before the massive 5 page record/zines review section gets started. The record reviews cover all bases, while the handwritten fanzine reviews paint a far healthier picture than is actually the case. A lot of these zines are bog standard, but I'll try and check out a few of the better ones to see if the climates improved. The Sex Pistols cop for some 'past it' comments from the editoress, I love it when she gets mad! And I gotta agree with her on most points, but c'mon Conflict are playing that game too y'know. Another newish UK band gets an expose and it's the hilariously named Fist Fuck from the slums of Swansea. The name conjures up one of those dodgy extreme metal outfits, but they are in actual fact South Wales street punks with a Disorder fixation. They definitely sound up for it in the interview, but I've yet to hear em? The gig reviews feature a new outfit from Morecambe (home to HITS) called Filthy Lookers, who look an interesting bunch! And we also get a review of that recent Crass collective get together, which I was very interested to read, sadly no big shocks just poetry and film. Lastly Scotland's best punk outfit Sad Society make their 4MW debut, and although their interviews are never mind blowing, just get hold of their demo and you'll be blown away completely. Gimme zines like 4MW every time over those faceless freebies, because they're REAL despite being misguided sometimes. £1.20 & A4 S.A.E. from Mitch Elsden 31 Fir Grove, Marton, Blackpool, Lancs, FY16PJ, U.K. |
| SMALL SAILOR #9 *** |
| First full issue of this popular N. York's fanzine I've set eyes on, in a few years I bet? Small Sailor is still keeping the Thirsk Jolly Roger flying high as the local scene hits troubled waters. Shipmates jumping ship or getting marooned on distant shores still ain't dampened their punk spirit. Small Sailor with it's cut 'n' paste or die ethic is going the full distance. And thank fuck for that I say... hip hip hip hoorayyy! My major hankering for Small Sailor is it's by now very pro cut 'n' paste format. This zine looks good, it looks very good indeed and for the most part reads OK too. Rich T's editorial covers the growing concern amongst the UK fanzine fraternity of dwindling sales due to (not the bad boy internet as I was expecting) the big professional Freebie zines like Fracture and new kids on the block Reason To Believe! Seems they're nicking the zine reading public from the smaller zines thus putting a lot of em out of action. But like I told Rich T., they'll never take away the character of zines like Jellybrain, Small Sailor or Puke, coz the big boys just don't have the character that real punks need. Character is one thing they'll never steall! Well lets hope the kids suss em and go for more variety in their punk print before more zinesters quit writing. Quite a lotta Ska bands frequent this issue, much to my disgust. We are saved from a chequred read only by decent punk outfits like local hommies Homebrew who make up for the editors suspect choice. Even those name droppers extraordinare from bonny Scotland Swellbellys who have Charlie Bronson (Hardest man in the UK Prison system) on their guest lists, are better than that Ska rubbish. Paul Jellybrain gives us a surreal trip to the Kwik Save, but I always think his writing for other zines don't work as well as his own kinky Jellybrained view. There's an intriguing Toe Wrestling piece that puts this zine in that classic schoolboy yuma category. You can also count on the reviews being honest, if it's shit they'll tell ya. However I can't understand Rich T's deep seated hatred of CD's?, considering he practically defends em in his editorial! Jess Spice from loverly Weston gives us two lines, a skeletal drawing then bids us farewell. The Dark Figures centrespread is still in progress and they get uglier by the issue. The Notts 'vegan guide' was good only for when the reviewers went in pubs. It's always handy to know where the local punk pub is situated if ever I'm stranded in Nottingham. I dunno about the Small Sailors, but the guest piss take of the little hobo by that local nonce case Anthony Monkey sounded very suSSpect indeed! I reckon he'd roger the holes in your jumper given half a chance! Small Sailor is still a fast, clean (in some cases) zine with an A1 layout. Pity the bands in this issue weren't from a more punkier descendency. |
| Small Sailor for 50p & S.A.E. from 39 Station Road, Thirsk,North Yorkshire, YO7 1QH, England |
| RANT #4 2002 **** |
| Mick Rant is really getting to grips with fanzine delivery and layout. This big fucker is jam-packed. There's less cut 'n' paste this issue, but more solid columns of print, and I ain't complaining! But remember kids, a front cover with impact is well worth your time and energy just as much as the goods inside. The front cover on Rant #4 leaves a lot to be desired, but maybe he'll suss that out by next issue? There's a fitting tribute to Assert's young drummer, Chris Burleigh who died suddenly last year. Good to hear old Telford warhorse Britt, paying a fitting tribute to him. The reviews are scattered around this issue like the young junkies outside the Good Shepherd in Thornley St., W-ton. And you know what, they are for the most part scoring every time. It was funny to read my little set two with Mick in print here, and it seems we gotta go through all the rigmarole once more, but I won't bore you with the details or my broadside just yet! I do despise being called 'Wolfy' though! This issues main contributor Trev Hagl adds a welcome bit of Geordie humour and observation on gigs, books and computers. That reminds me, I must get a copy of his latest Savage Amusement newsletter. Local outfit The Rong Uns give us a run down on their illustrious street punk career. Good to spot a rare (new) Discharge album review!!!!! First one I've seen anywhere? Although The Pistols at the Palace gets a very biased review from one of the many blinkered fans who give us cunts a bad name. Some fans never give you an honest view of the proceedings, they either love em even when they're shit, or they just don't know any better? There's an intriguing letter from Daz Russell (HITS promoter) slagging off Reason To Believe zine and the PC crowd who slate his beloved HITS baby. The Nihilism view is still out on that one?....hopefully let you know if I make it to this years shindig. An issue of Rant wouldn't be complete without an over the top Anti-heroes fix. And this issue signs off with a massive 10 page dissection of their ex-guitarist Mark Maghee. I'm starting to worry Mick Rant may need medical treatment for his obsessive A.H. obsession. However while were here I might as well tell you Mr McGee sticks the knife in on Anti-heroes leader Mark Noah. It's well worth reading just for the street level view of life in the USA for regular UK geezers who ain't entitled to celebratory status. Although it has to be said this is totally one sided! But Rant wouldn't have it any other way! £1.00 plus 2 stamps from 9 Sutton Court, 47 Leicester Road, Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, LE9 6QE, England |
| GAGGED & BLINDFOLDED #1 AUGUST 2002 *** |
| For the price of a stamp these days you expect a basic couple of A4 sheets, or one of those punk collective zines that you risk life and limb looking for decent views. But low and behold there's Gagged & Blindfolded (which despite the S&M title, there ain't a whip in sight!) This is a very impressive debut from some young kid out Dodge City (Hungerford), UK. The editor TimDog has really got his layouts together, giving us a more looser version of Scanner in style, but without the regimental clinical feel. This is also a definite labour of love like all good zines should be. Putting it out for FREE shows honourable principles, but must've been suicidal to maintain. My fears are later confirmed, coz it seems this could well be a one off! I doubt very much, pocket money runs to cover print costs on a zine these days? A quid an issue would have gave some incentive to continue I reckon. Can't say I totally agree with the pro PC viewpoints and attitudes that are sat embedded in today's youth, and prevalent in all the columnists. Maybe I'm an old cunt with a bit of red on my neck? What I do agree with whole heartedly is Gagged & Blindfolded's determination to check out all walks of punk life. Instead of the regular formulated pop-punk bands that sit smugly within every other zine out there today, G&B goes that extra mile. We get an Italian Oicore band Inerdzia featuring a blonde bass playing skinnette, Welly the Welsh motormouth from hardcore zine/band Artcore/4MW. A hyperactive Welly gives us a massive insider into his zine beginnings and his very plausible take on the world we live in. Other bands included Swedish Hardcore heroes, Da Skywalkers who are new to me?, but seem worth checking out. Plus some lazy Stoodent outfit called Adequate 7. Stuntface from Wrexham boast every walk of cult music life in their line-up. They made me laff when Kerrrang! described em as "manufactured". Lastly Ska outfit Evil Macaroni from Peterborough make up the numbers. The reviews are good coz most of the bands featured are in here, so it gives you a sound scape to go with the interviews. Felt sorry for the editor and his mate who got mugged in Camden for £50, just 5 minutes after they got off the train to see a gig!!! On a lighter night we get a peak at a disgruntled neighbours letter of noise complaint, done on lovely rose stationary too. There's a lot to read for a first issue and with an attractive layout like this, G&B could give a lot of the older more established zines some tips on presentation. Good debut! 27p SAE to 10 Cherry Grove, Hungerford, Berks, RG17 OHP, UK |
| REASON TO BELIEVE #6 |
| Summer 2002 *** |
| This is the Issue I meant to check out after spotting it on their web site. It features a Jamie Reid 'Clog Save The Scene' spoof on the cover, to coincide with 25 years of punk and the high Dutch profile in this issue. In fact the Dutch quotient is amplified a thousand fold by Brezhnev, who are this issues star turn. Lead singer MC Dog shit never fails to amuse in the infamy stakes. A geezer who always has something to say and knows exactly how to say it!!! Dumbstruck from Bristol on the other hand feature a host of stale bloated individuals from bands such as Heresy, Ripcord, Chaos UK and Spite, so expect some hardcore nonsense from those, plus we get a rare Seein Red expose. But these Dutch extremists are a tamer more politically motivated bunch than the street level Brezhnev. Can't wait to see that other brilliant Dutch outfit The Bips get some well deserved column space, although I don't think their rucksacks are big enough just yet!!! The letters pages has a Welly (4 Letter Word/Artcore) reprise, aimed at some disgruntled individual from last issue. I don't think much of Welly's music, but his views are definitely worth investigating. The News pages are pretty much nonexistent unless you happen to live in the Czech Republic. If so, then you'll be fascinated by the scoops on offer. Other big features in this issue shine a spotlight on some Mexican Anarchist Collective, a Czech scene Report plus an Australian scene report, which were both a bore!!!! However we get part two of 'The Rise And Fall of DIY Distribution', where Sir Trev Hagl of Savage Amusement fame, presents us with some real views from behind the scenes. Amongst the non-punk issues covered this time around are a MUST SEE (adopt sarcy tone) expose on Peat farming and some Hill Billy Food Cooperative from Eregan, USA! And if that ain't enough to send you running for them their hills, we get yet another diagrammed Posture exercise sheet...gee whizz!!! We are then treated to yet another collective, this time around from Southampton (zzzzzzzssssss - Wolves fans have VERY long memories!), and you know what?.....yet more gangs of ruck sacked right on punks! Call me a loner if you will, but don'tcha think all this collective bollocks seems very cliquey and regimented for a bunch of punks to be involved in? What the fucks happened to those loose cannons in the scene who didn't need a vote of confidence to go out and do something interesting off their own back? What we have now is planned, premeditated shite which I reckon stifles the excitement. A collective definitely ain't what punk is about. The massive reviews section drags us far 'n' wide, and it's a rarity to spot a band who your vaguely familiar with. Not my favourite mag at the moment, if they left out the patronising shit we'd all get along famously I'm sure! Neat back cover artwork. Print run 6,000 9 Sutton Court, 47 Leicester Road, Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, LE9 6QE, England |
| REASON TO BELIEVE #5 |
| March 2002 *** |
| First Issue I set eyes on, of this zine that's the other jewel in England's safe zine scene crown. And I've every Reason To Believe it's a lot more open minded and less snooty than it's rival the Cracked ones can ever be! Although the printed newspaper layout is almost identical. This issue was thrown in FREE when I sent for Issue #6 (reviewed next) so that gives em generosity points right away. Reason To Believe is a Leeds collective of punk writers with a very large political axe to grind and that disappointing PC attitude is prominent throughout. But that seems to be part and parcel of everything zine wise that emits from Leeds these days. Some might say a lot of cooks spoil the broth, and although that could be said here, there's still enough room for some very news worthy input. These kinda mags are trying to go the MaximumRockNRoll route in concept and layout, which is a shame coz we got one poor imitation, do we really need another? There's are some healthy Euro news reports and for the price of 50p's worth of stamps, this IS worth your support (Advertisers take note). If you can crawl through the 'right on' anarcho political awareness brief, you can find the odd glimmer of interest within it's jam packed pages. They do treat their readers with some respect, although they patronize us in equal amounts when they think we need guidance ha! I enjoyed the Chinese scene report, but that stretching exercise guide, complete with diagrams made me cringe. This issues main piece was Part one of 'The Rise And Fall of DIY Distribution' debate. It has views from all over the punk scene including distros, labels etc. However Ken Prank of Frisco's Prank Records version of events, hit the nail on the head. Band interviews are in-depth and cover UK Hardcore outfit Imbalance, who has since broke up, plus Spanish Anarchist outfit SinDios....both of whom were mind numbingly boring. There's a big piece on Squatting if your about to get kicked out your Mayfair flat. Plus a very good un with Mr Squat Thruster himself...Sir Penny Rimbaud (ex-Crass drummer), who fills us in on his his legal fight to keep the Crass HQ from the slimey grips of it's landlords. The reviews are big but rarely cover the bands we here at Nihilism jack off too, although the zines fare much better. On first impressions Reason To Believe isn't really such a threat to the more DIY zines out there. It's way too formulated for that. I'd say it's purely an alternative and a preferrred alternative given whats on offer. With a more diverse selection of contributors and a less patronizing approach this could be very good indeed! Print run 6,000 9 Sutton Court, 47 Leicester Road, Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, LE9 6QE, England |
| SMALL SAILOR #10/ |
| REMAINS OF A CAVEMAN #? |
| SPLIT ZINE 2002 *** |
| Small Sailor still leads the scene in cut 'n' paste presentation, with only Becca Pukes scruffier affair sniffing for pole position. But we ain't here to swop manicure tips with our ink encrusted cronies are we? This issue seems to be giving the smaller record labels a bit of decent exposure and kicks off with a good interview with Mohican Jim, (aka Mr Intimidation Records) from Scotland. This is followed by the bigger Household Records label based in London, who don't sound like my kinda thing at all. Jess Spice shares a page of cartoon art with new contributor Senka, who seems to fit in very well with the surreal slightly worrying Dark Figures centrespread. There's an interesting Amsterdam tour diary done by our editor and few local inbreds, although the bars don't get much exposure. We are then given a reason why Thirsk punks are a breed all on their own. They wrestle each other on long hot sweaty summer nights...for fun??? I always like to read the carboot reviews, but no rare punk finds in this issh. The Bus Station Loonies are the only band featured, with Chris Wheelchair answering the questions in between shifts behind the bar of Plymouths punk pub... the Nowhere Inn...mines a Carlin! There's a boatload of reviews covering zine and music, which spells it out. I'm still waiting for that Irish Stew recipe between the Vegan ones though!!! |
| Remains Of A Caveman is totally new to me. Very arty in the way it's delivered which also runs through this issues subject matter. I do appreciate art considering I'm basically a piss artist, and I take great interest in the visual side of punk. However art is a personnal taste and some of the art covered here ain't the best. The editor seems a bit of a moaning cunt too...well he is from Brighton, so what d'ya expect? There's a parade of artists on the couch, who contribute to various record covers, best being The Amputees a.k.a. The Steak Dept., who inspite of superior artwork, had an attitude to match!!! Remains Of A Caveman is pretty Emo this issue, despite the editors total denial. C'mon when you start reading in zines peoples dream sequences, you seriously need to jump ship! We also get a tour of Norwich, which reminds me why I've never been there. Along with a more in-depth tour diary of Amsterdam, but don't think you'd catch me in Museums... 48 hours means 48 thrills, and probably a load of fucking Pils...too! We get some good detailed zine reviews which thankfully covered some of the print that's more off the beaten track. The layout is neat although that's expected from an ex-art student, still a bit too up its own arse for my liking though. |
| £1.00 & S.A.E. from 39 Station Road, Thirsk,North Yorkshire, YO7 1QH, England. |
| BREAKOUT #1 Summer 2002 ****1/2 I just had to review this one kindly passed onto me by Denise from LA (cheers Denise hoped you enjoyed your stay in the UK). Well it's one big A4 captivating read and like Defiant Pose's LA punk special, which followed in 2003, this fucker really does gives us the beef on this fascinating punk scene, that ain't included in all the books. We get in-depth interviews with book authors Brendan Mullen and Mark Spitz who co wrote 'We Got The Nutron Bomb' the untold LA Punk story book. There's sussed and extensive reviews of all the era's classic 45's, plus pictures of all the covers that makes you wanna go check em all out for yourself. Alongside reprinted interviews with Youth Of Today (MRR) and the Dead Boys from Search And Destroy mags. Plus a couple nicked off the web including the birth of Dangerhouse records feature, which you can read for yourself on the highly recommended Break My Face site. The strange thing about this zine is that the author ain't some hood from Huntington Beach, but some young punk from Toronto in Canada! Which seems bizarre considering the wealth of info he's put together. But ain't that nearly always the case, some of the best accounts of scenes seem to hail from outsiders who have a hungry knack of digging up the best material. Breakout ain't all LA though, coz you get some local spotlights falling on Toronto outfits like No Warning, Our War and some crazy geezer called Andrew W.K. The photostatic print job is sound too, with easily read articles and a bunch of pix too. Sadly this issue seems to have been a flash in the pan coz Breakout only went onto release one more issue before fading back into the Cannuck wilderness. So anyone who has a copy of issue #2 in their collection and wants to sell it please get in touch. I've been in contact with the editor but he's sold out of every copy he had left of both issues. Which is a sign of how good this zine really is! For more info ask the author who's moved onto other things I presume? IANEND@HOTMAIL.COM |
