UHM! ZINES PRESENTS: TRELLICK TOWER - A BRUTALIST ICON IN NORTHWEST LONDON

TITLE - UHM! ZINES PRESENTS: TRELLICK TOWER - A BRUTALIST ICON IN NORTHWEST LONDON 

CREATED BY - STEPPP (STEFANO SAMA) 

GENRE - BRITISH BRUTALIST ARCHITCTURE/TRELLICK TOWER 

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - UNITED KINGDOM 

A5/24 PAGES/BLACK & WHITE/PAMPHLET/CARD COVERS/LIMITED TO 50 COPIES 

PRICE - £10.00 + SHIPPING FROM UHMZINES ETSY STORE

In a departure from his usual publications, "Steppp", the prolific photographer and creator behind the brutalist zine "BRUTAL", has produced a special package focusing on just one building: that icon of British Brutalism, Trellick Tower in London. The zine ties in with Trellick's 50th anniversary and is the first in a new series of zines dedicated to notable Brutalist buildings.

Not quite as old as me, (I was born a year earlier in 1971) Trellick Tower was built by architect Erno Goldfinger and opened in 1972. The zine includes an introduction by EG himself in which he talks of "spatial order" and the sensations that can be experienced in buildings and is typical of the pretension often displayed by architects talking about their work. Such themes about the "sense of space" etc are important to Brutalism, and Trellick Tower is definitely an icon of the movement, but sadly it became more famous for its crime and lawlessness, before being gentrified, with the flats becoming highly desirable. The zine also includes a brief history of the tower, which is a welcome feature.

Steppp's photography is, as usual, starkly excellent. With its iconic separate lift-shaft, connecting walkways and monolithic appearance, Trellick Tower is shot from the ground up (bar a couple of long-shots) emphasising its size (98 metres) and geometric otherworldliness. The photos are crisp and detailed, unflinchingly capturing the graffiti and rubbish bins. Not quite as futuristic as some Brutalist buildings, Trellick emphasises function over form but remains a classic. 

In the deluxe package, you get the zine itself in black card covers, a "50th birthday card" containing a 7x5 monochrome photograph and a pop-art Trellick postcard. The whole package is very classy with high production values, and well worth the higher than usual price tag.

STRANGE DAYS VOLUME #10

TITLE - STRANGE DAYS VOLUME #10 | SUMMER 2022

CREATED BY - ANDREW JUHL

GENRE - FORTEANA/UFOs/CRYPTIDS/PARANORMAL PHENOMENA/HIGH STRANGENESS/WEIRD SH*T

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - USA 

7"x5"/BLACK & WHITE/44 PAGES/PERFECT-BOUND 

PRICE - £9.18 + SHIPPING FROM STRANGE DAYS ETSY STORE

Born during the lockdown/quarantine of 2020, "Strange Days" came into being when creator Andrew Juhl started telling friends, quite rightly as it turned out, that they were living in “strange days”. Upon realising that, in fact, the planet Earth has always been strange, and full of strange events, he sat down to collate some of the weirdest stories he could find and created the first issue of this zine in a single afternoon while sitting on his couch. Now on issue 10, aptly featuring a big X on the cover, “Strange Days” the zine, like the high strangeness the world has lived through the past couple of years, shows no signs of stopping.

Still in its surprisingly tactile pocket-sized format, volume 10 kicks off with a classic UFO story from the United Kingdom which was the source of an infamous photograph of an alleged alien craft which has been dubbed the "best UFO photo ever taken". The story involves government cover-ups, secret projects and high-level shenanigans. There's a heart-warming but no less strange story about a lady who received postcards from her deceased mother 60 years after they were posted, and tantalising videos of one of the hot topics of the moment, UAPs, shadowing planes at air shows in the US and UK. Elsewhere, the sighting of a bizarre werewolf-like creature in Amarillo echoes the appearance of a similar beastie in Texas in 1971, the sight of which caused one man to have a heart-attack (he survived though). Amongst the other stories, guest writer Jon McEdward's piece explores how randomising your research can often lead to serendipitous discoveries in the rabbit holes of the internet, a scary story about a sleep paralysis encounter (which I can relate to), a brief history of the mysterious Georgia Guidestones, which were recently significantly damaged and are now pretty much gone, studies of cryptids and Native American mythology and the Tarot card is the 3 of Cups.

One welcome aspect of "Strange Days" is that creator Andrew Juhl rarely makes firm judgements on the stories he features, preferring instead to encourage the reader to seek them out and decide for themselves. The content is varied and engaging, and the print and photography is clear throughout. "Strange Days" offers a condensed dose of weirdness and will appeal to fans of the Fortean Times and the paranormal.

SHUCK #5

TITLE - SHUCK #5

CREATED BY - ADA NEMESIS & MATT WILLIS 

GENRE - FOLK HORROR/FOLKLORE/FOLKTALES FROM NORFOLK AND ITS SURROUNDINGS  

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - UNITED KINGDOM 

A5/50 PAGES/BLACK & WHITE/PAMPHLET

PRICE - £7.50 + SHIPPING FROM THE SHUCK ETSY STORE

Like "Wyrd", "Shuck" has reached five issues (read my review of the first four issues here) and is comfortably fitting into the folklore zine niche while putting its own spin on the genre. The theme and title of issue 5 is "The Deep", it is a heady mix of weird tales, spells you can cast yourself, bold and vivid art by Matt Willis, tarot, recipes and ancient lore. 

As ever, we are welcomed to the zine by the esoteric and otherworldly (literally, as she resides in the afterlife) Ada Nemesis who presents a collection of sea-tainted tales from the haunted wilds of Norfolk. We meet the Happisburgh Torso, the nearly-headless (save for a gristly string of flesh) ghost of a smuggler, the Norfolk witch who supposedly drowned thirteen sailors by boiling the same amount of eggs, (this article also includes an interesting treatise on the history of eggs and their alleged use in witchcraft through the ages), the dreaded Sheringham Yow-Yows, drowned villages and mermaids. 

Issue #5's spell uses the power of the sea to enable the practitioner to let go of something which no longer does them good. Full and clear instructions are given, as always. The lavish centre-spread features a guide to lunar botany and the various plants associated with the different phases of the moon and tides, and there is also a guide to the superstitions of the sea. The issue is rounded off with a recipe for and short history of the potent sea vegetable samphire by Ada herself.

Named after the legendary spectral dog Black Shuck, who pops up in the stories from time to time, the zine is always incredibly informative, well-researched and a gruesomely fun read with a strong emphasis on natural magic and esoterica. Ada Nemesis' writing and Matt Willis' art and illustrations are always high-quality, combining to create a truly enjoyable experience. 

WYRD #5

TITLE - WYRD #5 

EDITED BY - WILL WRIGHT & CLAIRE WYLDHEART, VISIONARY ARTIST AND ILLUSTRATOR 

GENRE - MAGICK / SHAMANISM / MEDITATION / MAGICK / RUNES / OCCULT

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - UNITED KINGDOM 

A5/68 PAGES/FULL-COLOUR/PERFECT-BOUND

PRICE - £8.00 + SHIPPING FROM THE WYRD WEBSITE

Every new issue of "Wyrd" is always a welcome respite from mundane and often moribund life (and in this instance, a heatwave), and issue five is no exception. With an overarching theme of serpents and snakes, "Wyrd" #5 is the usual intense yet accessible mix of intelligent esoterica, deep spirituality and goodhearted fun. [Read my reviews of previous issues here.)

This issue's main articles include "Serpents & Dragons" by editor Will Wright, which expands on this essay in "Wyrd" #1 exploring the concept of the "World Tree" as cosmological map and metaphor for the human nervous system. The piece explores overcoming death anxiety and living in the moment, and is deeply profound, touching on Norse mythology and altered states of consciousness. The striking "dark creations" of folk-horror illustrator Elleanor "Inkapp" Steadman is showcased in her article "Embracing Esotericism", with beautifully reproduced examples of her vivid and nightmarish work. 

Paul Badger's earthy and evocative "Drumming" (Part 1) explores his use of ritualistic drumming, using both synthetic and leather (deer hide) drums. Ending on a tantalising cliff-hanger I'm really looking forward to the next part. In a more contemporary article, "I Am Piffy", the provocative and challenging art of Kim Piffy is showcased in eight of her paintings, mainly collages made from bits of fabric, doodles and writing. The work explores diverse themes such as the pandemic, our inner being and the fleeting hedonism of youth. This is very modern art but it has its roots in the spiritual.

As ever, there's another adventure for Mr. Punch & Friends, the group's number now swelled by new acquaintance Ernie, an ancient shaman archetype who embodies the spirit of the forests. (Named after Herne the Hunter, perhaps? He's got the horns for it.) This time, they enjoy the bluebells blooming in the spring forest and the renewal of nature. In the other regular feature, Wyrd Basics discusses mental health and the benefits of meditation in balance with conventional medical practices, and Claire Wyldheart's "Trance Visions" is another powerfully vivid journey into the secrets of the universe concerning the cosmic serpent, our own DNA and of the difference between the "snakes that crawl on their bellies" and those with wings...

"Wyrd" #5 continues the zine's trademark high production values with beautiful art and photographs throughout, especially in the Mr Punch section. The zine started strong and has maintained a high level of quality ever since, and needs to be high on your zine shopping list. 

THE OCCULTARIA OF ALBION VOLUME XIV - HOEBURY HILL

TITLE - THE OCCULTARIA OF ALBION VOLUME XIV - HOEBURY HILL 

CREATED BY - RICHARD DANIELS & MELODY PHELAN-CLARK

GENRE - WEIRD/FUNNY FICTION FEATURING PARANORMAL EVENTS/ LIMINAL PLACES/ HAUNTOLOGY/FICTIONAL WORLDS/COUNTRYFILE MEETS SCARFOLK

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - UNITED KINGDOM 

A5/24 PAGES/FULL COLOUR/PAMPHLET

PRICE - £5.50 + FREE SHIPPING FROM THE OA WEBSITE [3 ISSUES FOR £12]

"The Occultaria of Albion” is an ongoing part-work chronicling the paranormal, esoteric and just plain weird events that have occurred in various (fictional) locations throughout Albion. Volume XIV (that’s 14 in old money) is dedicated to the phenomena associated with Hoebury Hill in West Sussex.

In it, we learn of the bizarre and tragic life of Maureen Monroe (née Munsen) - star of the sexploitation classic “Gasoline Bikini”, UFO abductee, Temple of Xubix acolyte, reluctant prophet and discoverer of the rudest hill-figure EVER; a hang-gliding flight takes a turn for the weird as a bank analyst experiences a time-slip and runs foul of the dreaded Nihlex Industries; and suspected witch Tabitha Bones does her bit for the war effort by drawing German bombers to their doom on top of Hoebury Hill. Elsewhere, the “Did You Know?” section offers factoids about the weird events associated with Hoebury Hill over the years.

“The Occultaria of Albion” is a fun and freaky collection of tales, made tangibly real and all-too plausible by the mix of Richard Daniels’ cleverly observed writing and Melody Phelan-Clark’s familiar art and design. The continuity of the mythos and refusal to break the “fourth wall” create a believable world. The zine is eminently collectable and carries a pleasing hauntological ‘70s vibe, and is one of my favourite things ever.

*

And if you fancy a deep dive into the Occultaria world, why not join the OAKnights PATREON, through which you will receive each new issue as it is released, a monthly newsletter, membership card and shiny badge. You’ll also be supporting the ongoing project.

*

AND if you have a hankering to experience the weird world of The Occultaria of Albion in the flesh, the OA-meister himself, Richard Daniels, will be presenting "Chasing the Wolves of Weird - An Evening of Supernatural Exploration" at Louth town Hall on Friday 23rd September, filled with conspiracies, cryptids and cheese sandwiches. Tickets available from the Occultaria of Albion.

MYTH & LORE PRESENTS - THE MAGIC OF MORRIS

TITLE - MYTH & LORE PRESENTS - THE MAGIC OF MORRIS 

CREATED BY - MYTH & LORE (ART BY GEIST)

GENRE - MORRIS DANCING AND MORRIS SIDES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - UNITED KINGDOM 

A5/32 PAGES/BLACK & WHITE/PAMPHLET

PRICE - £5.00 + SHIPPING (CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK) PLUS A "FOOL" PRINT AND TWO THEMED BADGES FROM MYTH & LORE

If you’ve already sampled the excellent folklore zines from Myth & Lore (see my review of #2 “Fungus Among Us” here), you’ll love this one-off title, “The Magic of Morris”, in which the M&L team interview nine Morris groups, known as “Sides”, from around the U.K.

Despite it being one of the country’s oldest traditions, the U.K. has always had a weird relationship with Morris dancing, often regarding it as a object of ridicule, so to see a balanced and inclusive zine expressly devoted to it is wonderful.

The members of the Morris sides, from Glastonbury to Chapel-en-le-Frith in the Peak District, share their views on why they do it and why they consider Morris dancing to still be important today. Full social media links for each Side are included. There is also a quick guide to the various types of Morris dancing, photos of the sides in action and more of Geist’s superb artwork throughout.

The Magic of Morris” is a necessary, concise and earthy glimpse into ancient traditions that endure today, full of fun, life, energy and a strong sense of community. Hopefully this will be the first of many titles in the "Myth & Lore Presents" series. 

CREATOR SPOTLIGHT #1 | CLUMSY KISSES PART 2 | MANIC STREET PREACHERS/SHY PUNK #2/OPINIONATED NOBODY #15/TRACKS OF MY YEARS

 "clumsykisses" is Rebecca McCormick, who is steadily producing highly personal and insightful zines on various subjects including her favourite songs, bands and television programmes, as well as perzines about her own life. The zines are stapled photocopies, usually in mini-zine format but occasionally A5, and full of content which is always interesting. I am highlighting four more titles here in part 2 (read part 1 here) The clumsykisses Etsy store can be found here, with all titles currently available. 

TITLE - JUST CHEAP TARNISHED GLITTER - A ZINE ABOUT THE MANIC STREET PREACHERS [APRIL 2016]

A5/48 PAGES/B&W STAPLED PHOTOCOPIED PAGES

PRICE - £2.00 + SHIPPING - LINK

The list of successful Welsh bands is not a long one, but we’ve had our moments, and CK is a fan of one of the best ones - the Manic Street Preachers. Following zines about Bruce Springsteen and The Clash (see part 1), the Manics also get the ClumsyKisses treatment, with guest articles and “top fives” from friends and fans. The zine itself is the (almost) full story of CK founder Rebecca McCormick’s life journey with the band from first discovering them, falling out of love with them and then rediscovering the band. There are album reviews, quotes, sections on the Manics’ literary influences, personal reminiscences linked to songs, and key events in the band’s life, which themselves are linked to important events in Rebecca’s own life: a history of the Manic Street Preachers as well as a personal history. Friends are made and lives changed through the Manics’ music. This zine is intense in places but also a true joy to read with a lot of content.

[N.B. There is a warning in the introduction about mentions in the zine of self-harm and suicide. This is expected if you know the history of the band, but it needs to be said.]

TITLE - SHY PUNK #2 [MARCH 2019]

4" X 4"/45 BLACK & WHITE PHOTOCOPIED PAGES 

PRICE - £2.00 + SHIPPING - LINK

Shy Punk is an ongoing zine about things that Rebecca McCormick considers to be punk, and a few things that are definitely not. The choices in issue 2 may be surprising - nothing so obvious as Johnny Rotten’s socks, but the Sex Pistols do get a mention. Instead we get the singer Emmy the Great, treating people with kindness, laziness, libraries, knitting and crochet as a feminist act, lidos, and much more. There is also a more serious section on things which are not punk including abusers in the punk scene, buying off Amazon, people being preachy about food and the aforementioned Sex Pistols - which I wholeheartedly agree with. Another CK must-read, and one of my favourites so far.

TITLE - OPINIONATED NOBODY #15 [FEBRUARY 2020]

6" X 4"/24 BLACK & WHITE PHOTOCOPIED PAGES 

PRICE - £1.00 + SHIPPING - LINK

Written and assembled during the early days of 2020 and the lockdown, the main ongoing perzine from ClumsyKisses, “Opinionated Nobody”, has reached its 15th issue. Rebecca lays her soul bare on the worst things in recent British history like the most recent U.K. election, Brexit etc, through stressful Christmases with family (something we can all recognise) but also on positive subjects such as her love for crochet and attending “Weirdo Zine Fest” (I’m jealous!) and her birthday celebration. The zine is rounded off with a piece about trying vegetarianism and a recipe for spiced carrot lentil soup. “Opinionated Nobody” #15 is honest, funny and awesome and is a must-read.

TITLE - THE TRACKS OF MY YEARS [JANUARY 2020]

A5/22 BLACK & WHITE PHOTOCOPIED PAGES 

PRICE - £2.00 + SHIPPING - LINK

One of the most heartfelt zines produced by Rebecca, this zine consists of fifteen of her most favourite songs and essays about what they mean to her. These are often very emotional and personal stories in their own right, especially in the section for the Queen track “These Are The Days Of Our Lives”. This is a perzine that really lives up to the name. The list includes songs from Bruce Springsteen, the Manics, the Clash (all of whom feature in their own excellent zines from CK), David Bowie and the Beatles etc alongside less well-known acts such as Rancid, The Academy Is… and Grace Petrie.

HWAET! #1

TITLE - HWAET! #1

CREATED & EDITED BY - GEORGE PARR & BUNTY MAY MARSHALL (PLUS CONTIBUTORS)

GENRE - FOLKLORE/FOLK HORROR 

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - UNITED KINGDOM 

A5/68 PAGES/BLACK & WHITE/PERFECT BOUND

PRICE - £8.00 + SHIPPING FROM THE HWAET! WEBSITE

Recently announced to much excitement amongst the zine-buying cognoscenti, “Hwaet!” is a brand new title jostling for space on the folklore zine shelf. That’s a crowded shelf, but there’s always room for another zine, especially when it’s as intelligent as “Hwaet!”. Packaged in a black presentation envelope complete with wax stamp (which you’ll want to keep), patience is required and rewarded as you loosen the string closure holding it shut. Fear not, the contents more than live up to expectations.

In much the same way as all folklore zines, the aim of “Hwaet!” is to explore how ancient ideas can intrude into, and survive in, the present day. Each issue will have a specific theme, with the first issue’s being folklore and ancient traditions. The articles explore themes of the reinterpretation of ancient traditions and reconnection with nature. The zine’s introduction explains the origin of “hwaet!” (rhymes with “cat”) as the first word of the epic Beowulf poem which has been subject to much mistranslation and reinterpretation over the centuries.

Folklore-inspired music is covered in an interview with the band Green Lung, who share their influences and love of folk horror cinema, and a chat with Lindy Fay-Hella, vocalist with Wardruna, who explores the influence of nature on storytelling and lyric writing. There is also a curated Spotify playlist which can be accessed via a QR code. All this music provides excellent accompaniment to reading the zine!

"Hwaet!" has beautiful packaging.

In what is possibly a first for a folklore zine, a video game is featured in the form of the highly original horror title “Mundaun”. Writer Luke Jackson uncovers the folklore origins and influences on the game. Other fun features include a folky reading and watchlist, a folk horror trope bingo game and the folk horror map of Britain. These last two are available as prints from the web shop.

Amongst the other excellent articles, Ria Wigley explores the origins of vampires through the years up to the present day, and discovers that they have become a metaphor for the LGBTQ+ community, and George Parr takes an intelligent look at the cult TV show “Detectorists”, the folklorists’ favourite which has the theme of the past being uncovered in the present at the heart of its storytelling. Parr also proffers articles on the diverse meaning of rituals and the enduring legacy of the festival of Beltane, and why we still burn the Wicker Man. Both are deeply researched and informative. Bunty May Marshall rounds off the issue with a look at the prolific image of the “Three Hares” in folklore.

Apparently, I was the first person to place an order for “Hwaet!”: an accolade I shall be forever proud of. This zine has an identity all its own, with a strong inclusivity vibe running through it. It is easily on a par with the best folklore zines, and the content certainly matches the promise of its lush packaging. It’s intelligent and it looks good. “Hwaet!” has started strong and I wish it every success.

FANTÔMES #1 | FALL 2021

TITLE - FANTÔMES #1 | FALL 2021

CREATED BY - HEX EVANS, LIZBETH POIRIER & VARIOUS CONTRIBUTORS

GENRE - GHOST STORIES/ART & PHOTOGRAPHY/OCCULT 

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - CANADA 

A5/60 PAGES/PRINTED ON FOUR COLOUR COPY PAPER AND VELLUM/PAMPHLET 

PRICE - $13 CND + SHIPPING FOR ZINE ONLY OR $20 CND + SHIPPING FOR THE ZINE WITH A PACKAGE OF FOUND PHOTOGRAPHS & WRITINGS, AVAILABLE FROM THE WEBSITE

"Fantômes #1" is a yearly "collaborative ghost story zine" from Canada, with some original features including hidden pages and varied paper types. There are stories, poetry, art, a mixtape and occult flavours. 

Standout stories include "5630 Ohio 122" by Mike Wolf, in which a young man finds the writings of another boy in a derelict house, is indicative of the zine's haunting content, and can be enhanced by an option on the website to buy reproductions of the writings and photographs found in the story. "The Solitary Tree" by James Chip evokes an M.R. James-like atmosphere with a a tale about the terrible consequences of disturbing the past.

Prepare your ritual blade to cut these smaller pages open...

..."forbidden knowledge" awaits within.

Some pages are printed on material like tracing-paper featuring occult images, but the quirkiest feature is the "zine within a zine" - smaller pages which have to be cut open along the bottom to reveal hidden secrets: instructions are included as to how to do this via your own personal "ritual blade", but the kitchen scissors will do. There is also a diverse and haunting mixtape printed in the zine, the link to which is available on the website to listen to whilst reading.

All the better for being a yearly publication, "Fantomes" #1 is a strikingly original anthology with an unsettling and sinister vibe running through it: creeping terror rather than overt horror. The production values are first-class with and fans of dungeon-synth will love the moody photos of ruined castles on the front and back inside covers. The stories are excellent and the poetry is visceral and esoteric. I'm a little late to the party with the first issue being nearly a year old and Issue 2 already in production, but I'm glad I took a belated journey into the cobwebbed world of "Fantomes", and so will you.

DRIVE-IN ASYLUM SPECIAL #6 - 1981 YEARBOOK SPECIAL

TITLE - DRIVE-IN ASYLUM SPECIAL #6 | 1981 YEARBOOK SPECIAL 

EDITED BY - BILL VAN RYN

GENRE - HORROR/CULT/GRINDHOUSE MOVIE REVIEWS 

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - USA 

72 PAGES/COLOUR COVER WITH B&W AND COLOUR PAGES/5.5" BY 8.5" PAMPHLET

PRICE - £6.17 + SHIPPING FROM GROOVY DOOM ETSY STORE

As a recent convert to the excellent "Drive-In Asylum" zine (read my review of #23 here) the prospect of a bumper issue of reviews of movies from 1981 (Inseminoid! Halloween II! Scanners!) from the Groovy Doom stable was too sweet a prospect to pass up. 

The "1981 Yearbook Special" is the sixth DIA Special issue, and it's a beast. Once again filled with reproductions of movie posters, stills, drive-in flyers and the kinds of ads you couldn't show to your mother, the zine is a joy to read each movie review is well-written and accessible - no pretentious analysis here, these guys just know and love horror movies, and it shows - and illustrated with original posters and newspaper ads etc, creating a kind of document of the social history of the 20th century as well as a collection of reviews. The films covered include well-known classics such as "The Howling" and "Halloween II", alongside less celebrated fare like "Dead & Buried" and "Inseminoid", while still finding space to pay tribute to the Michael Caine "killer severed member" potboiler "The Hand"! 

As with "Drive-In Asylum" itself, the "Yearbook" is filled with honest, first-rate writing and created with a sense of fun and a true love for horror films. Like the cinemas that showed these movies back in the day, it's grimy, greasy and glorious! 

UHMZINES INTERNATIONAL BRUTALISM SERIES #5 - BELGRADE

TITLE - UHMZINES INTERNATIONAL BRUTALISM SERIES #5 - BELGRADE 

CREATED BY - STEFANO SAMA & ROB SCHOFIELD

GENRE - PHOTOS OF THE BRUTALIST ARCHITECTURE OF BELGRADE

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - UNITED KINGDOM

A5/24 PAGES/BLACK & WHITE/PAMPHLET/CARD COVERS/LIMITED TO 50 COPIES 

PRICE - £5.00 + SHIPPING FROM UHMZINES ETSY STORE
 

Following on from the first four issues in the International Brutalism series (read my review here), this time around Stefano Sama compiles striking monochrome photographs of the streets of Belgrade, taken by Rob Schofield in 2019. 

As expected from an Eastern European country, the older architecture is monolithic and soaring, built to convey power rather than beauty, and clearly influenced by other Brutalist buildings such as London's Trellick Tower, as can be seen in the cover photo of the Western City Gate. By contrast, the architecture of New Belgrade is futuristic and functional, with cleaner and sleeker lines.

Like Sama's other ongoing Brutalist photography series "Brutal", the zine is crisply produced with minimal text to allow the stark photographs to be enjoyed without distraction. Still some of the best Brutalism-themed zines on the market, this series, and the aforementioned "Brutal", are all highly recommended. 

AIRMID'S JOURNAL #5

TITLE - AIRMID'S JOURNAL #5 - SUMMER SOLSTICE 2022 

EDITED BY - LUCY O'HAGAN & SEAN FITZGERALD 

GENRE - CELTIC LEGENDS | FOLKLORE | IRISH MYTHOLOGY | FORAGING |  MAGIC | REMEDIES | REWILDING 

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - IRELAND 

A5/30 PAGES/COLOUR-BLACK & WHITE/PAMPHLET

PRICE - £9.00 + SHIPPING FROM  WILD AWAKE | 10% OF PROFITS WILL GO TO MASI - THE MOVEMENT OF ASYLUM SEEKERS IN IRELAND

It’s always a pleasure to return to the world of “Airmid’s Journal”, one of the most authentic folklore zines on the market: it has quickly become one of my favourite zines. Having just published their fifth issue, the first to have a colour cover, (you can read my review of issue 4 here) the editorial team of Lucy O’Hagan and Sean Fitzgerald take the Journal to new heights.

Starting with the themes of community and of “lifting the flagstone” to see what lies underneath our normal world, the content, as always, is of a very high standard. Lead article “The Hare in the Irish Tradition” by Sorcha Ní Chionaoith explores the history and mythology of the Irish hare, a creature that permeates that country’s folklore in many ways, and also graces the zine’s striking front and back covers.

"The Sea is the Tether” by Sharon Arnold is a deep and emotive search for a common ground between the varied indigenous peoples of the world, especially those of the many diasporas. Andrew Clarke’s Tanistry project seeks to make Irish history more accessible and takes its name from the often complex succession process of the Kings of Ireland in the early mediaeval period. His extremely interesting article gives an overview of his project and the difficulties in disentangling the knotty bits of early history.  Students of early Irish history should give the Tanistry blog a browse. Other articles include “Sowing the Seed” by Edwina Guckian, a celebration of the “Strawboys” mummering tradition, and in “Rescuing our Sealskins”, Jen Murphy looks at the mythical sea creatures “Selkies”.

FLORENCE "GOODY" NEWTON BY SEAN FITZGERALD

Sean Fitzgerald illustrates the zine with his excellent folky art and has created the striking centre-spread which features a tribute to Florence “Goody” Newton who was accused of witchcraft in 17th century Cork. Fitzgerald also contributes the essay “Coracle of the Nine Waves”, a study of that simple yet sturdy fisherman’s boat. This was particularly interesting to me as a Welshman, as we’ve been using them for centuries!

“Airmid’s Journal” continues to go from strength to strength with diverse content from knowledgeable contributors and a strong, coherent style. Never a quick or throwaway read, this is a zine to be treasured. 

THE DARK DOOR #1

TITLE - THE DARK DOOR #1 

EDITED BY - CHRIS COTE

GENRE - PULP HORROR & WEIRD FICTION | ART | MUSIC 

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - CANADA 

A5//78 PAGES/BLACK & WHITE/PAMPHLET 

PRICE - £10.60 + SHIPPING FROM IllAdvisedRecords

Created very much in tribute to the old pulp horror fanzines of old, musician Chris Cote presents "The Dark Door" issue 1, a creepy Canadian collection of terrifying tales, poetry, artwork and playlists. Selling mainly cassettes on his Etsy page, IllAdvisedRecords, this is his first foray into zines, with two issues published so far. 

The stories are all of a high standard, putting many mainstream horror anthologies to shame. The tales are accompanied by vivid, disturbing artwork which adds a whole other dimension of horror thrills. Some of the writing flirts with Lovecraftian themes, others have a touch of dark humour, (especially "Ten-Legged Spider" by Austin Thomas) though most of the stories are of the shock ending variety; the long poem "Voices in the Hall" by Thomas Stewart evokes the hinted terrors of Edgar Allen Poe, but there is plenty of body horror elsewhere for fans of that genre, too.

Threaded throughout the zine are a couple of entries from "The Dark Dictionary" which explain the concept of "Exploding Casket Syndrome" (when the gasses in corpses cause the body to swell up and the coffin to explode) and the "Ifugao Death Chair" ritual of the Philippines. They supply a short, squirmy thrill and I assume it will be a regular ongoing feature. As an added bonus, playlists of music, just right for musical accompaniment whilst reading the zine, are available via printed QR codes, with short bios of the creators, on the IllAdvisedRecords YouTube channel. The first two issues are currently in stock at the Etsy store, plus a four-issue subscription option is also available. Crisply printed and produced, "The Dark Door" is highly recommended for horror fans looking for sophisticated, disturbing fiction. 

CVSTOMERSERVICE VOLUME V | FOLKLORE OF THE ISLANDS

TITLE - CVSTOMERSERVICE VOLUME V

EDITED & CREATED BY - VARIOUS CONTRIBUTORS

GENRE - FOLKLORE OF ISLANDS | FICTION | ARTWORK | DARK HISTORY

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - UNITED KINGDOM 

A5/56 PAGES/FULL-COLOUR/PERFECT-BOUND

PRICE - £6.00 + FREE SHIPPING FROM CVSTOMERSERVICE

Although it belongs on the general folk zine shelf, "Cvstomerservice" takes a deeper and more specific look at the subject by focussing on the folklore of four islands: two in Italy, one in France and one in the UK. 

Taking as its starting point the concept of islands being an unique space in and of themselves, (due to their being surrounded by water and thus cut off from the mainland, becoming havens for minority groups and beliefs), the zine explores the death shamans of Corsica, the folk-horror legends of Osea in relation to the TV show "The Third Day", the flying witches of Alicudi and the search for Arcadia on the island of Capri. 

The essays are intelligent and well-researched, fully referenced and illustrated with archive photography and drawings. There is also a short ghost story and original artwork throughout. The zine is glossy and well-printed, produced in the same style as zines such as Hellebore, and the content is original and informative, covering subjects I personally was not familiar with. The deep-dive into one particular theme works well and I hope "Cvstomerservice" continues producing quality zines in this format.

BECOMING THE FOREST IV

TITLE - BECOMING THE FOREST IV

EDITED BY - UNA HAMILTON HELLE & LOTTE BROWN 

GENRE -  BLACK METAL | NORSE MYTHOLOGY | NATURE | PLACE

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - NORWAY (SHIPPED FROM THE UK)

8" X 5"/128 PAGES/BLACK & WHITE WITH SOME COLOUR/PERFECT-BOUND 

PRICE - £15.00 + SHIPPING FROM BECOMING THE FOREST

“Treading the arboreal pathway through the backwoods of black metal”.

“Becoming the Forest”, edited by Una Hamilton Helle & Lotte Brown, is a zine who’s aim, to quote the disclaimer, is to “pose questions around place, nature, spirituality and nature”. The fourth issue has just been released, to a fair amount of acclaim, which speaks to the high regard in which the title is held.

Any discussion of black metal, sadly, has to encompass the ideology of the far-right which has co-opted much of the genre’s themes, namely nationalism, cultural identity, racial purity etc. The creators state that the zine distances itself entirely from this, as do the artists featured: the black metal scene is currently one of the most progressive musical genres. “Becoming the Forest” is a safe-space for learning and growth. As with many other folklore zines at the moment, there is a strong shamanistic vibe running though “Becoming the Forest”, voicing a clarion call for re-wilding and reconnection with the land and nature.

The zine is primarily made up of long-form interviews with artists, creatives and various black metal bands, such as Feral Season and Necrofier, and musicians in other genres including the “darkfolk” artist By The Spirits, whom I enjoyed listening to on Bandcamp. The longest interview is with artist Rune Hjarno Rasmussen, creator of the Nordic Animism project which aims to rediscover the polytheistic roots of the Nordic countries. The article is richly Illustrated with the art of Edvard Munch, and is a very deep-dive into the themes of lost knowledge and culture.

Helge Kaasin’s perceptive article “Through the Dark and Evil Forest” explores how the roots of Norwegian black metal are grounded in the country’s history. This piece is steeped in Norse mythology, as much a history of Norway as it is an analysis of the musical influences of black metal bands, with footnotes, song lyrics and art, and is a hallmark of the quality of the writing that is normal for this zine.

“Becoming the Forest” is a zine that requires and demands close study. Black metal has never been my thing, but when it’s discussed in such an intelligent way I can’t help but be captivated by the subject and the artists who create it. I am unfamiliar with the bands featured but the people involved are all extremely intelligent and it is very interesting to read what they have to say.

Lush production values make “Becoming the Forest” so much more than a zine: its a scholarly journal with erudite and fully annotated articles, full credits for the artwork used, photographs and engaging original content. It is a really wonderful, tactile object to hold, with a soft cover and beautifully printed pages. Students of Norse mythology will get a lot out of it, as will fans of black metal. It is more expensive than most zines of its kind, but when you read it, you will know where that extra money went.

THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY #1 - 4 & A FOOLISH JOURNEY

TITLE - THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY #1 - 4 & A FOOLISH JOURNEY 

CREATED BY - JAMES BURT

GENRE - FLASH FICTION SET IN THE SOUTH DOWNS, ENGLAND | FOLKLORE | GHOST STORIES 

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - UNITED KINGDOM 

A5/28 PAGES/BLACK & WHITE/PAMPHLET 

PRICE - £2.00 + FREE SHIPPING FROM THE ORBIFIC ETSY STORE

Started in March 2020, “The South Downs Way” is a series of zines collecting short flash-fiction written by James Burt, set along the South Downs Way, with the fourth issue released in January 2022. The stories cover a range of genres and are generally standalone tales, but there are some recurring characters across the zine’s run creating a longer narrative. According to creator James Burt, the stories are “written to have the feeling of a walk, of stories from other travellers and the sense of places passing. Memories combine with history and folklore to give a unique view of the Sussex Landscape”. The tales are annotated with the map references of where precisely they take place along the Way, and can often be dark and contain adult themes, inspired by the landscape and folklore of the South Downs, while others are based on real events.

The South Downs Way is an area dotted with remains of ancient settlements and famous landmarks such as the Long Man of Wilmington and Chanctonbury Ring. This sense of timelessness comes across strongly in the fiction, which can be very moving, with tales of lost people (and their lost dreams) walking the route, and the people they meet along the way.

The Devil himself appears in the second issue, a collection of tales which recount the Devil’s life, told in chronological order, in relation to the Sussex countryside. We see Old Nick land on Earth, tempt Jesus and join him in his last days. There are also some stories related to the longer narrative. The third issue, subtitled “Crossing Paths”, is a dark collection of stories about fateful meetings with diverse beings, from fortune tellers to robot poets, while part four, “Weird Tales”, is the darkest yet, featuring phantom hitchhikers, a vengeful black dog, walking corpses and an auction of ghosts, amongst other grisly frights.

James Burt is an excellent writer, there’s no doubt about that. The stories aren’t long, with some being a couple of paragraphs, but they’re always just the right length. Reading the first four issues, it is a joy to recognise recurring themes and characters, including “Sam”, “Gary” and “The Walker (who can be many people), as their narrative is steadily built over the course of the stories. These are affecting tales, well-written and honest, and well worth setting time aside to read. 

All issues are currently in stock, with issues 1-3 available as a bundle priced at £5.00 with free shipping. James Burt's website can be found at ORBIFIC.COM.

 

James Burt also produces a standalone companion title linked to “The South Downs Way” entitled “A Foolish Journey”, featuring twelve new stories about the life of a fortune-teller called Sam who featured in the main zines, alongside a reprint of a few earlier stories for context. Being about a fortune-teller, the Tarot features prominently and the Devil makes a reappearance; this is a dark trip but it ends on a positive note.

"A Foolish Journey" is also available from the Etsy store, priced at £3.00 with free shipping.

THE UNFAMILIAR HOUR - REAWAKENING EDITION

TITLE -THE UNFAMILIAR HOUR | REAWKENING EDITION 

EDITED BY - NAOIMI SMYTH 

GENRE - MAGICK | WITCHCRAFT | SPELLS | TAROT | ASTROLOGY 

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - UNITED KINGDOM 

A5/FULL-COLOUR/24 PAGES/PAMPHLET

PRICE - £5.00 + SHIPPING FROM THE UNFAMILIAR HOUR

"Unearth Your Magick" 

So reads the statement of intent of the "Reawakening" edition of "The Unfamiliar Hour", which arrives almost a year after the first issue, "Lithia" (a PDF of this edition can be viewed on the Unfamiliar Hour website). A magickal instruction guide for "witchlings, wyrdos and wanderers of the world", the zine invites the reader on a mystical journey of magical learning. There is a strong vibe of rebirth and renewal throughout.

Subjects cover the gamut of aspects of the magickal world, from runes to Tarot and astrology to herbalism. There are five short articles and a poem by Alicia entitled "Cast The Cataclysm" (aptly named as it is very vivid and powerful) in the "Reawakening Edition", beginning with a guide to harnessing the power of the ever-confident The Fool in the Tarot. Chelsey Pippin, founder of "Pip Cards Tarot", is interviewed about her online Tarot workshops, with full details included. Elsewhere, there is a short piece on the runic symbol of renewal, named "Berkano" or "Berkanan", a deep-dive into the power of Pluto in astrology and how this can be potential can be tapped, an essay on the Norse goddess of rejuvenation, Idunn,  and notes on planting seeds, making a charm bag and brewing an "equinox elixir".

In keeping with other zines in this genre, "The Unfamiliar Hour" is a completely safe-space for everyone, beautifully illustrated with original art, glossy and well-printed, and written with love and learning. 

GHOST PALS #1 & #2

TITLE - GHOST PALS 

EDITED BY - THE GHOST PALS! 

GENRE - GHOST STORIES & LEGENDS FROM LONDON AND BRITAIN 

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - UNITED KINGDOM 

A5/30-37 PAGES/COLOUR/PAMPHLET

PRICE - £5.00 + FREE SHIPPING FROM THE GHOST PALS ETSY STORE

First published in 2021, "Ghost Pals" is a relative newcomer on the zine block, but it has already established a reputation as an eagerly sought-after title, with several reprints of its two issues. It consists of ghost stories and legends from the UK, with a focus on the notoriously ghost-filled city of London, and the theme of the first issue is Sleep (and what happens when it is disturbed), while the second issue's theme is body horror. "Ghost Pals" was put together by a group of friends with a shared interest in the spooky legends of their native London.

The ghostly legends featured across the first two issues include, among many others, the London home of composer Frideric Handel, where 200 years later Jimi Hendrix would have a spectral encounter; the London Underground's infamous Kennington Loop; famous 18th century clown Joseph Grimaldi, who is said to help the actors at Drury Lane theatre to this day; the restless spooks of St. Bartholomew's Hospital and the spirit of Margaret Pole, said to haunt the Tower of London (mind you, who doesn't?). Unsurprisingly, the Kings and Queens of England often take centre stage in these tales.

The stories are all related in a clear and concise style, accessible to all, and generally not too scary, although there are some very gruesome bits in issue 2!  All stories are enhanced by the inclusion of transport links, e.g. the nearest London Underground station to the locations, if you want to explore them for yourself; "Ghost Pals" is the perfect gazetteer for an alternative tourist jaunt around London, and it also includes a bibliography for further reading. The zine is illustrated with drawings and evocative photographs of the locations, the printing is crisp and clear throughout and the zine is an easy and informative read. Can't wait for the next one!

CREATOR SPOTLIGHT #1 | CLUMSYKISSES PART 1 | DERRY GIRLS/BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN/LONDON CALLING

"clumsykisses" is Rebecca McCormick, who is steadily producing highly personal and insightful zines on various subjects including her favourite songs, bands and television programmes, as well as perzines about her own life. The zines are stapled photocopies, usually in mini-zine format but occasionally A5, and full of content which is always interesting. I am highlighting three titles here while I wait for the others I have ordered to arrive. The clumsykisses Etsy store can be found here, with all three titles currently available. 

TITLE - LONDON CALLING - A 40TH ANNIVERSARY ZINE 

6" X 4" MINI-ZINE/38 PAGES/BLACK & WHITE/STAPLED PHOTOCOPY

PRICE - £1.00 + SHIPPING/LINK

This mini-zine is a perzine about the classic double album, "London Calling" by The Clash. Citing it as one of her favourite albums, Rebecca goes through the LP track by track offering her personal insight on her favourite (and not so favourite songs). The zine also features opinions from her friends and mother. Rebecca is an excellent writer and her love for the music comes over strongly. These are her personal views, and she invites us to disagree with her on her twitter, but you will rarely see such perceptive and enjoyable music criticism. The zine is written as if Rebecca is listening to the album while jotting down notes and this is probably the best way to experience it. The style is warm, funny and easy-going and we get to know Rebecca as well as "London Calling" while reading - her favourite song of all time is "Lost in the Supermarket", so kudos there. She's also not afraid to drop in a bit of politics. Highly recommended for Clash fans. 

TITLE - YOU AIN'T A BEAUTY BUT HEY YOU'RE ALRIGHT | A ZINE ABOUT BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN 

6" X 4" MINI-ZINE/27 PAGES/BLACK & WHITE/STAPLED PHOTOCOPY 

PRICE - £1.50 + SHIPPING/LINK

Possibly even more personal than "London Calling", this mini-zine is a very affecting read as it opens with Rebecca relating the circumstances of her renewed interest in Bruce Springsteen following the death of her father. Rebecca lists her favourite songs, albums, documentaries and Bruce-moments in her usual warm and personal style. The text touches on queer identity (of which Bruce has always been something of a pioneer) and the feelings of small-town isolation which Springsteen has always highlighted in his music. A very inspiring and moving read. 

TITLE - DERRY GIRLS | A ZINE ABOUT THE GIRLS (AND THE WEE ENGLISH FELLA)

A5/44 PAGES/COLOUR, BLACK & WHITE/STAPLED PHOTOCOPY

PRICE - £2.00 + SHIPPING/LINK 

I've grown to love Rebecca McCormick's take on the world and freely admit to becoming slightly addicted to her zines, wonky formatting and hand-numbered pages and all, so I had to get this, a zine all about one of the best British comedy shows ever - "Derry Girls". Rebecca covers the series in some depth, through character sketches, sections on the families, an episode guide to the first two series, the music and a wealth of behind the scenes information. Her off-the-cuff impressions are original and captivating throughout and made me look at certain aspects of the show in a different way. Even at five times the price this zine would offer much better value than some official books do. If you love the girls (and the wee English fella), go buy this zine (and binge on the other titles) now - it's absolutely cracker!

Coming in Part 2 - "Just Cheap Tarnished Glitter -  A Zine About the Manic Street Preachers", "Shy Punk 2", "Opinionated Nobody #15" and "The Tracks of My Years - A zine about some songs I love".