Posted March 17, 2007

Comment by Andrew Lodwick
(discuss this comment on the LotFP Message Board)

My only prior exposure to LOTFP was through its website, which I had been directed to via the Aversion Online blahg, and consisted of a long but incomplete perusal of Dave Burns' "False Metal" essay, which I found interesting and delightfully contentious, though I would say that metal essays are potentially the type of thing whereby I like the idea more than the actual realization of the idea (like, say, Godflesh). Little attention was subsequently paid to LOTFP until the words "free issue" appeared, and well…here we are.

My first impression of 'The Shameless' was not favourable. I fucking hate the cover: a crude rendering of crucified major (metal) label executives that just does nothing for me – it is simplistic and lazy in a way that the rest of the issue is fortunately not. And I think it ultimately does a disservice to the overall feel of the issue, which I read as a celebration of independence and DIY, rather than a denigration of "the man". However I will concede that it functions well as sort of visual sound bite, and I'm sure those who buy the T-shirt will be the envy of someone other than myself.

Moving beyond the cover, I was pleased to find a simple, cleanly laid-out (if very dense) interior, consisting of 2 editorial pieces, a flurry of reviews and a lengthy interview. The only interior graphics are band logos, which suits the simplicity of the black and white reproduction and helps to break-up the blocks of small text. The initial editorial by Raggi serves nicely as an introduction to both the issue's central theme, as well as its predominant attitude: personal, passionate and pigheaded. The focus on "The Shameless", as Raggi describes them, ties things together as a whole, despite being comprised of many smaller pieces (which I personally prefer to long-form writing, as it results in something that is more inviting to pick-up when I don't have much time to devote to it). A consistent or recurring theme like this gives purpose to the proceedings, and lends an aura of thoughtfulness and cohesion that adds to the integrity of it all. Burns' piece on the unequal attention paid to demos/low-key releases by the metal media is, um… interesting and delightfully contentious. The reviews are where the real meat is for me, though. Ranging from clear and concise, to long and riddled with digressions, they are uniformly well-written and sincere. Whether the band in question is being praised or eviscerated, each of the 3 writers displays unique but complementary styles that exhibit a smooth flow and tasteful vocabulary.

At the end of the day, the criticisms I'm tempted to level against 'The Shameless' are largely negated by the simple fact that I really enjoyed reading it. And, more importantly, it pushed me to check out some stuff I may have otherwise let slip by me (or never heard of at all, for that matter). Count me appreciative.

Posted February 26, 2007

Invisible Oranges Review

Read it here.

Posted February 21, 2007

Comment by Tim Sanborn
(discuss this comment on the LotFP Message Board)

Well, I've finally received my Twilight Odyssey CD in the mail so there's no reason not to get on with the review. I've been getting LotFP for probably more than 2 years and ordered some of the back issues. I really like this zine. The writing is quality (the only other metal mag I read is Terrorizer, used to pick up Metal Maniacs or Pit, but like Terrorizer the best). What I like about it is that Jim comes across as a guy who loves metal, but hates the bullshit that not only permeates the industry, but the whole of civilization as well. He knows we're constantly lied to and once you realize that, it's you against them. And it's good to have metal on your side as you thunder into battle.

This issue was a little long on reviews for me. Guess I like the commentaries and interviews most, but that changes from issue to issue so that's no big deal. There've been issues long on interview and short on reviews. The reviews are always good. Most of the time I have never heard the bands being reviewed and LotFP has led me to some great bands -- Pharaoh and The Gathering being to examples. The funny part is that I'm driven to hunt down these albums that sound great in the reviews, even though most of the time I don't like the music. But it's Jim's excitement for the music that comes through in the reviews that gets to me and it's okay that I don't like what he does. He likes metal and he can tell the fake poser crap from the sincere and mighty.

I like the length of the interviews. They are more than interviews. They're more like conversations. I appreciate the depth of the conversations in many cases, whether or not I totally understand the technical aspects of things. It's nice not to get the same 5-8 questions that you've read everywhere else and know they've answered a million times already. It's more like hanging out with the band and chatting than it is reading an "interview."

So yeah, i like LotFP. I don't care if Jim cares if i pay for it. It's cheaper than leaving the tip eating at a restaurant. And I like what he says and I like what he's doing. Keep it up.

Tim Sanborn
Wisconsin

Posted February 19, 2007

Comment by John Brenner of Against Nature
(discuss this comment on the LotFP Message Board)

Hello James, Dave, and Andreas,

I am writing to you about the latest issue of LotFP, which I received in the mail a few weeks ago. Our band, Against Nature, was reviewed in that issue. Each of you put so much time into your reviews and your writing that I feel obligated to return something to you in words, even if it's not helpful to you.

When I first removed the zine from its envelope, I felt like I had magically entered 1985 again. This is a good thing, for those years in the mid-80s were heady times for underground metal of all sorts, and I was always so excited to read every zine I could (even if they were harsh on our old band Revelation!). Since receiving LotFP, I've read it front to back several times, not necessarily only for the band information but also for the quality of thought and careful writing that went into it.

Of course I don't agree with everything in the reviews, nor would I even like most of the music (based on those reviews) that was reviewed, but that's irrelevant. There's something compelling about the work the three of you (and whomever else was involved) did to produce this zine. Your collective philosophy comes through clearly, and it is this that I commend you for. Your writing has heart, soul, and courage. Nothing in the zine is offhand or glib--I see only honesty and a striving for something that seems beyond your reach. I don't know what that "something" is, but I feel it in every word.

Something about heavy metal does this to me, too. In a sense, it's just pop music that few will care about in a hundred years. But I also think that heavy music taps into a source that is tragic and joyous, frustrating and satisfying, primal and intellectual, all at the same time. LotFP seems like music, in this second sense, as well. The introductory essays, particularly, are worth careful consideration.

If all music, all art, has been reduced to mere preferences, mere personal taste, then I could just agree or disagree with what you say about the bands in the zine and then move on. But I think that some ideas, some art, also has qualities that are beyond mere opinion. Sometimes, when those higher opinions are expressed, then I can learn something about myself, see things about myself that are false that I once believed were true. The review of the Against Nature 7" by Andreas did this to me. It is a good review in the sense that Andreas likes the music and it says something to him, and that he has given a "positive review." But I think the essence of the review isn't in Andreas's likes and dislikes but in his ability to express, in words, this incredibly personal power of some music to move some people. I don't praise Andreas or his review because he liked Against Nature's music; I praise him for his ability to put his feelings into words in a delightful, artistic manner. I praise him because he, in his review, shows me things about my music and myself that I didn't see before--good and bad things.

If the reviewer had trashed AN's music on the basis only of his personal likes and dislikes, as if those are cast in granite and can never change, then I would view such writing as commonplace. I have read such pedestrian criticism many times. But the reviews in LotFP seem anything but commonplace or pedestrian. Rather, you three seem to have begun with your ears and your hearts and taken things from there. Few write like this these days, fewer still in music. Personal preference always comes into play: we have our loves and hates. But I think LotFP reveals that its authors don't simply love in order to love, or hate in order to hate, but love to listen, feel, and then write about it.

There is a passion in LotFP that reminds me of those mid-80s I mentioned, those times when everything seemed more exciting, when more was at stake. But I think LotFP is much more mature, its producers have obviously seen, heard, and experienced much in the 20 years intervening. And this maturity is what makes LotFP no mere nostalgic trip, no pastiche of past times, no empty "retro" imitation of what the metal underground once was.

Maybe in the future, LotFP will write a review that pans Against Nature's music. I don't care. You don't write to please me as I don't write to please you. But if that panning is done with such consideration as in all the reviews in this issue, then I will be forced to take notice and consider those words as carefully as I would consider my own.

So here I appear to have written a review of a review that is quickly approaching pointless hair-splitting. But in the end, I enjoyed LotFP greatly and I thank you for producing it.

Cheers,
John Brenner

Posted February 14, 2007

Comment by Henrik Engkjær of Execrator
(discuss this comment on the LotFP Message Board)

I believe my only knowledge of Lamentations Of The Flame Princess until receiving this complimentary edition of it was reading a very old issue of said zine. Therefore I didn't have any certain expectations towards the content of this one. I was however already positively surprised when I viewed the frontcover, where bosses of big metal labels are crucified and impaled.

This vehement frontcover statement was backed up by two (!) very good editorials opening the magazine itself. These writings proclaim the very commendable and needed attitude of this publication. To support the bands that are stuggling to let their music be heard and who have not sold out to a trendy, modern sound for the sake of commercial success. These editorials both seem very honest and thorough and actually constitute my favorite part of this magazine. If more people woke up and realised that there exists so much great music out there, which will never be well known because it's not trendy, then we would have a much better metal-scene today.

The main part of this magazine consist of reviews and quite in depth ones as well. Some of these reviews actually run for more a whole A5-page with quite small print, so there is no need to add that the music is dealt with thoroughly and critically. No complaints about these long reviews, but to me they are a kind of a two edged sword.

This issue only features one interview, and as interviews are my favorite part of a magazine I must say that I find that to be too little. I would either appreciate an increase in the number of pages or a decrease in the reviews-section. Maybe it is possible to give a good impression of the music with less than a whole page? And then let the artists speak as well when we're dealing with some of the most interesting bands?

Anyway back to the interview that is featured. It's done with a band called Twilight Odyssey. A band that I only knew by name, but which proved to be a very interesting read. The interview is, just as the style of the reviews, very long, indepth and personal and for an interview this works very well. It certainly motivates to check out the music of the band.

For the next issue of LotFP I would love to see more pages with more of everything (except for promotional ads of course!). More reviews and interviews would certainly be welcome as long as they can keep the standard from what I have seen in this issue. LotFP is a weapon which needs to grow more dangerous for each release. But in the meantime I hope this issue will guide some people onto the right path, which means finding the best metal there is - and that is usually the independant music where salesfigures are not allowed to determine musical content. And to the staff of LotFP I can only say: Keep up the good work!

Posted February 9, 2007

Ultimate Metal Review

Read it here.

Posted February 5, 2007

Comment by Todd DePalma of Chronicles of Chaos
(discuss this comment on the LotFP Message Board)

Thank you for sending out a copy of LOTFP: The Shameless. Unfortunately, C.o.C does not have a review section for other zines but I would still like to send along these words of encouragement. Please feel free to use any portions from below that you'd like to help promote your zine.

The reviews, focusing on some thirty unsigned or seldom-noticed independent acts (from Doom, Speed and Traditional Heavy Metal) are in-depth, sincere and it's obvious the contributors have done some real digging to put this issue together. The end result is 26 pages of commentary capped with editorials by James Edward Raggi IV and Dave Burns, who contrast an almost neurotic, off-the-cuff style of ranting with confrontational reportage. Burns in particular has taken some hits recently, if not for his assumed paranoia than for his wordiness, but here his stance is imperforate.

Using as his example groups like Verbal Deception, a Trad. Metal band who releases their own material out of Calgary, Alberta, Burns points his finger at the trend within the Heavy Metal press that blindly and lazily favors established label releases (i.e. promos sent free of cost) over independent artists. Regarding the major print zines, this is hardly a bombshell, but evidently even "properly" established bands do not fare as well today across the board either. To illustrate this point Burns also highlights the well known Death Metal group Deceased, formerly part of the Relapse roster, who released their last album, As The Weird Travel On on the small label, Thrash Corner Records in 2005.

As noted in his article, "No Place For Disgrace," my own review of the Deceased album for Chronicles of Chaos followed about two months after his for Hellride Music (mid-May to early-August). I remember feeling annoyed that there was so little information out there at first and that none had accumulated between the time I spent listening to the record and when I finally set my thoughts on paper. Many older bands were reforming, as they continue to do, receiving considerable attention, but Deceased had never really disappeared. Compared to many of these veteran groups they had hardly experienced what might be called a creative down period. Not until the album received distribution through Season of Mist/Caroline in September was it finally noticed, mostly in print. Amazingly, the Internet seems to be behind the dead trees on this issue.

Of course, today one sees the record everywhere but despite being readily available from major retailers like The End Records (Just as it most certainly was in May when I first obtained it) and the Relapse e-store, it remains curiously unmentioned by the bulk of today's writers. And yet everywhere it has been covered it has rightfully received nothing but the highest praise. (A recent Google search yields a brief but glowing review from Metal-Observer.com touting it as one of the best Thrash records of 2005. The date published is January 31, 2006)

In addition to this reminder of how independent artists are dismissed and at times even shown hostility despite thoughtfulness in their work, I would like to add mention of the general lack of interest shown toward aesthetics by the majority of amateur and professional journalists.

Sadly, despite their best efforts and many stunning collaborations between them, the hard-work, great skill and craft of many underground illustrators grows increasingly under appreciated, as does the odd but important reference to various art and literature from time to time by writers/musicians -- Unless, of course, these are noted immediately on the accompanying press-sheet.

Thus, even when noticed, these are taken as an opportunity for the writer to focus only on physical aspects of packaging, invest in assorted (and not always relevant) pop-cultural references and too clever similes while forming new and ironic memes, rather than help to elaborate, in as much as possible, what is actually being presented. This is a general mark against the writer and his regnant style today (apart from the stock practice of puffing a review up with as many band references as will sufficiently lend the author "credibility") but at times the label also plays a part.

To use the most egregious example I know of, which was briefly touched on by LOTFP's own Andreas Schiffmann in his interview with She Said Destroy, Candlelight Records had for some time routinely distributed their advanced album copies in generic slipcases marked with only the label's logo.

Thankfully, this no longer seems to be the case but it will still take much more effort on behalf of these reviewers to transform out of their crude appearance as that last bit of assembly line machinery awaiting these new products -- as rapidly fed as they are discarded -- and start doing some legwork of their own.

Comment by Metallic Kitty of Decadence
(discuss this comment on the LotFP Message Board)

Dear friends at Lamentations of the Flame Princess

Kindly thanks for the comprehensive review of our new studio album "3rd Stage of Decay". Also thank you for the general analysis of Decadence performance. By analyzing us, the author Dave Burns, has well demonstrated even his impressive insight in- and knowledge about the metal industry which we are a part of. We are highly grateful for his effort.

All Decadence band members have read Burns' text and each one of us has appreciated the author's serious approach. I, Metallic Kitty, (Burns prefers to use my surname Saric) feel that the review's wording describes my role and efforts in Decadence in a fair manner. I usually do not think about myself and about Decadence in the way expressed in the review but Burns reasoning has evoked certain questions which I am prepared to consider.

Contributions of the other band members are also touched in appropriate way, with one exception: the contribution of the bassist Joakim Antman in the band's total output is underestimated.

Of course, the band as whole is thankful for the expressed understanding of circumstances under which Decadence, as a self-financing unit, presently works.

We are conscious that, by taking Decadence into consideration, the Lamentations of the Flame Princess expresses the will to present the music of the band to the wider audience. Thank you James Edwards Raggi IV, Andreas Schiffmann, Garth Ferrante, Diana Davidsson & Co. Keep up the great work.