The Convivial Hermit Issue #7 ANCESTORS BLOOD (FIN) ,ANGIZIA (AUS), ANNWFYN (NED), ASBAAR (SPA), CANAAN (ITA), CATAPLEXY (JAP), DPERD (ITA), DRACO HYPNALIS (CZE), ECTOVOID (USA), EMPYRIUM (GER), FAUNA (USA), FUNERAL MOTH (JAP), GOLDEN DAWN (AUS), HUMILIATION (MAL), ISVIND (NOR), KAWIR (GRE), MANES (NOR), MHÖNOS (FRA), NASHEIM (SWE), PAGAN BLOOD (FRA), RAFLUM (CHI), ROTTING CHRIST (GRE), SACRATUS (RUS), STENCH OF DECAY (FIN), SUMMONING (AUS), UNDERGANG (DEN), VELM (HUN), WANGELEN (CHI), WOODLAND CHOIR (HUN) and WORM OUROBOROS (USA)
The 7th issue was far from lucky, as I remember it being a pain to put together, expanding out to a nutso 132 pages with 30 (!) exclusive interviews when all was writen and done. Some of our favorite bands from the 90s managed to take part in it, including Summoning, Empyrium, Rotting Christ, Kawir and Angizia, an amazing line-up, if I do say so myself. I remember sending the questions to Rotting Christ one night, and getting the answers the next morning, Sakis telling me that he attacked my interview "like a shark". A variety of bands from the rotting death of Undergang and Ectovoid to the ambient, eclectic electronics and post-whatever of Asbaar, Worm Ouroboros and Manes took part, a line-up as vast as truly underground as fuck, with no compromises. Bertrand wrote the most articles including two travel itinararies which I unfortunately crippled by printing in a microscopic font size, the crowning achievement of all being an excellent overview of Holy Records whose early works from the 90s we both adore. Bertrand wrote as many if not more reviews than I did in this issue, assisting also in an absolutely epic 11-page zine review section. My own articles included a philosophical essay on the meaning of "nature" in Natural Reflections and a bizarre ode to the underground in the Underground Spectrum, far from my favorites and weirder than usual. Bertrand was really the star of this issue with his travel reports, great reviews and the provider of yet another glorious cover photo taken in France. If I would do this one again I'd increase the font sizes, not make the backgrounds so dark and choose a different, clearer printer... but what is done is done.
The magazine is not dead! Pick one up and discover a band or label you have never been exposed to! Well written with very informative articles! One of the best current underground zines!
