Dear Maelstrom readers,
Things keep moving along both here at Maelstrom HQ and
around the world at our foreign offices. The biggest news we’ve
got, aside from our latest issue, is what you can expect starting in
January, 2004. Starting then, Maelstrom will have monthly contests with
free CDs and merchandise for the first few lucky people to answer correctly.
Look out for that.
Maelstrom has been stepping up our ad campaign, with magazine
and radio spots. Our main radio presence is KCOU’s metal program,
which is hosted by Maelstrom’s own Matt
Smith and Michael Gerhart!
Matt’s been with us since day one, and it’s great that he’s
helping to spread the metal word as best he can. The show airs Fridays,
11 PM - 2 AM, Central Time.
As always, Maelstrom is here to let you know about as
many indie bands and records as we can get our hands on. So you’ll
find an interview with Kranky’s latest signing Growing, as well
as an interview with the very metal Children of Bodom.
Maelstrom #17 features 60 album reviews and a live report
from the Dimmu Borgir/ Nevermore/ Children of Bodom tour. Also look
out for new features before the end of the year, such as a re-vamped
About Us page and Links section, as well as the possibility to print
out Maelstrom articles for those who are paying for internet access
by the minute (as Steppenvvolf
reminds us).
Also please welcome new writer Alec
A. Head. Alec’s name may be familiar to you from his contributions
to Satan Stole My Teddybear, perhaps THE best metal review archive site
on the web. One last thing:
Abhi Chatterjee’s
picks of the issue:
#1: PSYCROPTIC - The Scepter of the Ancients
#2: THE KILL - Soundtrack to Your Violence
thanks for reading,
Roberto Martinelli
Letters to the Editor:
From: Chris Black <godblesssuperchrist@yahoo.com>
Hey man, thought I would drop a line and see what's new
with you. Just checked out your site, wow it has come a long way in
a short time. The interviews are a pleasure.
I’m getting married. Other than that, I’ve
been doing some shows and the usual metal stuff. I really like the new
Hammers of Misfortune album. I hope that the [Cruz Del Sur] label makes
a million so they can afford Neil Kernon for the next Pharaoh session.
(He wants to do it but I don't think there's a realistic bottom line
that we could agree on.)
Hope everything's going well with you and you're eating
carrots in Nambia or something similarly exotic.
P.S. Check out www.SUPERCHRIST.net,
there's a great picture of us with Gezol (from Metalucifer - Roberto).
- Chris Black (drummer for Pharaoh and bassist/vocalist
for Superchrist)
Dear Chris,
Always nice to hear from you. Thanks so much for
the words of encouragement and noticing the progress Maelstrom has been
making. It is truly high praise coming from you. Your print zine, the
aptly titled Metal, has always been a great inspiration to us. Your
editing and writing style, and not least your commitment to honesty
and objectivity, are second to none. We wish you luck with your bands
and can’t wait for a new Pharaoh record (and how about some Superchrist
recordings?).
- Roberto Martinelli
