Cult Never Dies: The Mega Zine

by Dayal Patterson (Contributor)

Directly inspired by the aesthetics and approach of the print fanzines of the pre-internet era, the Cult Never Dies: The Mega Zine series expands the focus from Cult Never Dies’ previous black metal books to more fully document the metal underground. The fourth full-length work by Dayal Patterson (Black Metal: Evolution Of The Cult, Cult Never Dies Vol. One and Into The Abyss), featuring guest writing from the talented Frank Allain, this tome comprises of huge, candid and definitive interviews with: Mysticum, Bal-Sagoth, In The Woods..., Reverend Bizarre, Indesinence, Nahtrunar, Slegest, Scythian, Lychgate, Mork, Ancient, Jon Kristiansen and the story of Head Not Found records, black metal photographer Ester Segarra and illustrator Gareth Elliott.

Genres: Music

268 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2016

About the author

Founder of Cult Never Dies publishing

Dayal is a writer, photographer and designer. He began writing professionally in 2005, having previously created a self-published music journal entitled Crypt Magazine. Since that time he has contributed regularly to the likes of Record Collector, The Quietus, Terrorizer, Decibel, Classic Rock Presents... and, most prominently, Metal Hammer magazine, whom he has written for since 2006, providing numerous lead and cover story features. Since completing a BA honours degree in photography at London College of Communication Dayal has been taking live, portrait and promotional pictures for numerous magazines including Record Collector, Terrorizer and Metal Hammer as well as for bands, individuals and companies.

Reviews

[Katrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

first book by dayal in the form of a megazine, influence by the fanzine format of the 90s. this has of course its charms and is a great way to introduce bands. i really liked it and read with a lot of interest about these bands, also a lot of great stories and background info. the focus was on norwegian and UK based artists. also the focus shifted a bit from black metal to also different styles, although black metal almost always was in the influences or the core. i must admit that there were some interviews that i lost a bit interest in but i read all of it and i took a lot from this! i hope dayal will continue with both, the black metal series and the megazine format. great work once again!

[Big Satan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining, as always. Good on ya, Dayal. Nice to read in-depth pieces with old acquaintances such as Mysticum, In the Woods... and the mighty Reverend, and to be introduced to and discover new awesome stuff like Scythian, Mork and Slegest.

[Kostas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another outstanding effort by Dayal in his now familiar interviewing style. This time the feel of the book is slightly different, with an aesthetic reflecting a high quality version of the old printed underground zines most of us are familiar with. There is also a difference in the content, with the bands being interviewed now expanded to genres outside of black metal, and the book also containing interviews with an illustrator, a label manager and a photographer.

As a doom metal fan, I was licking my fingers with the interviews of Reverend Bizarre and Indesinence in particular, the first giving insight into one of the most tormented and fascinating minds in the genre, and the second (conducted by Fen's The Watcher) revealing aspects in the life of an old bandmate I wasn't even familiar with after sharing 6.5 years together in the band!

As ever highly recommended and I am glad to see Cult Never Dies now slowly expanding their territory to incorporate more and more elements that are of interest to anyone in the extreme metal genre.