I continue to be in awe of the Italian ‘zine Vincebus Eruptum, which I consider to be the foremost champion of European heavy psych as a whole and in particular the voice of the Italian heavy underground. The dedication of editor Davide “Davidew” Pansolin is unmatched in the genre, and his work never fails to inspire. I’ve yet to come out of reading an issue of Vincebus Eruptum not wanting to start a print ‘zine of my own or buy a ridiculous amount of import CDs.

The latest issue, No. 13, is available now from their BigCartel shop, and features interviews with Orange Goblin, Earth, former Monster Magnet/Wellwater Conspiracy guitarist John McBain, Graveyard and Small Stone Records honcho Scott Hamilton. Of particular interest to me was Swedish newcomers Dean Allen Foyd, which features former members of Roachpowder, but because it’s Vincebus Eruptum, the Italian scene is well represented as well. Interviews with Pater Nembrot and Gandhi’s Gunn and reviews of Ufomammut, T.H.U.M.B., The Hounds of Hasselvander (released on Italy’s Black Widow and Bloodrock Records and featuring Paolo Apollo Negri of Wicked Minds), El-Thule, Gandhi’s Gunn, Alice Tambourine Lover, Tiresia Raptus and others ensure that Italy is at the forefront of readers’ focus. A little patriotism is a good thing every now and again.

Particularly so when it comes alongside the careful eyes and ears of Pansolin and his fellow contributors, who are nothing if not reliable when it comes to solid opinions and knowledge of their subject matter that’s second to nobody. This special edition issue no. 13 comes with a poster of the cover by artist Kabuto that proclaims it was produced especially for the recent Stoned From the Underground festival, which only further shows how entrenched the mag is with the European scene.

Look for more to come from Vincebus Eruptum, as they recently announced they’re bumping up from two issues a year to three, and click the image below to enlarge a preview of the features:

Vincebus Eruptum‘s American distribution is handled through The Soda Shop. Visit their BigCartel store here.

If I can reiterate a point from my writeups of the last two issues of the Italian ‘zine Vincebus Eruptum (here and here), I have a tremendous amount of respect for the publication and the people behind it. Editor and writer Davide “Davidew” Pansolin is among the foremost voices when it comes to continental European heaviness, and I put a lot of stock in his opinion. Aside from being laudatory for being a print pub in the age of digital media, each page of Vincebus Eruptum practically oozes love of the fuzz and heavy psych it covers.

Pansolin, as always, handles a lot of the writing himself. His interviews with countrymen heavy rockers Black Rainbows, as well as The Freeks, Wight, The Grand Astoria are highlights, as are reviews of Summer Bacchanalia, Bomb the Sun, Wicked Minds and numerous others on which I’d love to spend the money to import if I had it. Also interviewed in issue #12 are Lee Dorrian, who talks about the development of Rise Above Records, Zippo, Gentlemans Pistols and Joe Hasselvander, who might be the best Q&A included. He’s someone I’ve wanted to get on the phone more or less for three years now, and his take on the modern doom scene as well as his contributions to Pentagram makes for a fascinating read.

Making issue #12 that much sweeter is the limited inclusion (500 only) of Vincebus Eruptum‘s first-ever CD compilation, Acid Sounds Vol. 1. Kicking off with a noisy rarity from defunct rockers Core, the comp wastes no time before celebrating two of Italy’s brightest: OJM (whose “Har(d)ucks,” in case you missed it, was included in this month’s podcast) and That’s all Folks!, veterans of Beard of Stars Records, whose Giorgio Pagnacco was the original label manager of VE Records. Tracks from Ruben Romano of Nebula‘s outfit The Freeks and garaged-out Sulatron rockers Vibravoid add some diversity, and the whole thing wraps appropriately with the Electric Moon‘s heavy jam “Trip Trip Trip” from their split with Glowsun (review here); close to nine minutes of improvised heavy.

Acid Sounds Vol. 1 excellently captures the personality and spirit of Vincebus Eruptum. That’s all Folks! have long since broken up, but between their inclusion and those of Colt.38 and E.X.P. — whose albums were originally released on VE Records during the ‘zine’s first run — bands like Zippo and The Freeks get context aside from that which their interviews in the issue provide. With new direct American distribution through the good folks at The Soda Shop, it seems Vincebus Eruptum is stronger than ever in a scene that knows the value of going analog from time to time. Right on. Hit up their website for more info.

The good and dedicated people behind my favorite print ‘zine in the world, Vincebus Eruptum, are doing something special this time out. They’ve taken their print run of 1,000 copies and split it up to include a special CD compilation with half the run. Acid Sounds Vol. 1 will be included with 500 copies of Vincebus Eruptum #12, and will feature new and unreleased music from Core (an outtake from ’96), Vic du Monte’s Persona Non Grata, and OJM, among others.

A complete tracklisting for the comp is available on Vincebus Eruptum‘s website, and here’s the info for the new issue, which is set to be out next month:

The new issue is almost ready! We’re waiting for the very last contents and then we’ll send the mag to the printing… Next Vincebus Eruptum #12 will be published for the end of January 2012, with the exclusive Acid Sounds Vol. 1 compilation!

The new number will be available in two different versions:

Vincebus Eruptum #12 (only magazine) – 500 copies

Vincebus Eruptum #12 deluxe (magazine & Acid Sounds Vol. 1 CD compilation) – 500 numbered copies

Definitive contents: exclusive interviews to Lee Dorrian, Black Rainbows, Zippo, Gentleman’s Pistols, Hounds of Hasselvander, The Freeks, The Grand Astoria, Wight and many, many, many reviews (12 pages!)…

This is the official cover-art by Kabuto:

NOTE: Vincebus Eruptum‘s official American distribution is run through The Soda Shop, so I’m sure Bill and company will have more on the issue closer to its release.

My only complaint with the long-running Italian print ‘zine Vincebus Eruptum is that it makes me want to spend money. I’ve written before about their unwavering dedication to underground heavy rock and psychedelia, but man, every time I’m fortunate enough to get an issue from these dudes, I find something else I want to buy.

In their new issue — #11, which they premiered at this year’s Stoned From the Underground fest in Germany — they cover some of the standard stuff. There are interviews with The Atomic Bitchwax and Blood Ceremony, Black Pyramid and Quest for Fire, among others. Good bands, and cool interviews, but names you’ve probably seen around.

Then there are the reviews, and it’s the reviews that always kill me. Bands I’ve never heard before, like Wight, Electric Moon, La Cuenta and Oyabun mocking me, saying, “Come on, motherfucker, you haven’t heard this shit yet! Get it! Get it!” All this cool music taunting me, and damned if I don’t go for it every time. Nobody knows the European underground like Vincebus Eruptum. Issue #11 is available through their website, and as always, it comes highly recommended.

If you’re lucky enough to make it to the Stoned From the Underground festival in Germany this year — Monster Magnet, Eyehategod, Church of Misery, The Gates of Slumber and a bunch of others are playing — make sure you pick up one of the 1,000 printed copies of the Italian ‘zine Vincebus Eruptum. Issue #11 is being pressed up now for distribution at the fest, and as you can see from the news below (courtesy of their website), it’s well worth a read:

We closed the contents for the next Vincebus Eruptum #11!

That’s the preview of the new cover by Kabuto!

The new number will be expressely issued for the Stoned From the Underground 2011 in Erfurt (Germany) on July 7-9!

Full colour version (1000 copies!)

Contents:
Blood Ceremony Interview
The Atomic Bitchwax Interview
Quest for Fire Interview
L’Impero Delle Ombre Interview
Black Pyramid Interview
The Flying Eyes Interview
Many Reviews…
Research: The Mike Gunn
Labels & Co: Sulatron Records

Go here to get it.

I haven’t a clue when the exact release date was, but at some point in the not too distant past, the Italian stoner rock devotees over at Vincebus Eruptum magazine put out their 10th issue boasting interviews with the likes of Al Cisneros (Om, Sleep), Alfredo Hernandez (Yawning Man, ex-Kyuss), Ufomammut and Spiritual Beggars, among others, and reviews of OJM, Vic Du Monte’s Persona Non Grata, Humo del Cairo and many more. Front cover to back cover, it’s obvious these dudes more or less bleed for the genre, so if you’ve got a couple extra Euros lying around, they’re well worth supporting. Plus, as someone semi-gainfully employed by one in my day-to-day, I’m always an advocate for those in the print media. Go analog — and yes, I recognize the irony there.

The ‘zine is in English, and it’s true there are some language-barrier issues that crop up throughout, but as I know I wouldn’t be able to do half of what they do were I ballsy enough to take on reviewing an album in Italian, I’ll reserve criticism. What shines through in spite of any linguistic or grammar discrepancies is that Davide “Davidew” Pansolin, Max Ugolini and the rest of the crew over there have a genuine love for what they’re doing. The reviews are honest, the interviews are packed with information (I personally used Luciano Gaglio‘s Death Row interview with Victor Griffin from issue #9 as a resource for my own), and you’re bound to come out of reading having discovered at least one new band. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone out there with as deep a knowledge of the European heavy rock underground.

In case you haven’t gotten it yet, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Vincebus Eruptum and what they do. If you can help their cause, I’d definitely advocate doing so. If not, at least spread the word to someone who might.

One more time, go here to check out Vincebus Eruptum #10.