|
The germ of
the idea for a new webzine venture having lodged itself insidiously within my brain only a
few short months ago, I’m shocked and quietly thrilled to be presenting you with the
first online ‘issue’ of Hierophant Nox. As Summer faded through a miserable
Autumn, we brooded over our ideas and questioned whether any of this would be possible,
but it seems that as the ground hardened, so did our resolve, and I’m pleased
we’ve met our deadline for the 1st of January, successfully hi-jacking the new year
as a new beginning for coverage of extreme metal on the web.
A quick perusal of our table of contents proves that we’ve also achieved our aim of
providing a diverse and open-minded selection of musical genres from all points of the
globe. From the raw and relentless black metallers Ugulishi, who granted us an interview,
to the ethno-ambient mysticism of Lebanon's Osman Arabi, whose album “Burning
Sigils” we reviewed, we have run the gamut of ‘music from the edge’.
A particular treat for our team was the access we were given to Bergen-based label Dark
Essence Records; flick to our label focus feature and you can read our in-depth interview
with label boss Martin Kvam, as well as a low-down on the roster bands and personal
opinions from such leading lights as V’gandr (Helheim etc.) and Zahrim (Panchrysia).
This article was something of an experiment, but we hope you’ll agree the outcome is
more than satisfactory, and if there’s something to know about Dark Essence that
ISN’T on our pages, it’s not worth knowing.
We aim to make extensive features of this variety a focal point of Hierophant Nox. As we
see it, the benefits of being web-based are space and immediacy. With that in mind, we
will be seeking to cover as many topics in as much depth as we can. We are also dedicated
to our news reporting facility, which, with daily updates, we hope will make us your
number one stopping-off place for all things extreme. A quick turnover of review material
and constant interview endeavours will keep us up-to-date, and with any luck, after a few
months, ahead of the game.
There’s a lot of cynicism about webzines, particularly from the print press, which is
ironic given how much of the organisation and networking required for a print publication
is actually carried out online. Still, many of the accusations levelled against webzines
are fair; a lack of quality, poor journalistic ethics, shoddy presentation and a complete
dearth of editorial direction do abound on the net. There’s at least one prominent
net ‘journalist’ I can think of who can’t spell anything with more than two
syllables. However, as regular browsers will know, in counterpoint to this are a number of
strong, long-established web-based institutions who leave the lazy, negative stereotypes
in the dust, providing comment on a par with anything you can read on glossy paper. With a
fierce dedication to writing strong, well-informed pieces, according to standards agreed
to and striven for by our whole crew, we hope to tip your overall impression of web
writing further into the positive.
Rather like album liner notes, I’m not able to write an introductory editorial
without thanking a whole host of people. Patricia Thomas, the webzine’s godmother,
provided countless contributions and the kind of friendship that made the whole thing
possible; Bahn, at ‘This Way to the Dark Ride’, offered us generous promotion
and unwavering positivity; Victoria Johnstone, our Art Director, pulled marvellous visions
from my mind and from the air; Martin Kvam and all at Dark Essence put faith in us before
we had faith in ourselves, for which we are eternally grateful; Martin Linde, at
misantropia.se, encouraged, cajoled and endlessly amused us in the dark days of web
development and severe influenza (which he now has for his troubles- get well soon); Luke,
our steadfast webmaster, kept his head when all around were losing theirs and put in a
massive amount of work at the close, and lastly a marvellous and gob-smacking REGIMENT of
bands and artists came forward to support us, demand reviews, clamour for interviews and
just generally show a real willingness to get involved. THANK YOU, you are legends.
I hope you’ll enjoy our debut issue, and continue to check back with us for news
headlines and tour listings. If you’d like to get involved, or feature on Hierophant
Nox, please refer to our ‘Contact’ page, where you’ll find all of the
necessary details.
Issue Two will be online 15.01.09.
Dark regards
Ellen
Editor- Hierophant Nox |
