News

2025.06.14
We are truly living in primitive times... how so much modern technology can coexist with so much stupidity and narrow-mindedness is beyond me. It's remarkable that the race hasn't wiped itself out yet... but we are coming close. Denial of environmental science and epidemiology? Check. Knuckle-drugging parochial nationalism? Check. Nativist supremacism? Check. Primitive reduction of complex problems with simple, easily understood, ready-to-fill-in biases? Check.

I think it might be time to re-read Plato's Republic. He understood that democracy naturally leads to tyranny which is exactly what is happening now all over the world.

Some interest has appeared for Ethere in at Schattenmanns Publishings. I'm waiting for Stefan's response. Nothing new planned yet but it's possible once I get my personal problems in order that I will start some more material.

2025.05.27
I was in the Maryland Deathfest for the funeral doom day, May 22nd, and it was a great experience. I'll post photos later and write about it in the next Ethere.

BTW, I forgot to mention in my last post that Princeton Record Exchange in Princeton, New Jersey, is once again carrying Convivial Hermit 10 and Ethere #1. Check it out next time you are there!

2025.05.21
Hub City Records in Lubbock, Texas (!) will soon be carrying Ethere #1 and all available issues of Convivial Hermit. Thanks to Paul Sanchez of Death By Metal and La Muerte zines for bringing this place to my attention. Check it out next time you find yourself in Lubbock, Texas.

2025.05.12
PRICE TEMPORARILY REDUCED FOR Convivial Hermit #10 for North American customers only ordered via this page! $6 + shipping now in the USA. Check this page for more info and click button below to order. If any questions send me a message here.

2025.05.12
Convivial Hermit #10 is now being sold for $6 + $5 shipping in the USA, for $11 total! Check it out Latest Issue_CH10 or click the button here, thanks!

2025.04.13
There hasn't been much going on here. No news with the zines for now, but a lot of good stuff coming out in 2025!

First, the new Merzbow/Agencement split from Hideaki Shimada, one of my faves from the Japanese noise scene of the 90s, a beautiful package along with his other recent releases. Highly recommended. Second, the new Bergthron "Neu Asen Land", great album as expected, my package also including a reissue of the demo and an absolutely beautiful silver foil stamped reissue of Uralte Gedanken on vinyl (and a killer shirt of Verborgen...). Third, Enterre Vivant's "Akuzaï" - check out the track here. Very different from the boring, run of the mill metal I get every single day, the vocalist is associated with Aeterna Tenebrae and Léthifère, interviewed in my last issue. Fourth and lastly, but most importantly, my friend Cem's new band, Dragonborn, with Johnny Maudling from Bal-Sagoth on keyboards. If you are into that fantasy metal sound minus any power metal bullshit, you need to hear it. Check out the first video here!

2025.03.23
A few bands from the 90s I loved have returned or will be returning, including Gates of Ishtar and Penitent. A review of "Melancholia Redux" will be coming. I also updated the Savage Pilgrimage link below, thanks.

2025.03.14
A longtime reader of Convivial Hermit, Leen Visser, has created his own printed project called Savage Pilgrimage. More information can be found on instagram here. Please check it out and order it now!

Also check out this great independent magazine:
A Dead Spot of Light

2025.03.04
Season of Mist will be restocking Ethere #1 and Convivial Hermit #10 soon. Also Terror From Hell in Italy should now be stocking the zine! Although I do not see it in their store here. Will keep everyone posted but if you are in Italy and would like to order, please reach out to the label owner Stefano.

An update on stock: I have counted and am down to a bit over a dozen copies of Ethere #1 left - which surprises me as I thought I had more. Really appreciate everyone's support.

Last update for today: I am heading into the unknown this year with a new job that I am starting next week, but if everything goes well, Ethere #2 may become a reality later on in 2025.

2025.02.23
Ethere #1 and Convivial Hermit #10 are now in stock at the Princeton Record Exchange (www.prex.com), "one of the leading independent record stores in the world" in Princeton, New Jersey by the campus of Princeton University! Check it out next time you are there! It should be on the racks in the next few days.

2025.02.18
I just realized I was still writing 2024 all throughout this section. It's been a tough year, that's my excuse. I just updated the sales list with some new CDs and classic black metal vinyl, please check it out.

2025.02.16
Copies of Convivial Hermit #10 and Ethere #1 have been sent to Werewolf Promotion (Poland) and Drakkar (France). I'll post the news when they are available to order from these distros!

2025.02.03
New interview with Full of Hell now up in the interview section. Click on the tab above or navigate here. Thanks to Ray Clardy for his contribution. Anyone who wants their interviews published online, contact me and I will see what I can do!

2025.01.13
Happy Belated New Year to all!

I have been slow to post up anything new since I recently was punched hard with one of the worst colds I've had in years, and this is on top of other persisting health problems. But I am starting to get past this completely brutal cold. Here is my advice to everyone: get the flu and Covid shot wherever you live. I can't believe it's controversial to say this. I have big regrets for not immunizing myself last year, it's just not worth the suffering.

I have a few conversations in the process now to expand European distribution, I will write more about them soon!

As always back issues of Convivial Hermit are still available including #10 using Zelle or Paypal. Write to me here if any questions. You can also order Ethere #1 through myself or one of my distributors here. Thanks!