You know the sensation; that inescapable urge where nature must take its course. The longing to romanticise the past, musing on bygone eras. The fortification of that sentiment when engaging with like-minded souls. To then take initiative and never glance back…
This was the catalyst for Blackie, the Belgian figure behind ‘Zwarte Kunst’ (Black Art in Dutch), who has resided within the underground of Black Metal and Death Metal since the early ’90s, penning reviews for various fanzines and participating in the venerable tradition of Tape Trading.
After years of silence, not in terms of collecting or following the scene, but in active participation, the ‘Zwarte Kunst’ website went live in mid-2025 to disseminate his thoughts on the musical malevolence of dark tones. Soon, however, that aforementioned feeling crept in: that a website was not where the ultimate ambition lay, but rather in a physical zine. And so it began…
‘Zwarte Kunst’ is simple yet effective in its execution; no hand-drawn borders or cut & paste layout, but merely text and photography. Personally, I enjoy seeing illustrations in a zine, yet I view them as a secondary luxury, for the approach ‘Zwarte Kunst’ has chosen is equally valid when judged purely on its merit. And the content remains the most vital part.
There is no doubt regarding Blackie’s dedication and expertise, as the questions are well-formulated and evoke informative responses. This shows within the interviews of both veterans such as Denial of God and Cirith Gorgor and newcomers like Likno and Matavitatau.
‘Zwarte Kunst’ features exclusively Black Metal interviews and reserves reviews for the website, but I hope the creator of this successful debut issue has found exactly what he sought; the strengthening of that aforementioned sentiment when you share it with like-minded people.
