5625 Glen Erin Drive Unit #57
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada
L5M - 6V2
Price: C$3.99 Canada / ??? Elsewhere

Review online: November 18, 2001
Reviewed by: Michel Renaud

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Unrestrained!, along with BW&BK and Metallian (French metal mag) is the only metal magazine I still buy, as most other "metal" magazines found in stores have proven to be a waste of money over time.

Unrestrained! has grown from the zine format to a full-featured, glossy paper magazine that you can find in various stores in North America (and elsewhere if I'm not mistaken.) Quite an achievement! This of course implies a professional layout and quality writers (hmmm... ok this last one does not necessarily apply to all magazines...) Issue #17 once again boasts a large number of interviews and reviews. Interviews include: Emperor, Peccatum, Neurosis, Darkthrone, Akercocke, Allerseelen, Sopor Aeternus, Six Feet Under, Ulver, Sigh, Alas, Kataklysm, Malefaction, Krisiun, Vesperian Sorrow, Dragonlord, Maudlin of the Well, Dargaard, Divine Souls, Averse Sefira, Winds, and a few others. Most interviews are well done, yet relatively short, from half a page to 2-3 pages. There's a large number of reviews of hardcore (I could live without that), metal albums, indie bands and classic reissues, as well as some zines and DVDs and the "Thrash of the Titans" show. This issue also has a review of Mortiis' book, "Secret of My Kingdom".

Most reviews are very well written and some "major releases" reviews are highlighted to catch the reader's attention. Like me, the editor is a Graveland fan so that's cool. :) There's the occasional slip, a mallcore album review or two, but I guess I'll survive. :)

There's a section devoted to hardcore that I always skip - it's just not my stuff. Fortunately, it's pretty much all kept together - interviews and reviews alike - so it's easy to skip for those who are not interested. Toward the end of each issue, there's a page of "reviews" by some weirdo whose reviewing style is... hmmm... well, why don't you find out for yourself? ;)

This is one of the best metal magazines around and I highly recommend you to get it. If it's not available in your area, you can always get it direct from them (see their web site for details.) Too bad there are only 4 issues a year, I wouldn't mind getting this more frequently!