Compulsion online June 2004 (review of DARKLIFE issue n.9) - read it online at Compulsion -> News -> Aug 2004

Even though the entire underground press appears to be experiencing something of a hiatus, Darklife the Anglo-Swiss publication appears to be going from strenght to strength. The latest issue of Darklife has much that may be of interest to Compulsion online readers, largely due perhaps to the presence of Mike Shankland throughout. Interviews in this issue include Matt Howden / Sieben, Lady Morphia, Soil Bleeds Black, Spiritual Front. There's also a number of interviews with more ethereal acts such as GOR, Louisa John Kroll, Colection D'arnell Andrea who have been covered on Compulsion online. Live reviews of Death In June from Scandinavia and HMS President, London, a round-up of the WGT festival and more besides. A large review section covering electronic, experimental, ritual and industrial music is also included. Its focus remains rooted in the Goth scene - including material on The Mission and Alien Sex Fiend - but there's lots of information throughout its glossy pages. If you can overlook the goth stuff (as I do) and the pages on dark fashion then Darklife is worth a purchase. (Tony Dickie)

Chain D.L.K. online June 2004 (review of DARKLIFE issue n.9) - read it online at Chain DLK

Pretty much left on his own, the untiring young noman that goes by the nickname of Gianfri, has managed, between moving from Switzerland to Berlin and all the other every day shit of life, to put out a new exciting issue of Darklife 'zine with little or no help (it's sad to see how little help deserving fellow publishers/writers like Gianfranco Sciacca get). This nineth A5-sized professionally printed issue comes on heavy and shiny glossy paper and features interviews with Das Praeparat, Scream Silence, Matt Howden (of Sieben and Sol Invictus fame), Spiritual Front, F242, Bak XIII, Francesco Banchini's G.O.R. and Louisa John Krol and Keltia (three pagan/celtic/mediterranean/world music artists that have been touring together), Y-Luk-O, Collection D'Arnell-Andrea, Lady Morphia, Ex-Nihilo, Alien Sex Fiend, EXPERIMENT NnORD, The Soil Bleeds Black, Libitina, Synthetic. What I like about these interviews is that they have been done on location, after/before the artist's shows, by people who attend and support these shows (again, mostly Gianfri). You can feel the vibe and the excitment, coming from the presence at the gig, and of course the interviews benefit from that beause they are direct and develop like a dialogue. Of course the same concert-goers also wrote many reviews of live shows all around Germany/Belgium/Switzerland/Scandinavia, including reviews of festivals, reviews of the shows by the interviewed bands and of other band's live sets, such as Death In June, Anne Clark, The Mission etc. The 66 pages also make room for a russian dark scene report, a dark fashion special, the Swiss Underground column (these last two resumed in place of the suppressed Fanzine Focus column). And abviously reviews of CDs, compilations, fanzines and lots of news take up about a third of the 'zine's contents. Darklife is a great publication, and I say that because I have published Chain D.L.K. on paper for 8 years and I know how hard and expensive it is to do something like that. There might be some big changes/news/improvements in the air, hopefully Gianfri will keep us posted... (Marc 'the MEMORY Man' Urselli-Schaerer)

Eimdallr Spring 04 (review of DARKLIFE issue n.9) - read it online at Eimdallr

Darklife is an independent, irregular, international underground fanzine dedicated to gothic, industrial, electro, experimental, avant-guard, ritual music and the lifestyle of the current underground scene. Forgoing a luxurious glossy presentation, this A5 black and white publication resorts to all the tricks of the trade (small print, no margins…) to cram a maximum of content into the 64 pages of this issue which features interviews with Matt Howden, Lady Morphia, Spiritual Front, Soil Bleeds Black, Collection d'Arnell Andrea, G.O.R., Louisa John Kroll, Alien Sex Fiend, Front 242, Y-Luk-O, Ex Nihilo, Experiment Nnord, Libtina, Synthetic, Das Prëparat, Bak XIII and Keltia; live reviews of Death In June's Scandinavian tour and HMS President London date, Luisa John Krol/GOR/ Keltia, Anne Clark, The Mission and Scream Silence; special features on the Dark scene in Russia, the Swiss underground scene and dark fashion ; record reviews and a small news section. If this was not enough, the paper version of zine is also completed by a website that is regularly updated with new reviews and interviews. Darklife is a well-written, informative fanzine that is definitely worthwhile reading… (Ian C.)

Marble Moon issue n.17 Feb 02 (review of DARKLIFE issue n.6)

68 pagine di un electro-gothic fiume in piena, scritte con competenza e professionalita' dai nostri amici italiani trapiantati all'estero (ciao a Gianfri, Eleonora e Valentina!), persome che quasi quasi 'invidiamo' per tutti i concerti che riescono a gustarsi tra Inghilterra e Germania. Interviste a Mission, Der Blutharsch, In Extremo, Velvet Acid Christ, Empusae, Mist of Avalon, En Velours Noir, Narcissus Pool, Melotron, Untoten e Midnight Syndicate. Tantissime recensioni, festivals ed un inglese perfetto per una rivista patinata e in formato A5 (comoda da tenere in tasca), che presenta anche una bella grafica. (Davide Morgera)

Chain D.L.K. issue n.8 Oct 00 (review of DARKLIFE issue n.4)

Darklife is getting better and better and that is a fact... Now it is up to you, you can finally face reality and get yourself the latest issue (if you still didn"t) or just keep on ignoring what's around you and complaining that there's not enough (like I do all the time, by the way)... What is exciting about Darklife is that it has been put together by editors based in four different European countries (Uk, Germany, Switzerland, Italy) and that it covers as much electronics/industrial as it does about gothic/dark. It is also especially good for who wants to read about concerts. A lot of interviews and reviews are obviously featured too... Get it now, no arguments! (Marc Urselli Schärer)

Chain D.L.K. issue n.7 Oct 99 (review of DARKLIFE issue n.3)

Darklife 'zine is growing every day, and not only it's number of pages is. The quality of this 'zine is getting every issue higher and in this issue you can really read tons of news, reviews, articles, interviews and live reports of many international artists including NON, Christian Death, Creatures, Lacuna Coil, Clan of Xymox, Chaos Engine, Funhouse, Propulsion, Artrosis, Mesh, Project Pitchfork,Inkubus Sukkubus, In Strict Confidence, Venus Fly Trap, Switchblade Symphony and many many others! Just get your copy now! (Marc Urselli Schärer)

Mental Hygiene. issue n.X (review of DARKLIFE issue n.2)

A Goth zine? Now I know what "our" scene needs some Goths! Not the "Ooh! Ooh! Look at me, with my tiara and Korn t-shirt" types but the genuine article! The layout makes quirk look like MH1. I did a swap for this at VyVyan's Underworld gig in March and it rules!! I like the way it's not afraid to feature stuff you won't normally find in fanzines, such as Gothic architecture or Censorship in Switzerland. Also features FRONT 242, Young Gods, Death In June, Inertia, London After Midnight plus much, much more... You should take a look! (Lawrence Piddock)

Chain D.L.K. issue n.7 Oct 99 (review of DARKLIFE issue n.2)

As time passes Darklife grows: as an Anglo-Swiss-German dark 'zine and as a world-wide German-based non profit (the 'zine is free) organisation for goth-dark-electro people around the globe willing to exchange ideas, hosting friends, etc. The new (second) issue of (Under My Skin the) Darklife, representing the gothic, electro, industrial, experimental, avantgarde, ritual music and lifestyles comes with many interesting features, interviews, reviews, news, reports, concerts and event reviews, as well as nice graphics, nice design and above all a great passion and love which exudes from its pages. Recommended! (Marc Urselli Schärer)

Chain D.L.K. issue n.6 Feb 99 (review of DARKLIFE issue n.1)

Before reading this review please read the of the "Darklife CD compilation" (in the audio review section) to get introoduced to what the Darklife organisation is and originated as. After becoming a kind of label for that very sampler, now it actually is a magazine too! Darklife is an excellent fanzine for all of those who love that "music and lifestyle". It is done by three nice girls (I know two of them) and an excellent person who is helping the founder of the organisation throughout the different countries and many contacts... Outside a good quality (nice b/w look with professional offset printings and heavy paper); inside many interesting interviews (Two Witches, Mediaeval Baebes, Faith and the Muse, Global Noise Attack, Children on Stun, Covenant, Christian Death, Lechwoman, Clan of Xymox, Alien Sex Fiend, Wings of Destiny, Dust of Basement), many live reports of the above mentioned bands and of other acts (Kirlian Camera, Apoptygma Berzerk, Die Form, 7th Wave Gotik Treffen Pfingsten 98, ArvikaFestivalen 98) and more... There are still few reviews (about 40) but it is definitely an extremely positive and worthy first step into the editorial scene. The Darklife fanzine has got that kind of potential which many German fanzines have and so I'm sure that, if they enter that scene, the Darklife fanzine will become one of gthe most esteemed and well known publications in Germany. (Marc Urselli Schärer)

Metal Hammer issue xx (review of DARKLIFE issue n.1)

Professionally minded tribute to all things dark, spooky and, on the whole, crap (Alien Sex Fiend? Christian Death? Hello?), Under My Skin... tackles its subject matter comprehensively if a little too seriously. Still, they feature these lovely Mediaeval Baebes, so it's not all doom and gloom. (DS)