Every 2-3 years, there’s a time when a contribution in VISIONS interests me so much that I can't help but buy an issue. Generally, however, I couldn't care less about the alternative rock heroes featured in the issues (if I even know them), so I save that €7.50. The 1-2 CDs that come with the magazine don’t help either.
I wrote these introductory words in November 2018 for issue 308 when I got the magazine because of the New York Hardcore legend SICK OF IT ALL. I could have written the same thing about issue 343 with DIE ÄRZTE half a year ago. But I didn’t write anything about that issue because I would have just repeated myself (and didn’t feel like it).
Now, however, things are different, although I needed a little push to get issue 349. Because it’s available together with 350 + 351 for a tenner (including shipping), which is worth it to me.
Rightly so, because I am really excited about VISIONS No. 349! I read the first 60 pages in one go; almost all the bands featured were exactly my cup of tea. Starting with the cover story, the headliner of the issue THE HELLACOPTERS, through MESHUGGAH, IGNITE, PLACEBO to ABSENT IN BODY, the latter of which I only got to know in this issue or through the accompanying CD. Of course, there were other bands to read about, but their CD contributions or interviews weren’t that interesting. Not that their songs on the CD were bad, but they weren’t exactly the cream of the crop either. But it continues, even if not as rapidly with the good bands. However, I don’t want to overlook the interviews with A WILHELM SCREAM, KMPFSPRT, INCITE, DIE WÄNDE (I didn’t know the latter two before either). All these bands are also on the CD supplement, which is awesome... There’s also something to read about the other bands on the CD (13 tracks), but as I said, the songs are quite nice, but nothing more. It’s worth mentioning that the new album by THE HELLACOPTERS became the record of the month in issue 349, ahead of THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE ZUGLY (about whom unfortunately very little is mentioned in the zine), and that there are over 75 record reviews in the issue, if I haven’t miscounted.
The exact opposite applies to the anniversary issue, No. 350. It is significantly thicker but offers significantly less interesting content for me. I have to flip to page 32 (aside from the obituary for Taylor Hawkins) before I find a one-page interview with Monchi from FEINE SAHNE FISCHFILET that caught my attention. Then there’s a report about the book by Steve Jones from the SEX PISTOLS and a bit of chatter about ROCK AM RING / ROCK IM PARK / SBÄM FEST / HIGHFIELD / JERA ON AIR, but that’s about it. The report on DIE ARBEIT sounds good, even though I don’t know the Dresden post-punks (I should check them out), but otherwise... an uninteresting anniversary issue with 66 record reviews. The best 5 records of the month (May) have no rating in the record review; only the 9 reviewers rated them the best. Place 6 (THE LAZY EYES) received an (average) score of 7.6 from the 9 reviewers (out of a maximum of 10) and a score of 8 (out of a maximum of 12) in the individual review. Okay, but how can it be that CANCER BATS lands in 11th place (out of 25) with 7.1 while they received a 10 (the best individual review!) in the individual review!??!? Also noteworthy are the 87 pages with the 350 records of the month. Especially in the early years (starting with VISIONS issue No. 4 from 1990 with BAD RELIGION's Against the Grain), the records of the month were also my favorite records. However, over the following 32 years, that has gradually decreased. By the way, most of the records of the month involved Dave Grohl, yes, I can understand that. However, no record of the month is the anniversary supplement CD. Most of the 9 songs are nice, but nothing special... The only standout would be UFOMAMMUT with their song "Psychostasia" (the song title fits quite well with the music).
