Okay this is the unofficial fanzine of Murder Records, the Halifax record label started by teen- dream band Sloan. At 54 pages it tells me far more than I want to know about Murder Records and the bands they release. Still the mixture of earnestness and humour in this zine is refreshing. These boys love their bands, but they aren’t afraid to make fun of themselves while paying tribute. They especially enjoy cutting the heads off their heroes and planting them on other things. The Hermit Thrush-Thrush Hermit picture is pretty funny in that way. Um, cross-word with questions like “Local Rabbits are from this city”. Loads of gushing reviews that are more for the afficiando than the curious. Dan talks to Hardship Post. Updates on side projects. Look I’m not that big on all this ohhing and ahhing over a bunch of bands on one label, but for what it’s worth, Murderscene provides information on a lot of decent bands without delving into stupidity or goofiness. Their best stuff has less to do with the bands and the record label and more to do with their own originality. Kung-Fu For Weenies, McRefills, and some damn good collages make this zine its own scene.
zine / #1, 54 pages / main creators: Al Lefebvre, Joey Charron, Dan Guay / publisher: unknown / $2 / 1485 Holycross Blvd., Cornwall, ON, K6H 2W9