Under the Volcano Fanzine Celebrates 15 Years of Living Under A Punk Rock

UNDER THE VOLCANO issue #90 marks 15 years of publishing for one of the country's longest-running underground music publications. The fanzine's 15th anniversary issue features interviews with Boy Sets Fire, Himsa, Opeth, Small Arms Dealer, The Never Enders and Napalm Records. Audio reviews and columns round out the issue.

Based in Long Island, New York, UNDER THE VOLCANO has featured Long Island bands like Taking Back Sunday, Brand New and From Autumn To Ashes before those acts became nationally known.

The bi-monthly print magazine was started in 1991 by publisher/editor Rich Black, who was fed up with a local music scene that then consisted of cover bands and bad heavy metal. Since then, the 'zine (slang term for "fanzine," or small press magazine) has consistently profiled bands and record labels long before they've been embraced by mainstream music publications.

UNDER THE VOLCANO, although best-known for its focus on punk and hardcore bands, boasts an eclectic mix of independent music within its pages. The print version of the magazine has a press run of 7,000, and is distributed at Long Island record stores and venues. The zine is also sold nationally on newsstands and through chain stores like Tower Records.

An UNDER THE VOLCANO web site now complements the print version of the magazine.

In recent years, UNDER THE VOLCANO has spawned other projects, such as the horror fiction magazine HORROR GARAGE and WINGED DISK record label.

Long Island is now considered one of the most active underground music scenes in the country.