Burning Salts: Issue 3 
Bryer Wharton
Self-Released
Street: 10.2014
Burning Salts, as an organization, has several offerings, including a YouTube channel and a blog that features highquality photos, band interviews and reviews. Although these aren’t lacking in quality, I personally I find the zine arm of Burning Salts the most enjoyable. There’s something inherently satisfying in holding a tangible incarnation of Mr. Wharton’s labors, which I’m sure he would agree with. The DIY aspect is further enriched with the occasional typo and grammatical error, but this only adds charm and authenticity to the magazine—I wouldn’t even want it to be “perfect” in this sense. The zine features band interviews with both local artists like Deathblow and Moon of Delirium and some legendary national ones including Nunslaughter and Autopsy (!). The interviews follow a Q&A format, and it’s in the unique questions and in-depth responses that Wharton’s true appreciation for all things heavy shines brightest. The band photos, many of them taken by “Editorial Assistant Intern” and metal enthusiast Madi Smith, retain a professional quality even on the high-contrast pages, and there’s absolutely no lack of accompanying imagery to the articles. This is definitely an interesting read for those who enjoy the dark side of media and certainly worth supporting … so … support: burningsalts.blogspot.com. –Alex Coulombe

Dithering Doodles: Issues 12 and 13
Steven Anderson
Self-Released
Street: June/July 2014

Stephen Anderson is using the zine format as something of a “stream of consciousness” autobiography. Issue 12, nicknamed the “shut up and draw” issue, is full of quick, newspaper stripinfluenced cartoons telling stories that are both real and imagined. He jumps back and forth between different periods of his life, ranging from fourth grade recess to what may happen in the year 2026. There’s no rhyme or reason to any of it, but that’s part of its charm. Issue 13 takes the same basic tone, but it’s more focused on prose, and it’s the more enjoyable issue. There are still a few doodles to help illustrate each of Anderson’s tales of woe, but it’s the writing that sells it. He gives you a pretty good idea of what life is like—karate classes, hanging out at the library, drawing and reminiscing. It’s not the typical zine, but that’s the point of making it. Anderson does what he loves and shares his zine with as many people as possible—even if most of them happen to be confused patrons leaving the grocery store he’s passing them out in front of. –Trevor Hale

Love Poems
Nick Neihart
Self-Released
Street: 09.04.14
In reading this erotic collection of poems, accompanied by a five-song EP, my favorite moments were those that were subtly amorous. “Love Poem # 8 (New Orleans Streets)” depicts a spontaneous slew of events that allude to a couple sharing unconventional love with one another. Neihart succeeds at longer chunks of storytelling as well as at brevity. The brief, three-or-four-line pieces, such as “Stamps,” are striking and help unify anti-suburban, romantic themes. The musical collection complements the words with grungy, slightly Western songs that have a Sonic Youth feel, while maintaining the overarching concept of love through sentient lyrics. –Kia McGinnis