Review: Hellebore Magazine
Written by Wren Jones
Hellebore is a small-print indie occult magazine out of the UK. It may seem odd to do a rundown of an occult magazine in another occult magazine, but my intention is to raise all voices, and to help out others in this time when everyone is on the precipice. Also, this magazine is legit as it gets and it'd be a shame to see it become another casualty of COVID. Overall, it is important that we, as a community take care of each other especially when the work being done is so impressive. To be fair, they proclaim their focus to be 'Folk Horror' specifically relating to Great Britain, so it is not an exclusively occult themed magazine, but it is an overarching theme and it is very overt throughout the design and writing process.
Upon first glance, you are greeted with a compact, but still significant periodical. Its nicely bound with thick, finished paper, which is pleasing to the touch. All of these details are small but enhance the reading experience over all. The magazine uses a limited color palette throughout, the design work by Richard Wells and Joe Gough evokes a 70's occult horror, which gives you a hint of what you're getting yourself into. It clocks in at 86 pages of pure content, articles and art, there isn't an ad to be seen. You can tell there has been a lot of love put into this project.
This is the second issue to be released, celebrating Beltane and, focusing on the theme of 'Wild Gods'. Long form articles include pieces about the God Pan, The wild hunt, and an interview with Alan Moore(always a hit). There is a nice variety of content covering straight occult topics but leaves room for articles about architecture, as well as a fascinating piece about the Hammer film's 'Cornish Duo' Plague of the Zombies and The Reptile.
It is important to seek out and share these publications when you find them. Occult focused media is capricious and unpredictable. Without the support these publications need, it vanishes into the to the depths. I can recall so many great occult voices that have disappeared without a trace over the years, so if I can point people in the right direction and help support them, I am glad to provide a platform.
Hellebore is published...Quarterly?? (there have only been two issues, and that's what it looks like for now)
price: £6.75 ($8.84 US)
And available here:
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