Melt Volume 2 Issue 5 / Free / :15 / 48S / http://www.meltmag.com /
I really don’t know what to feel about these various city-related magazines. They are (almost) always free, but to be honest, the amount of interesting content is seriously lacking. This issue seems pretty much dictated by the advertisers and what is famous; there are pieces about Gwen Stefani, King Kong, and Kottonmouth Kings. Of course, the most interesting piece is the show listing, which really does collect the shows happening in Columbus regardless of whether the acts are huge or middling. There are tons of advertisements, but what can one expect from a magazine that is free? The layouts are pretty fun and sharp for such a small sized magazine (one-forth size), even if the content is seriously lacking. There is a little of a stop-start aspect to this issue in the fact that a number of the advertisements do not enjoy the same high level of quality layouts, but this is really exacerbated by the fact that this is not a reading, but a viewing type of magazine. There is pretty much no reason for individuals to want to read this magazine if Columbus is not a viable traveling destination; if it is not, pick up the other local free publication for wherever one lays their head. The only other thing of substance are about fifteen reviews that make it into this issue; in their defense, they are actually thought out and insightful. So I guess, if you do not know what to think about some of these newer disc, that may be the reason to pick up the zine.
Rating: 4.5/10
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.
Contact: editor@neufutur.com