Yesterday I looked at my phone and the news notifications piled up, one nightmare after another. As we head into an extended weekend for the holiday all I could think of was we are creeping closer and closer to true independence from compassion, from reason, from any kind of rational thought. I need music more than ever now – maybe you do, too. So here’s hoping the 290th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist gets you through your own crisis this week.

It kicks off a trio of things that have stuck with me, whether it’s the closing chapter of grindcore heavyweights Graf Orlock or the progressive instrumental intricacies of RLYR and Stinking Lizaveta. From there the staff contributes mightily with cuts from Atoll, Oxbow, Urne, Royal Thunder, NOFX, Peter Gabriel, Mercyful Fate, live Emperor, some Usnea, Lacuna Coil and a lot more.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week…

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– Chris