Like it or not, we’re creeping up on the end of the year, and I’ve been slowly going through my 2023 albums and generating a rough pile of considerations, and an even larger pile of stuff I can delete now knowing I’ll never miss it (sorry, Code Orange. Once was enough). So this was going to kick off with some albums like Insomnium (double dipping with a new EP coming in a few weeks) and Pupil Slicer that reminded me how great some early and mid-year releases were, but then here comes the insane Callous Daoboys EP to remind me it ain’t over yet, baby.

But that’s not all you’ll hear in the in the 306th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist. We’ve got new tracks from Vokonis, Slõdder, Harms Way, and Moonlight Sorcery, new sleaze from Steel Panther, a blazing preview of the new Sepulchral Curse, and then – inexplicably – a bunch of old songs, mainly non-metal. Maybe it’s the weather? Who knows, they’re bunched up at the end but maybe, just maybe, there’s something awaiting you inside…

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

—

—

– Chris