Second Circle: Polymoon and Entropia

In Dante’s Inferno, the second circle begins the proper punishment of Hell, a place where “no thing gleams.” It is reserved for those overcome with Lust, where carnal appetites hold sway over reason. In Nine Circles, it’s where we do shorter reviews of new (ish) albums that share a common theme.

It’s time for a heroic dose of heavy psychedelia administered by two of my old favorites that have found new imaginative pathways on their latest albums: Polymoon’s Chrysalis and Entropia’s Total.

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Second Circle: Anthronomicon and Helionomicon

In Dante’s Inferno, the second circle begins the proper punishment of Hell, a place where “no thing gleams.” It is reserved for those overcome with Lust, where carnal appetites hold sway over reason. In Nine Circles, it’s where we do shorter reviews of new (ish) albums that share a common theme.

You know I couldn’t just pick one of these to review.  Ulthar are certainly about to unleash some of the most anticipated music in their career, and as if that wasn’t good enough, they’re gracing us with not one, but two full, 40-minute albums of new material, their first since 2020’s Providence.  The wait might have been long, but Anthronomicon and Helionomicon both make up for it in quantity and quality.

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Second Circle: Memoriam and Ashen Horde

In Dante’s Inferno, the second circle begins the proper punishment of Hell, a place where “no thing gleams.” It is reserved for those overcome with Lust, where carnal appetites hold sway over reason. In Nine Circles, it’s where we do shorter reviews of new (ish) albums that share a common theme.

Looks like purple’s gonna be the theme for this edition of Second Circle. Although you could also easily say the theme is killer metal not enough folks are talking about. Anyway you wanna slice it, we’re here to drop some knowledge about the latest offerings from Memoriam and Ashen Horde, so turn that volume knob clockwise until it stops, limber up and get ready to bang that head.

Bring it on.

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Second Circle: Moonlight Sorcery and Inherits the Void

In Dante’s Inferno, the second circle begins the proper punishment of Hell, a place where “no thing gleams.” It is reserved for those overcome with Lust, where carnal appetites hold sway over reason. In Nine Circles, it’s where we do shorter reviews of new (ish) albums that share a common theme.

January isn’t even over yet and we’re already off to a great start to 2023. This edition of Second Circle focuses on two labelmates that take their respective spheres of the black metal world and expand them with some outside influences. Showcasing impressive songwriting and technical skills, Moonlight Sorcery and Inherits the Void demonstrate how black metal continues to push forward through and beyond the stars.

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Second Circle: Hammers of Misfortune and Arrayan Path

In Dante’s Inferno, the second circle begins the proper punishment of Hell, a place where “no thing gleams.” It is reserved for those overcome with Lust, where carnal appetites hold sway over reason. In Nine Circles, it’s where we do shorter reviews of new (ish) albums that share a common theme.

If there’s a theme to this edition of Second Circle, it’s that I’m so bogged down trying to get my usual massive and way overdone end of year list(s) ready that I can’t find the time to do proper in-depth reviews for both of the albums featured today. Which happens to be the latest from Hammers of Misfortune and Arrayan Path.

So let’s do this.

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