aara – Nine Circles

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 273 (3.4.2023)

March 4, 2023March 4, 2023Chris1 Comment

We’re creeping ever so close to the release of 72 Seasons, so why not launch this, the 273rd edition of the Nine Circles Playlist, with the latest from Metallica. “If Darkness Had a Son” continues the streak of heavy, catchy as hell songs, and I for one can’t wait for the full album. I’ve been thinking a lot a lately about what we like, and how our tastes are informed by so many things, and I’m slowly getting to the point (or age, most likely) where I don’t give a flying f-ck about what’s cool or hip in a “scene” predicated on gatekeeping in both directions – it’s a drag and bores me to tears. How about this? I’ll like the underground indie band pumping out new and interesting tunes just as much as I dig the major label big boys still keeping things interesting decades later. Deal?

What’s the rest of the staff listening to? Lots of new music from the likes of Aara, Legion of the Damned, Out of the Mouths of Graves, Enslaved, Dawn Ray’d, Henget, Isolant, and Liturgy, not to mention a lot more both new and old, metal, and well…not so metal.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week…

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– Chris

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 235 (6.11.2022)

June 11, 2022June 10, 2022ChrisLeave a comment

Get ready folks…more sax-infused metal coming your way whether you want it or not. Some folks are sick of it, some folks love it…either way, you’re probably not going to be able to escape it. Just recently I’ve had the skronk of a reed instrument accompanying the likes of the latest from Imperial Triumphant (featuring Kenny G no less), a massive opener from the forthcoming White Ward album, and hot off the presses the new single from staff favorites KEN mode which absolutely slays. In other words, just another day for the 235th Nine Circles Playlist.

Elsewhere the 9C crew leave the orchestra instruments behind for some gnarled metal. Josh whips up a frenzy with new tracks from Hammer King, Inhuman Condition, Soreption, and some classic Slayer. Anton ups there ante with Aara, Panzerfaust, and High Castle Teleorkestra. Ian only brings one track to the playlist this week but it’s a whopper…if you’ve never heard the theme song from Home Improvement masked with the vocals of David Lee Roth, well…I welcome you to the insanity of Neil Cicierega. After mellowing things out a bit with some Elliot Smith, Vincent hits us with some Lantlôs and The Black Atlantic. Finally Angela closes the list with new music from Wake, recent Dopelord and Windhand.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

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– Chris

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 168 (2.13.2021)

February 13, 2021February 12, 2021VincentLeave a comment

Hello and welcome to another definitely on time edition of the Nine Circles Playlist in which I did not drop the ball and forget about this write-up. This week, we have an excellent new single from Stone Healer, some classic Bolt Thrower, and…Europe? Like “The Final Countdown” Europe? Yes, the very same. We can’t help that we contain multitudes.

All these, and more, at the link below.

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– Vincent

CANTO: Roadburn Redux, Aara, Hexvessel, and More

February 4, 2021February 4, 2021CoreyLeave a comment

Guess I’m gonna go to the bar now…

We have to kick things off with the Roadburn Redux announcement. Roadburn 2021 will take place virtually, with all performances broadcast live from Tilburg. Some big names announced already, and all available on a ‘pay what you like platform’, which is unreal. Check out the site to get the whole scoop.
Metal Blade has just added a familiar name to its roster in WAKE. It should be obvious, but we’re definitely fans of the Canadian death metallers. Devouring Ruin ended up on a lot of our EOY lists for 2020, and with good reason. Better still, it looks like a new full-length is set to be recorded this summer.
Hexvessel is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Dawnbearer with a set of reissues, CD and vinyl, through Svart Records. There are some pretty cool looking boxes in there, so if this is an important album in your library, this might be one you want to scoop up.
Aara premiered another new track yesterday titled “Nimmermehr”, so we should absolutely close with that. That one is taken off the new album, Triade I: Eos, scheduled for a March 26th release through Debemur Morti Productions.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 164 (1.16.2020)

January 16, 2021January 15, 2021JoshLeave a comment

Clock on the wall says 1am and unsurprisingly cracking a bottle of Henry McKenna 10yr bourbon just feels right as I sample the picks we’ve assembled for this week’s playlist. Don’t judge me, no work tomorrow and after 40+ years of practice my eyes will open no later than 5am so put that in your pipe and smoke it. Anyway, we’ve got a stacked mixtape for this glorious Saturday and I’ve confirmed it’s, as they say, a banger. I bring some new Bloody Hammers and The Crown, Vince brings The Ruins of Beverast and Havukruunu, Didrik lays down a killer Woods of Ypres pick along with new Soen, Ian offers up a Møl cut and an Aara track, and Angela keeps the livestream Goatwhore feels alive as well as a selection from Divide and Dissolve. All that and a ton more awaits behind the play button below, so get after it.

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