bathory

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 384 (04.19.2025)

Chris2 Comments
playlist - mixtape

The 384th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist got home late but refreshed from vacation, and is now on his third cup of glorious coffee (vacation was great but goddamn did I miss making my coffee) before 6am so let’s get right into it. Lik brings the HM-2 filth with their new album Necro, Melvins return in their 1983 incarnation with a new ripper, and the latest from Tribunal is the closest vibe to the weird amount of doom I listened to while sunning myself on the beach.

The rest of the 9C staff hid their own Easter eggs throughout the playlist, including another killer from Jeremiah Kane, new King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (once again operating in 70s boogie mode), wicked death metal from Poland via Dormant Ordeal, sad emo from Greet Death, classic metalcore from Shai Hulud and a lot more. Hell, we even got some new Fozzy in here.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

—

—

– Chris

Retrospective: Bathory — Hammerheart

ColinLeave a comment
Bathory - Hammerheart

In the history of black metal there is naturally one band that stands above all others in terms of influence and impact on the formation and proliferation of the genre: Sweden’s Bathory. From the raw, thrashy proto-black of the self-titled debut to the mythologically-focused epics of Twilight of the Gods and beyond, Quorthon was heavily responsible for not just the inception of black metal, but for introducing themes and history from Norse mythology and the viking age to the genre (as well as being an early one-man band, a trait which of course still continues today). Among all the celebrated albums in the Bathory discography, there’s one that stands head and shoulders above the rest in my mind: 1990’s Hammerheart. Growing from seeds first sown in the two preceding releases, this album largely abandoned the black metal trail Quorthon had already blazed in favor of something new, creating an entirely new genre (arguably) in the process. In celebration of the 35th anniversary of its release today, let’s revisit this imperfectly perfect album that is the finest in Quorthon’s saga.

Continue reading →

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 379 (03.15.2025)

ChrisLeave a comment
playlist - mixtape

The 379th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist doesn’t drink anymore, so no post St. Patrick’s Day hangover. However, that’s not to say he didn’t ingest a sweet gummie and get a little too deep into the new Steven Wilson and some ambient noise with Chuck Johnson. Don’t worry, though: we’ll put those tracks at the end and kick things off with the killer “Lost Continent” from Tiktaalika, the new release from Haken’s Charlie Griffiths, featuring Between The Buried and Me’s Tommy Giles Rogers on lead vocals. I freakin’ love this album (yes I just mixed first and third person in the same paragraph…sue me).

The rest of the staff is bring a wide range of cuts to the game, including the fantabulous new single from Propagandi, new cuts from Cradle of Filth and the Callous Daoboys, classics from the likes of Bathory, and something called Truckstop Dickpill I have no choice but to check out. We’ve also got Mother of Millions on hand and a combo of songs both involving the words “lover’s spit” from Vince so I’m hoping he’s doing okay as I see what that’s all about. All that and – despite multiple tries to like them because they should be right up my prog alley – new music from Coheed and Cambria. I’m sorry, I tried again with the new album and nope…just can’t do it. Maybe you can though, so it’s here.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

—

—

– Chris

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 343 (7.06.2024)

ChrisLeave a comment
playlist - mixtape

I love when it’s a (relatively) light week new release-wise, and I get to focus on a few dear things. Like the new Liminal Shroud album which is fantastic, or the new Wraith album, equally fantastic. They’re kicking off the 343rd edition of the Nine Circles Playlist, along with some new singles from an I guess re-activated Dead Brain Cells? Color me happy as we head into the Independence Day weekend here in the states.

Elsewhere in the 9C universe the staff brings it with new tracks from Sarke and Deceased, killer USBM from Stress Angel, sweet death metal from Devenial Verdict, and more from the likes of Bathory, Pity Sex, new 40 Watt Sun, Molchat Doma, Iress, and Panopticon, along with a lot more.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

—

—

– Chris

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 203 (10.30.2021)

ChrisLeave a comment
playlist - mixtape

I’m not sure where you all are, but here in New York it finally feels like Autumn…right on the porch knocking at the door of All Hallow’s Eve. It’s the time of frights, of golds and browns and dark and whispers. So I can’t think of a better way to kick off the two hundred and third Nine Circles playlist than with a little Samhain to get you all in the mood. And since more than a few of the staff are completely head over heels for the new Mastodon, we threw a doozy of a late track in here for you, too.

Elsewhere we got you covered no matter your tastes: Josh comes in hot with some classic Fastway and one of my favorites for the year, Green Lung. Zyklonius is gushing over the new tech metal from Allegaeon, while Vincent throws some delicious curveballs with toe and his beloved Mountain Goats. We’re not quite back to the extreme, as our Northern Brother Jon dips into his first tastes of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, but tempers it with some mewithoutyou. The Man with the Mic himself Buke goes old and new school with Manowar and Monolord, while Ian goes crazy for Archspire and Angela digs into the new Ghost Bath and closes us out with a bonafide classic from Siouxsie and the Banshees. And that’s only the tip of iceberg of what’s in store, so buckle up, grab your mask, and hit play below. We’ll see you next week.

—

—

– Chris

Exclusive Stream: Uburen – “I Hail”

ninecirclesadminLeave a comment

band

With Halloween lying just around the bend, Norwegian black metallers Uburen are set to release their second album, Frå døden fødes liv. Two years removed from their debut Withered Roots, this nine-track collection offers a take on pagan black metal that’s traditionally raw yet features a healthy dose underlying melodic elements. In anticipation of this release, “I Hail” is available for stream below.

cover

As evidenced below, influences can be tied back to black metal pioneers Enslaved and Bathory, among others. While perhaps not replicating any specific genre directly, Uburen has created a unique intensity around their brand of black metal that simultaneously pays tribute to the genre’s beginnings. Given what we have heard so far, there is plenty to look forward to come Halloween.

 Frå døden fødes liv will be available on October 31st through Via Nocturna and be purchased here. Additionally, the previously released track “I Become” is also available for streaming. For more information on Uburen, visit their official Facebook page.