darkthrone – Nine Circles

Album Review: Darkthrone — “It Beckons Us All”

May 2, 2024April 30, 2024ChrisLeave a comment

Okay, right up front there’s stuff we need to get out of the way: of course I love It Beckons Us All, the latest slab of unadulterated, 100% pure Grade-A metal from the legendary, the colossal, the towering behemoths that are individually Fenriz and Nocturno Culto (aka Ted), and collectively known as Darkthrone. This should not come as a surprise – I love every Darkthrone album. Okay, so right off the bat you’re now warned: there’s little to no objectivity to this review. But as I’ve said over and over again during the eight years I’ve been writing for the site, when do any of these reviews have any objectivity? With the air now clear, let’s dive in and see why I love this album so much. Deal?

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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 333 (4.27.2024)

April 27, 2024April 26, 2024JoshLeave a comment

Happy frickin’ Saturday and welcome to the 333rd edition of our weekly mixtape, aka The Nine Circles Playlist. It’s been an insane few weeks release wise so between that and the nearly infinite possibilities of music picks we’ve got a killer playlist for you here this week. I kick things off with 200 Stab Wounds because…hell yea and an acoustic version of a favorite Periphery song of mine. Spoiler here: I do miss Matt Halpern’s presence behind the kit but this track still rules. Elsewhere, our esteemed team of 9C writers have their own favorites to share which include cuts from Hail Spirit Noir, Alcest, YOB, Zeal and Ardor, Zelenaya, Darkthrone, and a ton more.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week. Oh, Chris will probably be back next week. He’s off doing metal stuff in case you were wondering.

—

— Josh

CANTO: Tomb Mold, Horrendous, Darkthrone, and More

April 25, 2024April 25, 2024CoreyLeave a comment

Today was one of those days I will not be reflecting positively moving forward.

Add this tour to your plans immediately. Tomb Mold and Horrendous are teaming up for a run in July. In case you missed it, they both released albums that ended up among our 2023 favorites. So yeah. Can’t miss that one. Tickets go on sale Friday.
Darkthrone gave us another taste from It Beckons Us All in the form of a lyric video for “The Bird People Of Nordland”. Somehow that release date is already upon us (well, tomorrow), so go grab it through Peaceville.
Modern metallers Ad Infinitum surprised us with a new track and video today, titled “Outer Space”. They’re touring North America for the first time alongside Kamelot.
Extortionist, who are also on tour for the next month or so, released a new track as well. Check out “When It All Goes Dark”, a single taken from Devoid Of Love & Light. That album drops May 17 through Unique Leader.
And we’ll close out with new Hammerfall. Check out the video for “Hail To The King” below, the first single taken from the upcoming new album Avenge The Fallen. Their 13th studio album arrives on August 9 through Nuclear Blast.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb

Initial Descent: April 21 – 27, 2024

April 22, 2024April 20, 2024JoshLeave a comment

I’m back, back in the New Yo… finish that lyric and tell me who it is. But yea, I’m baaaack and I know you missed me. What? No? Fine. FINE. Kidding of course, but anyway, damn what a few week stretch here of new releases! Holy shitballs! And this week is no exception with a new one from Darkthrone (this makes Chris veeeeery happy), new deathgrind from ACxDC, new stompin’ death metal from Tombstoner, and new extreme from Full of Hell. And there’s more, a TON more so dig in and enjoy all this week has to offer. Don’t forget about that new Whores album that dropped, I guarantee you’ll be seeing that one come up here in these pages several times throughout the year. I could go on and on with stuff that dropped just in April but I won’t and will instead let you get busy here. DO IT.

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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 331 (4.13.2024)

April 13, 2024April 12, 2024ChrisLeave a comment

We’re back, post-total eclipse of the ~~heart~~ sun and I’ve been riding a cloud of hellfire since Darkthrone finally released their first single off new album It Beckons Us All coming in just a few short weeks. If nothing else I’m super impressed by Mark Osegueda’s roar on the new Kerry King track (which, yeah…sounds like a LOT like latter day Slayer, but what did you expect?) and this new single track Lascaille’s Shroud album is kicking my ass in the best possible way, and now the 331st edition of the Nine Circles Playlist will kick your ass, too.

The rest of the 9C staff have carefully selected a handful of sharpened metal shards sure to pierce your eardrums in the best way, including tracks from the forthcoming Thou (finally!), Devenial Verdict, Infestus, Ulcerate and Blaze of Perdition; classic cuts from Yob and Devin Townsend; new Within Temptation and Ou (featuring Devi on vocals and production), and even some Willie Nelson (with Orville Peck).