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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 207 (11.27.2021)

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playlist - mixtape

I have awakened from the deep slumber that can only come from a combination of massive post-Thanksgiving tryptophan dosing and an ill-timed COVID booster to bring you, the discerning public the 207th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist. And it comes on the birthday of the greatest guitarist to ever light his guitar on fire, so of course we have to open with some classic Hendrix.

Once you’ve picked yourself up after that blistering performance of “Killing Floor” we of course have some more the more extreme music for your ripe and eager ears. Prepare to have your mind expanded when you come to the realization that Troy Sanders should sing ALL the songs when Two Minutes to Late Night cover Metallica’s “Blackened.” Then Josh brings the heavy with cuts from Atræ Bilis with whom we just released a killer interview with, Diablation, and Hate. Vincent finally listens to Marriages featuring Emma Ruth Rundle after being reminded of their greatness on our latest AOTM podcast, and sprinkles in some vicious Yellow Eyes and Sun of the Sleepless as well. Anton has gone deep with Transcending Obscurity Records, laying his soul bare to the attack of both The Last of Lucy and Dischordia. Finally I wrap things up with some of the metal I’ve had on repeat lately, including the latest from post-metal crew Daxma, the newest single from supergroup Lock-Up now featuring both Tomas Lindberg and Kevin Sharp on vocals, and the classic trad metal of Tower.

I can’t believe next week is December. End of Year lists edge ever closer. See you next time, hopefully more awake than I am now!

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– Chris

Nine* Circles ov…What “Didn’t” Make My 2019 End of Year List (But Should Have)

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Best of 2019

* Hey it’s Thursday!  And it’s more than 9!  What else is new?  I hereby fully (don’t) apologize for the late entry that clearly doesn’t at all conform to the format.  Suck it….

I tried to keep my 2019 End of Year list(s) brief…I really did.  But like last year simply too much happens in the span of 365 days to limit advocating and championing the things one comes to love.  And I’m not talking about the release of records.  I’m speaking to the way we change and grow and mutate with every experience, the way what we hold dear or take comfort in stands as a totem or ward against the hate and pain of a world gone mad, a world that grinds away at our compassion, our love, and our fortitude to stand against it while maintaining the core of who we are.  Continue reading →

Best of 2017: Chris’s Honorable Mention List

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9C 2017 EOY Header Image

Hello there, online metal community.  How you holding up?  List fatigue setting in yet?  If so sorry: this is in no way going to help. My first year writing for Nine Circles resulted in listening to over 500 albums – I won’t even begin to pretend they all got a fair shake, but they all got at least one listen.  The sheer glut of music that passed through my ears was like an awakening, helping me to better understand what it was music did for me, what I needed it to do for me.  I found albums that mesmerized on first listen only to fade quickly, and albums I initially dismissed only to find their hooks in me months later, and it’s these surprise revelations that keep me listening, keep me writing, and keep me so engaged with this beast we call metal.

You’d think doing a Top 25 would be sufficient to cover all the bases, but it feels like it doesn’t even make a dent into the great music that sustained me over the course of the year.  And so, if you’ll indulge me, here’s an extra 15 albums that warrant honorable mention.  Think of them as #26-40 (hey, if Decibel can do it…), in any order you like, though they’re alphabetical below.  Let’s dig in…   Continue reading →

Profile: Jessica and Kelly of Daxma

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Daxma
Daxma

Taking their name from a ritual structure in the Zoroastrian religion used to dispose of the dead and comprised of members with backgrounds as varied as black metal, psychedelic and classical, Daxma have just released their debut full length The Head Which Becomes the Skull. And as expected from their pedigree, it’s a broad-stroke of genius that recalls the likes of SubRosa and Godspeed You! Black Emperor as much as it does some of doom’s heaviest hitters. Big shoes to fill indeed but this five-piece decidedly delivers and then some. The album is centered around the journey of one’s soul from birth to death and listening through these six songs there’s a definite arc to the nearly 50 minutes of emotional and stunningly immersive soundscapes. We recently had the opportunity to ask Jessica T. and Kelly D. our Profile questions so head inside to see what they had to say. Continue reading →

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 18 (11.20.2017)

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NINE-CIRCLES_LOGO-Light Background_SQUARE

Short work week ahead so that’s always a plus but we still have a few days to slog through to get there. And it’s Monday so hopefully you’re caffeinated and ready to roll. But if not we have the perfect playlist consisting of all the stuff we jammed on last week to help you get the proverbial juices flowing and see you through the day. We hope you dig it and as usual you can subscribe to our YouTube channel here to get a jump on what we do the minute it happens. Instant gratification at its finest. Anyway, head inside and hit the play button… Continue reading →