ecferus

Initial Descent: July 15, 2016

DanLeave a comment
blood red throne band
Blood Red Throne

Halfway through July, and we’ve got another busy week of new metal releases for you cretins. For starters, Norwegian deathsters Blood Red Throne return with Union of Flesh and Machine, their seventh album in the last 13 years. (Can’t fault a band for being steady!) We’ve also got Stranger to Violence from Psalm Zero — the Queens outfit’s final release with recently-dismissed guitarist Andrew Hock.

Beyond that, North Carolina’s MAKE return with Pilgrimage of Loathing less than a year removed from their previous album, The Golden Veil. Plus, new stuff from Caïna, Ecferus and more. So let’s dive in and take a listen. Here’s what’s we’ve got this week:
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Profile: Luciano of I, Voidhanger records.

Manny-O-WarLeave a comment

 

i voidhanger recordsThere’s no denying that I, Voidhanger is one of the labels that critics and fans alike have to stop and recognize at this point. With a roster that includes Ecferus, Howls of Ebb, Spectral Lore, Voidcraeft, Skáphe and Dissvarth (to name a few) the label is poised to have a breakout season. With the Italian metal scene exploding lately, we here at Nine Circles wanted to know more about the mysterious Italian man behind this international label. Thus, we sat down with Luciano and banged out short profile for you get familiar. Continue reading →

Best of Q1: Dustin’s List

OldThunderKYLeave a comment

9_headerThe releases for any genre that come out in the first quarter of a given year are what usually set the precedent for the remaining nine months of music to be consumed. If a bunch of mediocre albums come out, the bar for quality (and expectations) is set low, and listeners won’t expect to be wowed anytime soon. But if solid albums come out within a year’s first quarter, we at least have the anticipation of more solid albums down the pike. As fortune would have it, the first quarter of 2016 has been stacked with great releases from both major label artists and those who are just now crossing our collective radar.   Continue reading →

Nine Circles Ov… February 2016

Manny-O-War1 Comment
Photo courtesy of our Dæmoness of Design, Jaci Raia. For more of her beautiful work follow her on Instagram.

It’s not just rumor that I listen to an asinine amount of music. Previewing almost every single promotional album that comes through the door fits in with my obsessive personality. February 2016 really tested me. No less than one hundred and forty-two albums came through our rotating doors. And one hundred and forty-two is the number of albums I clicked play on to test them and suggest for review. So I’m a bit tired in an auditory sense. But I digress. In today’s post we will run through a bunch of larger releases that I hope no one missed and then feature nine smaller releases that are top notch. February was a great month. And another sign that 2016 is headed in very much the right direction. Continue reading →

Album Review: Ecferus – “Pangaea”

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Ecferus - Pangaea

On Pangaea, Ecferus‘ second full length, the band uses adventurous black metal as a narrative to tell the story of planets, destruction and war. Through the use of varying tempo changes and, at times, suffocating atmospheres, the album plays out like a centuries old story passed down through the ages. It’s at times hopeful and others hopeless as the listener can only stand idly by and listen to the anger of the gods manifest itself. Much like the band’s debut Prehistory, creativity and imagination make for an enthralling listen that strays from black metal’s usual tropes. Continue reading →