hate eternal – Nine Circles

Best of 2018: Josh’s List

December 28, 2018December 28, 2018JoshLeave a comment

EOY 2018 Header 9C

I had a plan in January. The same plan I have every January: to only document the albums that strike a major chord in one way or another. Yet, here we sit in December and I’m debating on at least one or two of my locked list and mourning those who fell off. Don’t take ‘fell off’ as a knock either. It simply means there was no shortage of amazing albums this year and well, I just enjoy the torture of whittling away on my favorites (not).

I’ve spoken at length about how important music is for life in general and how important it is for me as someone that had a finger on the play button for nearly all 8,760 hours that made up this year. EOY lists, I love them – always have and always will. It’s a chance to purge all the best and move on to yet another cycle into the unknown. Fire walk with me through the albums that hit home the hardest… Continue reading →

Album Review: Hate Eternal – “Upon Desolate Sands”

October 24, 2018October 22, 2018Josh2 Comments

Hate Eternal - Upon Desolate Sands

Splayed across six full lengths, Hate Eternal have more than proven their spot high atop the mountain of thinking man’s death metal (hell, who am I kidding – their debut Conquering the Throne did that on its own). It’s not overly anything; technical but with a point, brutal but not without a reason to be, and energetic at ALL times. On their seventh effort, Upon Desolate Sands, the only thing that’s different is a peak into slower melodies which – no surprise here – Rutan and Co. rule with an iron fist. Don’t mistake that for ‘lax’ or ‘pulling back’ because that simply isn’t in this band’s wheelhouse. It is just their way of progressing within their own sound and it damn well works like a champ. Continue reading →

Initial Descent: October 21 – 27, 2018

October 22, 2018December 1, 2018JoshLeave a comment

My weekend festivities consisted of healthy doses of horror and metal, as it should. How many of you caught the new Halloween? I thought they did a great job with it and the fact that they packed it with stuff for fans of the original was a definite plus. And I’ll leave it at that in case you haven’t seen it yet. As for the metal, read on to see what’s in store this week…

Hate Eternal are back with their seventh full length of wildly technical but oh so good death metal on Upon Desolate Sands – I’m not calling it a triumph over Infernus yet but Rutan and co. kill it as usual. No matter what camp of Bloodbath you frequent the most, their fifth full length The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn offers enough horror fueled Swedeath for any and all parties, I dig it. Norway’s Sjukdom keep it frosty with 90s style black metal but offer just enough melodicism to trip my trigger on Stridshymmer Og Dodssalmer and Oregon’s Megaton Leviathan turn the psychedelic drone of Mage into an entrancing ritual which makes it a worthy successor to their stunning Past 21: Beyond the Arctic Cell.

AND there is much, much more to sink your teeth into so get in there… Continue reading →

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 51 (8.25.2018)

August 25, 2018August 24, 2018JoshLeave a comment

playlist - mixtape

We skipped a week, again. Because things. But we’re back and man, I’m still loving that new art up there. It’s the little things in life that brings joy these days. Anyway, these playlists are sort of like Initial Descent in a way, you might find a song you haven’t heard or a new artist you had no idea about OR you simply use this to pass the time while mowing the lawn or kicking a can. No idea what you do with it but use as you wish. This week we’ve got picks from all over the place: some new some old and some bl…wait. Seriously, it’s another solid bunch that we’ve been jamming since Vol. 50 and it’s long enough to run through a twelve pack, or three, so score. One last thing: I know all of you understand the concept of a comment section so listen to this thing and offer up some picks you would’ve included. Or not, choice is yours.

Either way, have a great rest of the weekend.

—

– Josh

CANTO: Monte Pittman, Cannibal Corpse, Trappist, and More

July 17, 2018July 17, 2018CoreyLeave a comment

cannibal-corpse-band-2012

Me can Canto also?

Monte Pittman has announced a run of US shows with Sebastian Bach. So if you’re into that… go to that?
Cannibal Corpse… also making moves! November (and some December dates) with Hate Eternal and Harms Way. Large.
In my desperation to find news that isn’t a tour, here’s Corey Taylor being one of my favorite humans ever.
Here’s a video from beer-themed hardcore outfit Trappist. You know, those people that also make beer. Awesome, right? Track is called “Victims of a Bomber Raid”. Enjoy.