heads for the dead

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 260 (12.3.2022)

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playlist - mixtape

Look, you know me and my old-school love by now. Would anything other than the new Metallica going to kick off this, the 260th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist? “Lux Æterna” sounds like a band enjoying themselves, playing a lost cover from the past as part of their Garage Days series and I for one am here for it. Plus hot off the presses another killer track from the forthcoming Katatonia? 2023 can’t get here fast enough.

Elsewhere the 9C gang brought it home with some truly neck-breaking metal, including Meristem, Confined and Ultimatum from Josh as well as Panopticon, Pianos Become the Teeth, Pyrithe and – breaking the “P” streak – City of Caterpillar from Vincent. New Guy™ Colin brings the heavy with Moribund Dawn, Anaal Nathrakh, and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard in firm metal mode, while Slightly Older New Guy™ Dan hits us with Heads for the Dead, Boris, Chrome, and Black Dresses. Angela invites you to get dark with Gavran, Chelsea Wolfe and The New Values while in a twist, Anton brings up the rear guard with a pair of killers: Turbid North and Ketha.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

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– Chris

Second Circle: Heads for the Dead and Trial

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Heads For The Dead - III The Great Conjuration
Trial - Feed The Fire

In Dante’s Inferno, the second circle begins the proper punishment of Hell, a place where “no thing gleams.” It is reserved for those overcome with Lust, where carnal appetites hold sway over reason. In Nine Circles, it’s where we do shorter reviews of new (ish) albums that share a common theme.

It’s no secret we have a weird way of writing here at Nine Circles. I’ve been spouting nonsense here since…shudder…2016 and still the primary way I learn about music is by texting Fearless Editor Josh™ along the lines of “hey, what’s coming out that you think I’d like?” Because while I can barely keep up with the bands I love, Josh keeps up with EVERYTHING. I have yet to surprise him with a new band where he hasn’t gone “Oh yeah, I checked out the single it’s great!” So this week when I had a blank schedule for the site and asked what I should be listening to, Josh immediately shot back the latest releases from Heads for the Dead and Trial.

When the Boss lays down the law, you listen. So let’s dig in.

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Initial Descent: August 28 – September 3, 2022

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Megadeth

Chris mentioned this, and linked it, in Saturday’s playlist BUT if you missed the full documentary of Mastodon’s Hushed and Grim, rectify that post haste. Now, for new metal: opinions wildly vary on Megadeth and Dave Mustaine and that’s fine, you do you, but from what we’ve heard of the first three tracks off their 16th album, this is the best they’ve sounded since their album count was in single digits, here’s hoping the rest holds up. Then we’ve got some sick and nasty death metal from Heads For The Dead, flag flying old school heavy metal from Trial, hard charging power metal from Blind Guardian, and, as always, a ton more in the list that follows. Dig your heels in on all of these and we’ll be seeing you here throughout the week.

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Initial Descent: October 31 – November 6, 2021

JoshLeave a comment
Sarke

Weather has turned a bit cool…and I don’t like it. Yea, yea, I know; that’s what fall and winter brings but I’m #teamold and hate cold weather so there’s that. If any of you do seasonal music listening at all, our lead off album for this week’s new releases is from Sarke and sits perfectly balanced between bitter black metal and melodically dark rock, and as expected, it’s really good…and cold…and grim. Following that is a devastating gut punch from Churchburn, a down and dirty old school death return from Outre-Tombe, a quick but raucously fun death romp from Heads For The Dead, and a seriously looooong list that follows. Seems tons of bands were trying to get that Halloween release in or at least close to Halloween. Anyway, tons to dig into here so jump in, enjoy, and we’ll see you around these parts through the week.

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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 203 (10.30.2021)

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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.

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– Chris