horrendous

Best of 2023: Josh’s List

Josh1 Comment
Best of 2023

Once more around a year we’ve travelled. Pending your vantage point on 2023 it was either good or it sucked, there wasn’t much, if any, middle ground. Things are…well…out of control on all sorts of levels, those same things are spiraling so far that I’m not sure we’ll ever get them back to any kind of norm, and…need I go on? Obviously not since we’re all in this together. “So how then would it have been a ‘great’ year?” you ask. By focusing inward on you and yours and disappear into it. I did that—still doing it—and it was, and is, damn tremendous. I’m in the best shape of my life in nearly all aspects and had a killer soundtrack to go with it. Ah yes, and there it is…the reason we’re here: the best of MY 2023 in metal. Let’s jump ahead shall we…

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Best of 2023: Ian’s Honorable Mentions

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Best of 2023

Finally time for me to literally face the music, albeit in the best way possible. I always love this time of year, and as much as writing all the lists I do fills me with task-avoidance, I do look forward to looking backward. This year was an awful lot of peak highs and unfathomable lows, but, unlike years past, a lot of positive change has taken place at the end of it all, and I feel like that has colored my tastes a little bit. It was harder than ever to pick out the things I liked best this year because I didn’t fall back on a few select comfort albums to get me through the rough times. I kept myself moving, and that helped me take in and appreciate a wider variety of music than I normally do. I also, as usual, got the chance to review a LOT of awesome music that I was already looking forward to anyway, so you’re going to see a lot of my own reviews pop up in this and future lists. Sorry, not sorry. That’s just the perks of the job. Anyway, without further ado, let’s dive into the first of several attempts at bringing 2023 to a close…

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CANTO: Horrendous, Mercyful Fate, Autopsy, and More

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This might have been the most Monday Monday ever.

  • This news came Friday, but I’m still sharing it now. Horrendous have announced a small handful of album release shows around Ontological Mysterium between December 27 and January 14. That album, by the way, is incredible. And it’s out now through Season of Mist.
  • In honor of the album’s 40th anniversary, Mercyful Fate released a 2005 remastered version of Melissa digitally for the first time, available through Metal Blade. There’s also some sweet new themed merch if you’re interested.
  • Siiickbrain dropped a new single and video at the end of last week, titled “Psychopath”. That track is taken from the upcoming new album My Masochistic Mind, which is out on December 1 through Lowly Records.
  • Alice Cooper shared a new video from Road, for “Dead Don’t Dance”. That album was an August release through earMusic. Shit, I haven’t listened to that one yet…
  • Anyway, gonna close out with more gory spooky season content. Check out the video from Autopsy for “Rabid Funeral” below. Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts dropped last Friday through Peaceville Records. Pick it up here.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 300 (9.9.2023)

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playlist - mixtape


“I AM SPARTA!”

300, baby. We’ve done 300 editions of the Nine Circles Playlist, and I’m stoked that it falls right when we get a new single from the forthcoming Howling Giant album. Releases have been fast and furious, and the amount of killer music coming as 2023 begins to wind down is mind-boggling. So let’s jump into what this week has to offer.

It’s no secret I have heavy stoner rock and metal, so it’s keen to see Domkraft is back and just as heavy as ever. This week also brings new music from Cryptopsy, Prong, Autarkh, Weald and Woe, and Wayfarer, as well as tracks as disparate as The Gathering, Boltcutter, A Pregnant Light, Venetian Snares and more. Hell, we even got Imperial Triumphant covering Rush!

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

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– Chris

The Nine Circles Audio Thing: Horrendous was August 2023’s Album of the Month!

ninecirclesadmin3 Comments
Horrendous - Ontological Mysterium

Hey, for once we’re not suuuuper late with this thing OR having to double up on picks in the same episode. Anyway, for our Album of the Month pick for August it was nearly an overwhelming victory for Ontological Mysterium from one of death metal’s brightest stars, Horrendous. And even still, some of us were there in spirit while Colin, Angela, Ian, Vince, Dan M, and Hera discussed this beast with Buke once again helming the festivities. In case you forgot how this works: each member gets a turn to discuss, Buke then asks for final thoughts, then the gang moves into everything else that tripped their triggers in August. Buke was recovering from a nasty bout of the ‘rona so he actually sounds, at times, like a death metal vocalist so there’s that. Fun was had by all as the convo went literally all over the place so grab a comfy seat, your preferred beverage, and enjoy.

P.S.: don‘t miss our interview with Damian Herring and Alex Kulick!

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