lykotonon

Best of 2022: Zyklonius’s List

ZykloniusLeave a comment
Best of 2022

Huzzah, good riddance to another weird year, not only on both personal and professional fronts which basically prevented me from engaging in music writing, but also in terms of metal itself. Weird in the sense that multiple previous EOY luminaries released albums that failed to resonate, while bands that had not clicked for me on earlier albums decided to surprise me. Amidst all the oddity, there was thankfully a degree of cosmic justice and continuing reliability, as old favorites released their best work to date while relative newcomers delivered on the promises and potential for greatness that were teased on their initial releases. Without further ado, here are my 15 favorite metal albums of 2022.

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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 254 (10.22.2022)

ChrisLeave a comment
playlist - mixtape

There are numbers, and there are numbers. For example, this is in fact the 254th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist, which I’ve been painstakingly assembling for you for almost exactly one year – since the 202nd edition, to be precise. But the real important number to consider is SIX. Because in six days my beloved Darkthrone will be releasing a new album. So even though we featured it in there Cantos this week you know we have to use “Caravan of Broken Ghosts” to kick things off with bang.

And though I could easily just continue filling the playlist with more Darkthrone, there’s a hell of a lot more out there to get you through the week, am I right? So how about some scuzzy Sabbath metal from Peth, some sax skronking stoner rock from Ecstatic Vision, and then some killer metal from Lykotonon, Ultar, -(16)-, Sarcator, Bonecarver, Atrocity, Boris, Sonja, and some older cuts from the likes of Thursday, Cloud Rat, and hell…even some Sisters of Mercy?

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

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– Chris

CANTO: Darkthrone, Lykotonon, Killswitch Engage, and More

CoreyLeave a comment

How come I seem to get sick after doing literally anything these days?

  • Wayfarer and Wake are touring together this December. Unfortunately, it’s only a handful of dates, none of which are need me, but take a look at the full schedule here. If you can get to this one, do it, and make me jealous.
  • Some of the same people, but a very different vibe. Lykotonon revealed a new track from Promethean Pathology, titled “The Primal Principle”. Give it a listen here. That album is out on November 25 through Profound Lore.
  • Killswitch Engage have announced three shows in late December to celebrate the holiday season, in New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts. They’ll be joined by Rivers of Nihil and Unearth, so this is going to be a good time. Get tickets here.
  • Aborted are about to hit the road with Lorna Shore, so let’s drop in their new single. Give “Infinite Terror” a listen here, their first single in partnership with Nuclear Blast.
  • Of course, it would be a mistake to not close with Darkthrone… lest I feel the wrath of Chris. So give “Caravan of Broken Ghosts” a listen immediately below. Astral Fortress is out on October 28 through Peaceville Records… which is a week from Friday. Damn.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb

CANTO: Lykotonon, Autopsy, City of Caterpillar, and More

CoreyLeave a comment

Tapering is my favorite part of training.

  • Tchornobog and Abyssal are releasing a split on November 25th through Lupus Lounge. Excepts of both tracks can be heard in this teaser, and pre-order details can be found here.
  • We’ve got new Autopsy coming at the end of the month, and today they unveiled a video for “Knife Slice Axe Chop” to get us ready. The official release date of Morbidity Triumphant is September 30th, and that will be available through Peaceville.
  • City of Caterpillar are releasing their first album in 20 years, Mystic Sisters, on September 30th through Relapse Records, and today they shared a studio video for “Paranormaladies”. Additionally, be sure to catch them on the road this coming November.
  • We’re going to close with a highlight from FITM. Lykotonon, the dark industrial project featuring members of Stormkeep, Blood Incantation, and Wayfarer, are releasing their debut full-length on November 25th. Promethean Pathology will be available through Profound Lore, and “That Which Stares In Kind” can be heard below.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb

CANTO: Fire In The Mountains, The Devil’s Trade, Benediction, and More

CoreyLeave a comment

Hurray! Festival news that is relevant to me!

  • And that, of course, refers to Fire In The Mountains. A new batch of bands was announced, including Yellow Eyes, Visigoth, Lykotonon, and more. The 2022 version of this festival is going to be absolutely massive. Tickets are available at this location.
  • Megadeth has named a bassist for the upcoming tour with Lamb of God, Trivium, and Hatebreed. James LoMenzo will be stepping in for that run of shows, after Megadeth parted ways with David Ellefson. Those dates start August 20th in Austin, Texas. Tickets are available here.
  • Canadian technical death metallers Deviant Process premiered a new song from Nurture, titled “The Hammer of Dogma”. That album is set for an October 15th release through Season of Mist.
  • I’m going to drop in a couple new videos today, one of which comes from Benediction. Here’s the new video for “Tear Off These Wings”, from their most recent album, Scriptures, which dropped last October through Nuclear Blast.
  • And lastly, The Devil’s Trade released a new live video for “Három Árva”, a track taken from last year’s The Call of the Iron Peak (Season of Mist). Give it a watch below. It’s awesome.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb