majesties

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 273 (3.4.2023)

Chris1 Comment

playlist - mixtape

We’re creeping ever so close to the release of 72 Seasons, so why not launch this, the 273rd edition of the Nine Circles Playlist, with the latest from Metallica. “If Darkness Had a Son” continues the streak of heavy, catchy as hell songs, and I for one can’t wait for the full album. I’ve been thinking a lot a lately about what we like, and how our tastes are informed by so many things, and I’m slowly getting to the point (or age, most likely) where I don’t give a flying f-ck about what’s cool or hip in a “scene” predicated on gatekeeping in both directions – it’s a drag and bores me to tears. How about this? I’ll like the underground indie band pumping out new and interesting tunes just as much as I dig the major label big boys still keeping things interesting decades later. Deal?

What’s the rest of the staff listening to? Lots of new music from the likes of Aara, Legion of the Damned, Out of the Mouths of Graves, Enslaved, Dawn Ray’d, Henget, Isolant, and Liturgy, not to mention a lot more both new and old, metal, and well…not so metal.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week…

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– Chris

Album Review: Majesties — “Vast Reaches Unclaimed”

VincentLeave a comment

I am not shy of being vocal on and around this site about not liking melodic death metal. This, however, is not entirely the truth, and is an oversimplification of my larger feelings on the topic. You see, I do love a lot of melodic death metal…just next to nothing that the genre is putting out in recent years. Give me a little Jester Race or Slaughter of the Soul though, and I am very much in my happy place. The classic sound of melodic death metal’s early incarnations have so much soul and life in them compared to the kinds of overly dour, riffless fare modern melodeath bands seem content to carbon copy from one another ad nauseam. Enter Minnesota’s Majesties and their debut release Vast Reaches Unclaimed, which pulls directly from the lineage of those halcyon days of the subgenre’s beginnings to remind one and all what melodic death metal should be.

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Initial Descent: February 26 – March 4, 2023

JoshLeave a comment

Welcome back to another edition of “here’s a long list of new metal releases.” Or, Initial Descent as we know it. Anyway, this is the week that many have been anticipating since we’ve got new Enslaved so do that if it’s your thing. We’ve also got some rippin’ deathgrind from Maggot Crown, excellent swemelodeath from Majesties, and a devastating split between Full of Hell and Primitive Man. So yea, killer week of new releases. AND, we’ve got tons more so jump in and get some. See you here throughout the week.

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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 271 (2.18.2023)

ChrisLeave a comment

playlist - mixtape

Change of scenery this morning. I’m up in the mountains, dogs and kids running all over and a most excellent pair of headphones blasting the new Ulthar to block their cries. Oh, and of course some piping hot coffee to wash the previous night’s alcoholic excursions away. If you haven’t heard their double offering of albums the 271st edition of the Nine Circles Playlist will get you right, my friends. Most right (oh, and synergy: while you listen check out our review by the righteous and noble Ian here).

What else do we have on deck this week? How about brand new tracks from The Ocean and Frozen Soul? Or a complete ripper from Cattle Decapitation? Yeah…it’s a killer week and we also have tracks from the likes of Emperor, the great Caladan Brood (get new music out please!), Gorod, Rzen, Rotten Sound, Little Pig, Emma Ruth Rundle, Majesties, not to mention some killer prog from Circle, Teksti-TV 666 and King Crimson, as well as a whole lot more.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week…

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– Chris

Majesties’ Matthew, Carl, and Tanner on their new album “Vast Reaches Unclaimed” and much more!

opethbodomLeave a comment
Majesties

If anyone would‘ve hinted at Obsequiae and Inexorum combining forces in a new band, Majesties brand of 90s loving meloswedeath would not have been the first assumption. Yet, here we are on the eve of Vast Reaches Unclaimed and it’s an absolute beast of an album full of everything fans loved about that timeframe in melodic death metal. It’s almost as if these guys wrote the next chapter of the genre and the past twenty five years never happened. Buke recently sat down with Matthew Kirkwold (bass), Carl Skildum (guitars), and Tanner Anderson (guitars, vocals, drums) to get the lowdown on this new band and album, how it came to be, and so much more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy.

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