mastodon – Nine Circles

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 322 (2.10.2024)

February 10, 2024February 9, 2024ChrisLeave a comment

If I wanted to, I could probably name at least four records released in the first five week of 2024 that stand a very, very good chance of making my end of year list. What I’m getting at is I guess the year is off to a great start, what with new music from an invigorated Exhorder, a new single from In Flames, and my love for the debut album by Mean Mistreater. And damn if the first single from Kerry King and his post Slayer gig doesn’t bring the goods! Mark Osegueda sounds like Tom Ararya possessed in the best possible way.

And that’s just the kickoff to the 322nd edition of the Nine Circles Playlist. You see what I did there, using kickoff to play into this is Super Bowl weekend? I know…classic.

There’s plenty more where that came from…the rest of the staff brought the blitz (I know…I kill me!) with new music from Necrot and Borknagar; an alternate version of a new Enslaved track; some dirty DIY black metal from Keys to the Steal Gate and Mystic Doors; some anguish-gaze from State Faults and some classic Mastodon wedged in between more surprises. Oh, and did I maybe put a killer live Black Sabbath performance at the end of the playlist? Maybe????

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

—

– Chris

CANTO: Lamb of God, Mastodon, Borknagar, and More

February 6, 2024February 6, 2024CoreyLeave a comment

Tours and tours and tours and tours and tours and tours and tours and…

It would be foolish to not lead off with the Lamb of God and Mastodon announcement. For the 20th anniversaries of Ashes of the Wake and Leviathan, you’ll be able to see them BOTH performed in full… with Kerry King, Malevolence, and Unearth supporting on select dates. Get the full scoop here.
Dethklok confirmed a run of shows that covers most of April and into early May. DragonForce and Nekrogoblikon are part of that tour as well, and ticket options are available here.
Metalcore progressives Erra shared a pretty extensive tour. Starting April 23 in Philadelphia, the party runs through the first couple of days in June, wrapping up in NYC. Tickets go on sale Friday and can be acquired here.
Ok. One more and then I’m moving onto something else. Nite still isn’t coming anywhere near me, but I swear I’m going to manifest it into existence. For now, however, catch them on the move around their performance at Hell’s Heroes in late March.
Faroe Islands-based Viking metal crew Týr are releasing Battle Ballads on April 12 through Metal Blade. Give “Axes” a listen here. As expected, it’s a good time.
We’ll close out with the new Borknagar track and video, “Moon”. That, of course, is taken from their upcoming new album Fall, which is out on February 23 through Century Media.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 307 (10.28.2023)

October 28, 2023October 28, 2023ChrisLeave a comment

Prog nerds the world over are still reeling from the news that Mike Portnoy has rejoined Dream Theater. Don’t tell me you’re not; I can hear your minds scramble in 7/8 time with keyboards arpeggiating like mad. So let’s pour one out for Mike Mangini by putting the first single for his forthcoming solo album up front for the 307th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist, along with a few other progressive rock projects like Southern Empire and – slightly heavier – Immortal Guardian that have kept my senses properly scrambled this past week.

Now that the noodling is out of the way, the rest of the staff has you covered with the heavy. We’ve got Fathomless Ritual, a new cover from Imperial Triumphant, new cuts from Body Void, Sepulchral Curse, Vastum, and a lot more surprises. And since we’re in the crosshairs of the wicked holiday, we’re wrapping up with a TON of Halloween tracks from your favorite spooky bands, concluding with a killer live cut of Helloween’s united lineup covering their classic for the masses.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

—

– Chris

Concert Review: The Mega-Monsters Tour, 8.19.2023

September 7, 2023September 6, 2023CoreyLeave a comment

Yep, I called it in my coverage of the Katatonia show with The Ocean back in November… it took way too long for me to get to my first show in 2023. That’s part of the tradeoff that comes with moving to the mountains, I’m aware. But the good news is that The Mega-Monsters Tour stop in Portland, Maine was most definitely worth the wait. Gojira and Mastodon brought along Lorna Shore for this run, a lineup that I simply wasn’t going to miss. Mastodon and Lorna Shore only went ahead and released two of my favorite albums in recent years, while Gojira’s live show has been can’t-miss stuff for a ridiculously long time. So yeah, collectively this proved to be quite the three-headed monster of a show. Pun very much intended. Let’s dive into it.

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CANTO: Cloak, Lorna Shore, Nuclear Power Trio, and More

August 3, 2023August 3, 2023CoreyLeave a comment

One more day until the next adventure.

Black Flame Eternal is incredible, and if you’ve enjoyed the new stuff from Cloak as much as I have, I’m happy to share that they’re bookending their tour with Uada and Ghost Bath with some solo performances. Granted, I can’t make any of them. But if you can… well then I’m jealous.
Nuclear Power Trio released a video for “Critical Bass Theory”, fresh off of Wet Ass Plutonium, their sophomore effort. Give that a watch here, and be sure to scoop up the record through Metal Blade.
Finsterforst dropped the second track from their upcoming mini album. Jenseits is out on September 8 through AOP Records, and you can check out “Kapitel II: Dualität” here.
Sheer Mag have signed on with Third Man Records and are re-releasing their entire back catalogue on October 27. Give the video for the latest single, “All Lined Up”, right here.
Lorna Shore are celebrating two years of the …And I Return to Nothingness EP with a video for “Of The Abyss”, and that’s how we’re going to close out our Thursday. Give it a watch below. Their tour with Mastodon and Gojira kicks off soon… and I’m going to be at that one!