messa – Nine Circles

Donuts & CANTO: Mélancolia, Dawn of Ouroboros, Messa, and More

March 11, 2023March 11, 2023CoreyLeave a comment

Once again, beer got in the way of clearing the inbox on a Friday night. So Saturday morning it is!

Let’s start off with some blackened deathcore. Mélancolia announced their debut album, HissThroughRottenTeeth, which is scheduled for an April 21 release through Greyscale Records and Nuclear Blast Records. Give “[Inure]” a listen here.
Next, we’ll jump over to Killing Joke. They released a brand new single, “Full Spectrum Dominance”, which comes in celebration of their sold out headlining show at Royal Albert Hall on March 12. That’s available through Spinefarm, and can be heard here.
Italian doom metal collective Messa are releasing their 2022 Roadburn performance, Messa – Live at Roadburn, on April 28 through Svart Records. Pre-order that on your preferred format here.
Holy shit, it’s Winger! To celebrate 35 years, they’re releasing Seven on May 5. Their first new release since 2014 can be pre-ordered here, and be sure to check out “Proud Desperado” while you’re at it.
We’ll wrap up with the latest from Dawn of Ouroboros, “Velvet Moon”, the video of which can be found below. That’s taken from Velvet Incandescence, out on April 21 through Prosthetic Records.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb

Best of 2022: Angela’s List

January 3, 2023January 2, 2023Angela Block1 Comment

How is 2022 already gone? I think we are all still processing 2020—I know I am—but here we are embarking on a new year with new albums to enjoy and discuss. Before we move ahead, let’s take a look back at some impactful albums from this past year. I have posted my list of honorable mentions which is ultimately an extension of this list (check that out here) and am now here with my Nine Circles Top Nine (™ ™ ™). These albums accompanied me on many nature walks, commutes, and game nights. They served as background music while I cooked, cleaned, created, and worked at my day job. Needless to say, they have stuck with me throughout the year and resonated with me in big ways.

This is my 2022 soundtrack. I hope you enjoy it and also check out my colleague’s lists here as we all have diverse tastes and stellar albums to gush about.

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Album Review: Messa — “Close”

March 14, 2022March 13, 2022Angela Block2 Comments

Fans have waited four long years for a new release from experimental doom act, Messa, and the band’s latest release, Close, is well worth the wait. It does not disappoint as it is an elevated offering that dives into new instrumentation and techniques while expanding on the band’s already established unique sound. Messa started out as a progressive doom band before evolving to incorporate various influences including jazz, blues, sludge, black metal, and dark ambience. Close brings together all these elements while also adding cultural inspirations and instruments. In addition to the uniqueness of style and sound, the production is clean and crisp helping listeners unearth each new piece while flowing brilliantly from movement to movement.

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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 222 (3.12.2022)

March 12, 2022March 12, 2022ChrisLeave a comment

Weird random though for the morning: although we’re often nostalgic for things from our youth, sometimes the things from our youth are not things from our youth, you catch me? I don’t know; I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. Maybe it’s the music, so many new albums coming out that capture so succinctly the signatures of the sounds that came before it (*cough* Ghost) I’m caught in a revelry of the past. Don’t fear, though: I won’t let it influence the 222nd edition of the Nine Circles Playlist too much…

…but I will a little, kicking it off with a certain massive popular band who finally went all in on the hard rock/pomp of the 80s (*cough* Ghost). But man, if you haven’t also heard the latest from Drug Church get thee to a computer and rectify that post-haste. Hits the 90s indie hardcore rock so good, and they’re from my old stomping grounds of Albany, NY to boot. Elsewhere Anton brings up Siberia, Vital Spirit, and Autarkh III to get the nasty flowing. Vincent continues to champion site favorite Absent in Body and throws in some new music from Devil Master and Egregore as well as Bootblacks. Josh takes a break from his non-stop listening of Impera to get down with the OTHER site favorite Zeal & Ardor but also manages to make room for Corpsessed, King Dude, and a pair of outlaw country tunes, including the latest from Paul Cauthen. Buke can always be counted on with some choice classic cuts, and he does not fail this week, serving up some vintage KISS and Rainbow, but also hits with new cuts from Rammstein and Deathwhite (there’s some Anvil in there, too). And Angela comes in to remind that if the first quarter of 2022 was already stacked tooth gills with great music, we just got the new Messa, a new single from Conjurer, and the latest from Chelsea Wolfe.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

—

– Chris

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 220 (2.26.2022)

February 26, 2022February 26, 2022ChrisLeave a comment

Say goodbye, February. I wish I could say goodbye to the panic, the anxiety, and the fear as well, but tyrants are gonna tyrant, I guess. At least there’s music to keep us from falling over the brink, so let’s just jump into the 220th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist, and do what we can to stay informed, stay sane, and make what small differences we can to make this planet better for everyone.

I’m framing the playlist out with some Scatterbrain, because that describes my mental state at the moment and quite frankly it’s the music I needed to lighten the mood up. Anton brings in Ernia, Mass Worship, and Playgrounded. Josh mixes it up with Analepsy, Atoll, Black Flag and some vintage Dokken, among others. Vincent continues falling for Mitski and toe, but also rages with Worm and the new Falls of Rauros. Angela features the latest from Messa, Celeste, and Trna as well as a banger from Oathbreaker. And Buke? Buke goes with the latest from Spirit Adrift and Evil Invaders, but then hits the wayback button for some Candlemass, Dark Angel, Mercyful Fate, and Megadeth.