metallica – Nine Circles

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 279 (4.15.2023)

April 15, 2023April 15, 2023ChrisLeave a comment

Italian wake last night. Imagine the stereotype, then add legit anguish and cover it in the stifling scent of too many flowers and cologne. Leaving for the burial today, and thank god it was such a killer week for new metal. I’m kicking this off with the new releases that have kept the last 24 hours bearable, including Overkill, VoidCeremony, Metallica, Jesus Piece and Stillbirth – all of which came out this past Friday.

From there the 279th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist has your back with the staff picks: new music from Dødheimsgard, Thantifaxath, Fen, Aodon, Lunar Chamber, Pupil Slicer, and a whole lot more. But I gotta get out of here so the only way you’ll know is to dig in and find out for yourselves.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week…

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– Chris

Initial Descent: April 9 – 15, 2023

April 10, 2023April 7, 2023JoshLeave a comment

Here’s the thing: if you’re a band seeking coverage for an upcoming album, the worst thing you can do is go on a site’s socials and leave a shitty comment / get your panties in a wad / be a dumbass about an album review from another band. Pro tip: don’t be that dumbass. Got it?! Alright then… Metallica are BACK, in rare form, and we’re damn excited about it. But, if you’re not as excited as we are, there’s several more excellent choices this week starting with the always wild and eccentric Dødheimsgard, Out of the Mouth of Graves scratch that death metal itch, and All Hell goes all out on a quick blast of blackened thrash. As always though, there’s many more in the list below so get to digging and see you here throughout the week.

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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 277 (4.01.2023)

April 1, 2023March 31, 2023ChrisLeave a comment

I toyed with the idea of just making this the 277th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist a Rick Roll and leave it at that, but damn if Metallica didn’t release their fourth single (and the title track) to the forthcoming 72 Seasons so we’ll just keep on keeping’ on, and give you some of the blasted tunes we’ve been spinning the past week. I’ve had the new remastered vinyl of Cave In’s Until Your Heart Stops on repeat ever since it hit the house (thank you Josh!) so we’re throwing that in as well as a track from the new Sermon, which is really scratching the Ulver/Junius itch I’ve been feeling lately.

Elsewhere the crew has you covered with all manner of blasphemous hymns. We’ve got new tracks from Calligram and Henget, killer cuts from The Hanging Garden, VOLA, and Kontinuum, not to mention some blasting heaviness from a resurgent Cloak, a revamped Nervosa, the nu-groove of OTTTO and the welcome return of Allfather. But wait! There’s also Soundgarden, Blaze of Sorrow, Arcturus, and a final dose of the metal from the likes of Gorguts, Sigh, and more. And since we welcome closure here, why not another dose of classic Metallica to close things off, huh?

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week…

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– Chris

Donuts & CANTO: Scar Symmetry, Wytch Hazel, Metallica, and More

April 1, 2023March 31, 2023CoreyLeave a comment

I think this is the new routine?

Wytch Hazel are dropping a new album on June 2 through Bad Omen Records, which will be titled IV: Sacrament. Check out the video for “Angel of Light” here.
So this was a Thursday thing I listened to like 100 times and didn’t actually share. Yo, the title-track from 72 Seasons is amazing. Which means everything we’ve heard from the new Metallica album has been amazing so far. Anyway. That album drops on April 14. Get ready.
Venom Inc. announced some new live dates. They’re in the U.S. with Exhumed, Acid Witch, Enforced, and Wormwitch this coming June and July. The schedule can be found here, and yes let’s hope there are dates added over on this side of the country.
Lordi on a Saturday just feels right. Here’s the video for “Dead Again Jayne”. Scream Writers Guild dropped today (well, yesterday… I’m bad at this) through Atomic Fire.
I can’t believe it’s been nine years since the last Scar Symmetry album. So on that note, The Singularity (Phase II – Xenotaph) is set for a June 9 release through Nuclear Blast, and the video for “Scorched Quadrant” is available below. Let’s do it.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 273 (3.4.2023)

March 4, 2023March 4, 2023Chris1 Comment

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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