Sometimes it takes something simple like, say…bullshitting with your friends over (virtual) drinks about a record to reignite your passion for something. Since starting these Album RAMBLES I’ve been listening to more metal than I have in ages, and In Flames in particular, so since I’m still so hot on new album Forgone we’re gonna bookend the 270th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist with the two parts of the title track.
But that’s not all (it never is, is it?): we’ve got some classic All Out War and Turbonegro (we don’t talk enough about Turbonegro) and then the walls come down with new cuts from Dawn of Ouroboros, Wallowing, Dying Fetus, Distant, Torn in Half, Insomnium, Stormo, Blaze of Sorrow, some old and cold Sacramentum, and more. We’ve also sprinkled in some lighter fare with cuts from Elliot Smith, Channing Wilson and midwife to give your nerves a small break.
Holy shit…we’re already a quarter of the way through the year? Are you kidding me!?!? It’s funny how time plays tricks on you: it feels like the year just kicked off, but as the same time it feels like it’s been an eternity since the world was normal (if it ever was). Last night for the first time in over two and half years I went to a show and it…was…okay? I don’t think I’ll ever be completely comfortable being packed like cattle in a too-hot room with hundred of other sweaty bacteria-laden bodies, but man was it great to catch that vibe of live performance again. So you’ll forgive me if I open the 224th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist with some tunes that speak to the heart of my comeback concert.
Don’t worry, though: I think the rest of the 9C gang has the metal covered for you. Josh is first out of the gate this week with the newest from Jungle Rot, and some killer music from Enslaved, Stabbing, Thou, and a slick mashup I won’t spoil. Anton brings the new brutal with a terrifying video from Cult Burial, Katharos XIII, and the latest from Ufomammut. Vincent sticks to more sedate waters with more Orville Peck and Midwife, but throws in som vintage Depeche Mode and than some nasty death with Hath. I don’t like playing favorites (except when it’s Buke) but Angela has fast been proving to be a veritable fountain of great recommendations, and this week she brings it with NOÊTA, Chalk Hands, and a killer new track from the mighty hardcore legends Terror. And if that wasn’t enough Buke comes in to clean up with Anthrax, Kvaen, Druid Lord, Mystifier, and some Joe Walsh of all people before finally tucking us in with some Dio.
Another day, another dollar, another death…I just came back from a wake, poured myself a whiskey and left the bottle nearby even though I know it’s going to kill my numbers tomorrow (hello diabetes my old friend) and turned the music up. In other words I’m feeling the crush of life a little more than usual tonight, and that means the music needs to be loud. Loud and unapologetic in its intent. So whether that’s some classic Venom to kick off the 223rd edition of the Nine Circles Playlist or new music from blackened trad metal powerhouse Nite which I’ve been playing nonstop the last few weeks, it’s going to have to work overtime to get the job done.
As always there’s a lot more on deck to satisfy all metal cravings. Anton once again gets the early ticket with tracks from Defect Designer, Au-Dessus, and Sum of R. Josh comes in hot with what has become one of my most anticipated albums of the year in the form of the new Cave In, but he follows it up with some equally devastating music in the form of new music from Dead Register (back after far too long), Wormrot (JFC!) and a banging classic from The Red Chord. Leave it to Vincent to brings things to a darker, warmer place as he spins some Midwife, Ulver (you can never have too much Ulver), Orville Peck, and a double dose of Alexisonfire. Angela gets on a roll this week with a ton of new music, including Darkher, Konvent, Corpsegrinder, Holy Fawn and a little something from Jonathan Hultén. And finally Buke races in with some killer picks. He’s got Carpenter Brut right up front, and tags it with some new music from Witchcraft’s Magnus Pelander. Man, I wish I had some new rockin’ Witchcraft but I’ll take this…for now. Buke also throws in some classic Nailbomb, some killer neo old school metal with Merciless Law, and some tight new trad metal courtesy of Greyhawk.
How did the first week of 2022 treat ya? I spent a lot of it railing against the absurdity of my workplace and listening to a lot of Black Sabbaths Sabotage. What’s up with “Supertzar” man? That’s a crazy song. And why am I constantly shocked when “Hole in the Sky” suddenly cuts at the end? Weird album…lemme put it on one more time.
You’d think with all that I’d kick off the 213th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist with some Sab but we’re gonna go with another one of my favorite bands. Did anyone expect Living Colour to come out of the gate so hard after their debut? “Time’s Up” borders on hardcore and it’s glorious. And since I’m feeling decidedly old school let’s throw in some Johnny Thunders, too. One month on Vincent is still listening to Midwife, but this time he throws in some Balance and Composure to balance things out. Josh swoops in with some massive heaviness courtesy of new music from Weigedood and the recently reviewed Necrophagous as well as the latest from Cryptum. Ian returns to remind us that yes, you CAN enjoy Blink-182 and Opeth in close proximity, and tosses in some Guided by Voices and toe for good measure. If there’s bleedthrough in the next room, it’s because Angela has decimating the foundations with brutality, blasting the new Fossilization single and praising the dark with some Midnartiis. Finally, I’m worried about the heat in Buke’s place, because he both Borknagar‘s “Cold Runs the River” and Immortal‘s “In My Kingdom Cold” in here. Maybe the latest from Wilderun will warm him up.
Where I live in New York we just got our first significant snowfall, so lemme go grab the shovel and get these tunes in my head. See you next week.
It’s a week until Christmas. My listening habits have leaned even more into metal than usual, but that’s probably because I’m whittling away on my year-end lists when I’m not editing some of the other you’ll see crop up in here in the next few weeks.
It’s been great seeing the love the latest from Iron Maiden has been getting from the metal community so let’s kick off the 210 edition of the Nine Circles Playlist with one of my favorites from their latest, Senjutsu. Funeral Mist just released a black metal bomb with Deiform, so it feels appropriate to defile the playlist with some of their new music. Elsewhere in the Nine Circles universe Anton maintains the extremity with some furious grind courtesy of Takafumi Matsubara and even more nastiness from White Void and Eximperitus. Josh may be on vacation with his family, but that didn’t stop him from picking some truly nasty music, with As the World Dies, Gingivectomy, and Demiser leading the pack. Vincent flexes his genre muscles with picks from Midwife, Creation Lily, and Yellow Eyes while Buke brings us back to the classroom with killers from King Diamond, Forbidden, and Amon Amarth, among others.
If that wasn’t enough, Angela wraps the week up with Lucy Dacus, Darkher, and a banger from Horrendous. Not sure if we’ll have playlists the next two weeks with the holidays falling on a Saturday, but if we don’t, this feels like a good one to end the year on! So until the unknown “next time,” keep it heavy!
Nine Circles 