opeth – Nine Circles

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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– Chris

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 272 (2.25.2023)

February 25, 2023February 25, 2023ChrisLeave a comment

Yeah…sometimes life just comes up and not only bites you in the ass, but grabs a hold and throws you down in the ditch, pisses on your head and laughs as it walks away. So this week’s edition – the 272nd – of the Nine Circles Playlist is coming a little later than it should, and that’s all on me. So I’m gonna make the preamble short and just get right into the meat of the matter, starting with a doozy from the new Venomous Concept album. I love the more punk and post-punk elements on it and hope you will, too. Looking through my recent vinyl acquisitions we’re also gonna drop a pair of 90s classics from Eucharist and Amorphis so you can all feel that weird snare and the cold ice blue of Finnish metal.

The rest of the staff will keep things on par with the usual varied insanity. So get your ears ready for music from the likes of Usnea, Klone, Polymoon, Grave Pleasures, Birdflesh, Lotus Eater Machine, Gravpel, Ulthar, Leander Kills, Dååth, Botanist, Big|Brave, Anatomy of Habit, and the newest from VoidCeremony. But that’s not all: you get some old emo from Marietta, some more In Flames love, older tracks from Opeth, Spectral Lore and Madder Mortem and a few more surprises, not to mention the ALWAYS appropriate Joy Division to close things out.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week…

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– Chris

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 245 (8.20.2022)

August 20, 2022ChrisLeave a comment

After years of seeing that cassette logo at the top of every edition of the Nine Circles Playlist (brought to you now for the 245th time) I finally caved and bought a cassette deck for my stereo system. I have a few tapes lying around from niche labels filled with strange and discordant sounds, so why not? Maybe I’ll even find those old mix tapes I used to have in college and see if they’re still in a playable condition…music as archeology, you know?

I don’t know if anything in this week’s playlist is available on cassette, but I can provide definitive proof you can find it on YouTube. The gang brings in tracks from Sarattma, the return of Toxik, as well as new music from Clutch, Revocation, Conan, Conjurer, Lathe, Ripped to Shreds and An Abstract Illusion. We throw in some shoegaze and indie from My Bloody Valentine and Broken Social Scene to break up the extremity (although I still think MBV’s Loveless is one of the most extreme albums to ever come out) before wrapping it all up with some classic tracks, including a live cut from Opeth, some Testament, Merauder, and Watchtower, among others.

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Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

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– Chris

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 232 (5.21.2022)

May 21, 2022May 21, 2022ChrisLeave a comment

Welcome back to your regularly scheduled Nine Circles Playlist. The 232nd, in fact. And the metal has been flowing here at 9C. Some really strong music coming out lately, both from heavy hitters like Cave In and Blut Aus Nord as well as some smaller but really killer bands like Predatory Light and Kvaen, who I just got turned onto thanks to the awesome staff here at Nine Circles. So let’s kick it off with some of that and then get to the crew.

Have you been knocked to the floor yet? If so, pick yourself back up, because Anton’s back and he’s got new music coming from Warforged, Greylotus, and Inanna. Then Josh barrels into the room (careful not to spill a drop of his choice bourbon) with Tombs covering Motörhead, Abaddon Incarnate, Dismorphic Demiurge, Periphery, and some killer new cuts from Wormrot. Next up it’s Vincent over the moon with news that Imperial Triumphant is back with new music. He’s also bringing the variety with Cocteau Twins, new Nechochwen, A Pregnant Light and some Martyrdöd – I just picked this up on vinyl and it is indeed vicious. Buke alternates between old and new with some classic Rainbow, Amon Amarth, Sanctuary, and Opeth before following it up with some new music from Master Boot Record. Finally Angela makes sure we all go home satisfied with some Alexisonfire, Sowulo, and Ethel Cain.