Wow, it really has been a while since I’ve visited this column, huh? Things got really busy really fast over here, and it’s kinda hard to sit and write two articles a week when life is finally starting to pick up. However, the tunes did not stop this year, and some of my favorite and most anticipated releases this year were from more than just the metal world. It’s my pleasure to bring you another year of the best of all things metal-adjacent and non-metal. Any of these albums can stand up to the world of buzzsaw guitars, blast beats and screamed vocals. Maybe not in terms of sheer force, but in terms of emotional depth and good times, absolutely. Without further ado, here we go:
As I write this it’s a few short hours until the next Record Store Day. I’m not normally the type to burst to my LRS in the dawn light just to snag an overpriced variant, but when you have sweet reissues from Opeth and Voivod, plus the debut of The Lord from Greg Anderson, well…you know I have to set the alarm for that, right?
So yeah…we’re gonna kick off the 228th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist with what you can expect from those heavyweights, but we got more of the concrete coming straight for your head. Anton welcomes new music from Exocrine, Misanthropic Rage, and Ufomammut to the playlist while Josh doubles down on the brutality with Black Braid, Crypticus, Paganizer, Butchers Burial and a killer new track from site favorite Spirit Adrift. Vincent is knee-deep in his Pyrithe review, so he’s serving up some of their music along with Ultha, Orville Peck, and some classic New Order. Ian returns to the playlist with some Kardashev and Gojira, along with a healthy dose of the Pixies and some Planning for Burial. Angela is digging the latest from Tribulation and…wouldn’t you know it? For the first time, so am I! And she also has Mountaineer and Telekinetic Yeti bringing up the rear for this week.
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.
Welcome back to number 101 folks. We may have just hit mixtape number 100 in our weekly series, but the confetti is all swept up and we’re back in business mode here at 9CHQ. Just kidding, it’s always a party when we do these things, because we love sharing music with you all. This week, I’m in Yeehaw Mode (TM), our interview wizard Matt is loving the new Toxic Holocaust, and the return of Castle Metal gives us all something to be grateful for. Check out these and much more (ed: and DEATH METAL) below.
Nine Circles 