ryujin

Best of 2024: Dan’s List

Dan2 Comments
Best of 2024

Of all the years to have ever yeared, 2024 was certainly one of them.

I can’t even say it was the 2024th of them, because then we’re reducing time to exclusively Christian terms, and… nah, dude. Time existed long before Mary and Joe’s kid and will exist long after folks (someday?) (maybe?) awaken to the fact that he’s much more — though, okay, not exclusively — a mechanism for control and subjugation than a spiritual symbol these days.

I digress. In any case, 2024! Some stuff happened, as it tends to do. I wasn’t a fan of a lot of it, as I tend not to be. But, also, a whole buttload of new metal came out, and here’s where my tendencies fail me: I actually took a more active role in listening to and participating in that stuff throughout the year than I have in… at least five years, if not longer.

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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 368 (12.28.2024)

ChrisLeave a comment
playlist - mixtape

Last playlist of the year, folks. And what a year it’s been. I think for the site we’re close to if not just over our biggest numbers EVER (just checked and we’re less than 1,000 views away!), and it’s thanks to all you who stopped by, liked, and occasionally commented to tell us we rock, we suck, we got something right, or we got something wrong.

Oh, and whoever it was that had to check out the 9C of Manowar post from 2017 almost 400 times in September and October1. Thanks for the clicks!

Anyway, to wrap up the year we’re throwing in a bunch of songs from our end of year lists. It’s been a great year for metal, an even better year for music in general despite all the AI stuff clogging our feeds. And we couldn’t have done any of it without you. Well, we could, but no one would notice.

Get listening. Stay safe. Happy New Year. See you in 2025.

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– Chris

Best of 2024: Chris’s Honorable Mentions

ChrisLeave a comment
Best of 2024

Well, here we are again. I said last year I wouldn’t do another list of honorable mentions because in the end it makes zero difference. I love every single album on this list, and you (or I) can easily swap out anything here with the ones that end up on my “official” (whatever that means) end of year list. It’s the celebration that matters, the joy in sharing what you loved and finding other discoveries that deepen your knowledge and appreciation of the form.

I used to limit this to 15 albums. That’s stupid. There’s so much I connected with this year when it comes to heavy music I want to share as much of it as I can with you1. So enough talk. Let’s dig in, alphabetical order except for the first one, because this is the first year in forever I don’t have Boris in my Top 25 so let’s address that and then get all the other great records out of the way.

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Return of the Nine Circles Audio Thing! A 2024 Mid-Year Report!

ninecirclesadmin4 Comments
9C audio thing mid-year review

It’s been a hot minute, but the gang returns along with a new intro to celebrate the return of the Nine Circles Audio Thing!  We’re going to get back into the Album of the Month starting with July, but for now Chris returns to the mic for the first time in forever to gather the crew and talk about a few select highlights from the first six months of the year.  Colin, Vince, Ian, Hera and…holy shit, DAN?! Yup, it’s a full crew at the ready and madness is had, whether it’s risking Swiftian armies or generally squealing with delight over some very, very good metal this year.

Variety abounds as the crew gets into it, talking about Dödsrit, Inherits the Void, Ulcerate, Chapel of Disease, Job For A Cowboy, Alcest, Pallbearer, Hamferð, AWS, Thot, Ryujin, Aborted, Hammer King, Lascaille’s Shroud, Farsot, and Lord Dying.

No spoilers for the anticipated albums, and only a short tease about the new AOTM format moving forward, but it’s a blast to be back so grab your favorite beverage, put on those headphones and dig in.  See you next month!

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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 319 (1.20.2024)

ChrisLeave a comment
playlist - mixtape

There’s no other way to say it: We’ve got Whores. No, really! One of the best best bands to ever do the noise rock thing are finally back with a new full length in April, and we get a taste now with “Quitter’s Fight Song” to whet the appetite. The fun videos don’t end there, because we’ve also got some serious visual flair courtesy of Ryujin and their debut all over the place metal record. It also wouldn’t be me if I didn’t include the newest single from the forthcoming Judas Priest album. This is the first one that didn’t bowl me over, but given time Halford and co. are sure to take my heart again.

Strap yourself in for the 319th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist.

The 9C staff continues to have your back with new tracks from Sgàile, Vemod, Deicide, and Infant Island; classic hits from Manowar, Blind Guardian, and Mortiis of all people; a double dose of old and new Heavy Temple, and more surprises…maybe even a country tune.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

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– Chris

CANTO: Gates To Hell, Entheos, Suicidal Angels, and More

CoreyLeave a comment


Home stretch of EOY season, which makes me a little sad to be honest.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb