sufjan stevens

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 409 (10.11.2025)

ChrisLeave a comment
playlist - mixtape

The 409th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist only has 11 films left to review in the annual Hooptober horror marathon before he returns to metal writing here. Who else is going to tell you how great the new single from Howling Giant is? Or that the latest from Sanguisugabogg is their best yet? Or that OG thrashers Testament have brought it with their new album, and that (relative) thrash newcomers Dead Heat have equally brought it? I guess this week’s playlist will have to do…

The 9C gang also stepped up with some listening choices to set your weekend up. We have new tracks from Primitive Man, Wolfbrigade, the return of Bell Witch & Ariel Ruin as well as classic cuts from Power Trip, Lamp of Murmuur and yes – of course someone put the new Mountain Goats single on here. In other words, once again we run the gamut for your listening pleasure.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

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– Chris

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 404 (09.06.2025)

ChrisLeave a comment
playlist - mixtape

The 404th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist has been an empty nester for just over a week, and to be honest? I think I’m gonna need to buy a dog. The house is too empty, despite the fact I’ve taken the new sense of space to blast new songs from Primitive Man, Castle Rat, and Nine Inch Nails, all of which you can find within.

The 9C crew have been blasting their own new and old cuts this week as well, as we’ve got more of the heavy from the likes of Hexecutor, Ildaruni, Void of Sleep, and Sanguisugabogg, not to mention some Sufjan Stevens and I Promised the World. There’s more (how about some ambient from BardSpec?), but you’ll have to put away your white clothes and dig into to see.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

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– Chris

Rainbows in the Dark: Ian’s Best of 2023

IanLeave a comment
Best of 2023

I’m actually the most excited to write about this list above all the other ones that I’ve written because it contains the least amount of content that has been featured on the site.  We’ve written and talked about a fair share of purely non-metal albums this year, but the ones that I’ve been in touch with the most are the ones that I have kept the closest to my chest.  I enjoy a few surprises at the end of the year, and while you may have heard me gush about a few of these albums more than once, there should be enough curveballs in there to sufficiently throw you off the scent if you think you know what’s coming.  These are the albums that I flew to in the bad times, when I was too down to get into the spirit of metal, even as catharsis, and they’re albums I listened to to celebrate the good that happened this year.  It’s good to get some variety in the mix anyway, and these are some of the best ways I can think of to get that in there.  

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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 301 (9.16.2023)

ChrisLeave a comment
playlist - mixtape

Man, this was a WEEK of music, huh? Last minutes drop by Tomb Mold? New single by Blood Incantation? Gridlink returns? And don’t forget Baroness – opinion is somewhat divided in the 9C office, but personally I think the change in production finally breathed some life into there band after two very (IMO) lackluster offerings, baby. So we’re kicking off with sweet sonic morsels from each of those bands for the 301st edition of the Nine Circles playlist.

The rest of the staff came out in full force force, so there’s a lot on tap for your ears: just in the “W” section alone we have new music from Wolves in the Throne Room, Weald and Woe, and Watain. Plus music from Boris, classics from KEN Mode and the Jesus Lizard, new Kvelertak, Cruciamentum, Dååth, and a lot more.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

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– Chris

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 297 (8.19.2023)

JoshLeave a comment
playlist - mixtape


Brother Chris is out doing things in life that some of us just have to do so you’re stuck with me as your DJ for this 297th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist. We’re almost to 300…which is unbelievable to me. Yet, you seem to still enjoy it. And why not? It’s always a crazy mix of styles and genres and always features things you can play loud as hell or cry to. Score, maybe?

Anyway, we’ve got the newest cover from Two Minutes To Late Night that features the SICKEST guitar tone ever and is the first in a “Death Forever” series so I, for one, am glued to this. Elsewhere, new Auriferous Flame, Hexvessel, and Sepulchral Curse to keep things on the extreme side. Iron Maiden and Metallica for some classic juice, Sufjan Stevens for the sads, and a TON more.

Scroll down, hit play, and get you a piece of Saturday the right way. See you soon…

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— Josh

Rainbows in the Dark: Best of 2015 Edition

Dan1 Comment

Best 2015

Enjoying all of our Best of 2015 posts so far? Well…don’t expect that to continue here. (I mean, it might, I guess…but that’ll come down to how much or little you like non-metal music. Because that’s what this post is all about.) Throughout the year, we’ve been using these Rainbows in the Dark posts to bring you occasional snippets from outside the realms of grim, brutal and heavy, so now, they’re getting their own end of year list.

Don’t worry, the blurbs will be short. Because let’s be real, neither you nor I have any more time or energy for long, drawn-out wordsturbating at this point. So enjoy it! Or maybe not, I dunno. Let’s take a look: Continue reading →