the antichrist imperium

Best of 2022: Zyklonius’s List

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Best of 2022

Huzzah, good riddance to another weird year, not only on both personal and professional fronts which basically prevented me from engaging in music writing, but also in terms of metal itself. Weird in the sense that multiple previous EOY luminaries released albums that failed to resonate, while bands that had not clicked for me on earlier albums decided to surprise me. Amidst all the oddity, there was thankfully a degree of cosmic justice and continuing reliability, as old favorites released their best work to date while relative newcomers delivered on the promises and potential for greatness that were teased on their initial releases. Without further ado, here are my 15 favorite metal albums of 2022.

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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 244 (8.13.2022)

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playlist - mixtape

Can we all agree the world is a garbage fire right now? I think we can all agree. We might not agree on the reasons WHY we think it’s a garbage fire, but maybe we can all unite under the commonality that the flames are curling ever closer to our toes. And if not, there’s always metal, right?

And to that end we’re kicking off the 244th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist with a couple veterans churning out some kille rnew music, like the latest from Megadeth and the reunion of Fates Warning alums Ray Alder and Mark Zonder in the aptly named A-Z. Plus we have razor sharp slices of new (not nu) metal from the likes of Sigh, Sumerlands, The Antichrist Imperium, Liminal Shroud and Arch Enemy. Plus some off the beaten path tracks from bands like Slowdive and Ride before jumping back into extremity with Black Anvil, In Flames, The Answer Lies in the Black Void and more!

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Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

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– Chris

Best of 2018: Zyklonius’ List

Zyklonius3 Comments

EOY 2018 Header 9C

Ah, 2018. What an absurd, exhausting and often infuriating ride you were, with death as my ubiquitous companion and co-pilot. You entailed on one hand a near-cataclysmic series of loved ones dying around me in rapid succession, while on the other, an ever-flowing stream of metal that helped make that maelstrom somehow survivable and acceptable for yours truly.

As you, the well-informed reader, likely noticed during the course of the year, and will see again when you read further below, 2018 was a banner year for death metal of all colors and shapes, but most and especially for the boundary-pushing kind that redefines and reconfigures the entire genre. Another type of metal that really resonated with me was one of transcendence and catharsis, of dreamlike journey, cosmic marvel and triumphant rebirth. Overall, the vast array of diverse evolutionary pathways, latest career pinnacles, and dazzling artistic growth and achievement in the field of metal was a compelling sight to behold and a wondrous thing to experience.

As further proof of the excellent and exciting state of metal today, albums worthy of inclusion in the below list continued to be released until the very final days of the year, resulting in perhaps the strongest December release-wise in recent memory.

With this succinct backdrop in mind, I offer the following 23 releases as a tribute to goddess Eris. Continue reading →

Receiving the Evcharist: The Antichrist Imperium & That Leftover Beer From the 4th of July in My Fridge

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Receiving the Evcharist

Despite regular author Vincent being off having his liver rebuilt using the remains from the latest GWAR video, Receiving the Evcharist is STILL our weekly feature where we pair choice albums with our favorite libations.  Drink from the cup of heresy.  This week’s offering: The Antichrist Imperium’s Vol II: Every Tongue Shall Praise Satan and That Leftover Beer From 4th of July in My Fridge.   Continue reading →

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 46 (6.25.2018)

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Nothing like a Monday morning to bring you back to the realization that vacations just don’t last forever. Then it wouldn’t be a vacation. Which means….. completely lost that train of thought and just need coffee plus nobody cares. Anyway, we’re back with Vol. 46 of our weekly playlist and again have some fine specimens to offer up. Last week was so busy with sand, sun and other stuff that honestly it’s good to get back to the metal. Thanks to the fam for keeping things between the lines last week and if you missed any of that great content just go back and take it all in while you listen to what we’ve been digging. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here (if you did you would’ve had a sneak peek early) and we’ll be seeing you throughout the week. What did we miss? What have you been into? We’d love to know so leave them in the comments. Continue reading →