the ocean – Nine Circles

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 276 (3.25.2023)

March 25, 2023March 24, 2023ChrisLeave a comment

I tell you what, man. All this fawning over mediocre pastiches and pale imitations of older, better music is slowly killing me. I am just not hearing what others are in some of the big names getting all the buzz out there. Sure, that’s a “me” problem but since I write this weekly thing I’m entitled to a) bitch when I want to and b) kick it off how I want to, so this, the 276th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist is going to rip with a new Ihsahn track because that’s where my soul is musically right now. Then the new one from Immortal because with or without Abbath, Demonaz knows how to craft a gnarly tune, and finally the latest from Mork, who frankly ran circles around the other popular black metal release that came out this week.

Fight me.

Don’t worry. If you don’t give a crap about my whingeing, the rest of the staff has some metal to offer up, and sone of it is even good! There’s awesome new music from Gozu, Dødheimsgard, and The Ocean which you KNOW we’re most likely gonna ramble about. Plus new tracks from Harboured, Heretoir, Blaze of Sorrow, A Pregnant Light, Foretoken, and Acid King. Plus music from Powerwolf, Estoner, and since I screwed our own Dan Morris by missing his picks last week, we’re going to close with the astounding Roxy Music, because this week marks the 50th anniversary of For Your Pleasure, and that’s a fucking album for the ages.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week…

—

– Chris

CANTO: The Ocean, Dragony, Bongzilla, and More

March 20, 2023March 20, 2023CoreyLeave a comment

Today was a weird one, not gonna lie.

Urlo, most known for work through Ufommamut, has announced the second LP from solo project The Mon. Eye is out on May 26 through through Supernatural Cat. Give “Where” a watch and listen at this location.
How about some Austrian symphonic power metal? Dragony revealed a previously unreleased digital single through Napalm Records titled “The Dead Queen’s Race”, the lyric video of which can be seen here. That marks the farewell to 2021’s Viribus Unitis, so we’ll see what else 2023 brings.
Bongzilla are releasing their sixth studio full-length on June 2 through Heavy Psych Sounds, titled Dab City. Check out the first track, “Hippie Stick”, over at Decibel.
Ara Solis have set the release date for their debut. Ashvatta will be out on May 19 through Iron Bonehead Productions, and you can hear “Ara Solis” over at the label’s Soundcloud.
Since we’re continuing our march towards the release of Holocene, I’m happy to wrap up the day with the new video from The Ocean. Check out the clip for “Sea of Reeds” below, directed by Lo!’s Adrian Shapiro. That album is out May 19 through Pelagic Records. Obviously.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 271 (2.18.2023)

February 18, 2023February 18, 2023ChrisLeave a comment

Change of scenery this morning. I’m up in the mountains, dogs and kids running all over and a most excellent pair of headphones blasting the new Ulthar to block their cries. Oh, and of course some piping hot coffee to wash the previous night’s alcoholic excursions away. If you haven’t heard their double offering of albums the 271st edition of the Nine Circles Playlist will get you right, my friends. Most right (oh, and synergy: while you listen check out our review by the righteous and noble Ian here).

What else do we have on deck this week? How about brand new tracks from The Ocean and Frozen Soul? Or a complete ripper from Cattle Decapitation? Yeah…it’s a killer week and we also have tracks from the likes of Emperor, the great Caladan Brood (get new music out please!), Gorod, Rzen, Rotten Sound, Little Pig, Emma Ruth Rundle, Majesties, not to mention some killer prog from Circle, Teksti-TV 666 and King Crimson, as well as a whole lot more.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week…

—

– Chris

CANTO: The Ocean, Cattle Decapitation, Necrot, and More

February 16, 2023February 16, 2023CoreyLeave a comment

I was going to skip this today, but there’s too much awesome stuff happening.

We’ll lead off with The Ocean, because this is my post and they’re my favorites. Duh. Pre-orders for Holocene are officially live, and yes I did snag one of the boxes, thanks for asking. That’s out May 19 through Pelagic Records, of course, and today they unveiled a new track, with video, titled “Parabiosis”. It’s different and it’s awesome.
Full of Hell and Primitive Man unveiled “Tunnels to God”, the latest from their collaborative album. Suffocating Hallucination is out on March 3 through Closed Casket Activities. They’re both on tour with Fit For An Autopsy and The Acacia Strain next month.
Necrot has announced a US headlining tour in May, where they’ll be joined by Mortiferum and Deathgrave. Unfortunately for me, that tour happens to be on the other side of the country, so it appears I’ll be sitting this one out.
Sleep Token are releasing their third album, Take Me Back to Eden, on May 19 through Spinefarm. Give the new single, “Vore”, a listen and watch here.
I listened to the new track from Cattle Decapitation about 100 times today, so we’ll wrap up with that. Give “We Eat Our Young” a watch and listen below. Terrasite is out on May 12 through Metal Blade, and that is one we are all anxiously awaiting.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 270 (2.11.2023)

February 11, 2023February 11, 2023ChrisLeave a comment

Sometimes it takes something simple like, say…bullshitting with your friends over (virtual) drinks about a record to reignite your passion for something. Since starting these Album RAMBLES I’ve been listening to more metal than I have in ages, and In Flames in particular, so since I’m still so hot on new album Forgone we’re gonna bookend the 270th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist with the two parts of the title track.

But that’s not all (it never is, is it?): we’ve got some classic All Out War and Turbonegro (we don’t talk enough about Turbonegro) and then the walls come down with new cuts from Dawn of Ouroboros, Wallowing, Dying Fetus, Distant, Torn in Half, Insomnium, Stormo, Blaze of Sorrow, some old and cold Sacramentum, and more. We’ve also sprinkled in some lighter fare with cuts from Elliot Smith, Channing Wilson and midwife to give your nerves a small break.