trial

Second Circle: Heads for the Dead and Trial

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Heads For The Dead - III The Great Conjuration
Trial - Feed The Fire

In Dante’s Inferno, the second circle begins the proper punishment of Hell, a place where “no thing gleams.” It is reserved for those overcome with Lust, where carnal appetites hold sway over reason. In Nine Circles, it’s where we do shorter reviews of new (ish) albums that share a common theme.

It’s no secret we have a weird way of writing here at Nine Circles. I’ve been spouting nonsense here since…shudder…2016 and still the primary way I learn about music is by texting Fearless Editor Josh™ along the lines of “hey, what’s coming out that you think I’d like?” Because while I can barely keep up with the bands I love, Josh keeps up with EVERYTHING. I have yet to surprise him with a new band where he hasn’t gone “Oh yeah, I checked out the single it’s great!” So this week when I had a blank schedule for the site and asked what I should be listening to, Josh immediately shot back the latest releases from Heads for the Dead and Trial.

When the Boss lays down the law, you listen. So let’s dig in.

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Initial Descent: August 28 – September 3, 2022

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Megadeth

Chris mentioned this, and linked it, in Saturday’s playlist BUT if you missed the full documentary of Mastodon’s Hushed and Grim, rectify that post haste. Now, for new metal: opinions wildly vary on Megadeth and Dave Mustaine and that’s fine, you do you, but from what we’ve heard of the first three tracks off their 16th album, this is the best they’ve sounded since their album count was in single digits, here’s hoping the rest holds up. Then we’ve got some sick and nasty death metal from Heads For The Dead, flag flying old school heavy metal from Trial, hard charging power metal from Blind Guardian, and, as always, a ton more in the list that follows. Dig your heels in on all of these and we’ll be seeing you here throughout the week.

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CANTO: Fallujah, Amon Amarth, Trial, and More

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And all of a sudden tomorrow is Friday.

  • We’ll lead off with Fallujah and their latest offering from Empyrean. The visualizer for “Embrace Oblivion” is available here. As a reminder, their fifth studio album will be out on September 9th through Nuclear Blast.
  • From there, we also have the latest single taken from Death Siege, the next album in the Hierophant catalog. Give “Crypt of Existence” a listen here. That album drops on August 26th through Season of Mist.
  • END and Cult Leader are teaming up for a split EP, titled Gather & Mourn. That will be out on September 9th through Closed Casket Activities and Deathwish Inc, and we have two tracks to offer from this today, END’s “Eden Will Drown” and Cult Leader’s “Ataraxis”.
  • Swedish heavy metallers Trial have set September 2nd as the the release date for Feed The Fire, which will be out through Metal Blade. Check out “Sulphery”, and pre-order that one while you’re over there.
  • Closing out, we have the title-track from The Great Heathen Army, the upcoming new album from Amon Amarth that I’m sure you were already aware of. Anyway, that’s out on August 5th through Metal Blade Records.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb