uhtcearu

Nine* Circles ov…What “Didn’t” Make My 2019 End of Year List (But Should Have)

Chris4 Comments

Best of 2019

* Hey it’s Thursday!  And it’s more than 9!  What else is new?  I hereby fully (don’t) apologize for the late entry that clearly doesn’t at all conform to the format.  Suck it….

I tried to keep my 2019 End of Year list(s) brief…I really did.  But like last year simply too much happens in the span of 365 days to limit advocating and championing the things one comes to love.  And I’m not talking about the release of records.  I’m speaking to the way we change and grow and mutate with every experience, the way what we hold dear or take comfort in stands as a totem or ward against the hate and pain of a world gone mad, a world that grinds away at our compassion, our love, and our fortitude to stand against it while maintaining the core of who we are.  Continue reading →

“What Did They Say?” Early 2019 Faves From the June AOTM Episode

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angry abbath

Did you listen to the June Album of the Month podcast episode?  Did you do the homework?  Did you think we would leave you hanging?  Fear not, for below you will find a quick list (with links to boot!) of all the albums mentioned by the Nine Circles crew as early 2019 favorites.  Dive in, take a listen, and let us know what else is killing you so far this year.

*Note: Abbath isn’t actually in this list.  That is an oversight, because I’ve been loving Outstrider.  But any chance to post a picture of Abbath can’t be passed up, so… Continue reading →

Nine Circles ov…2019: A Mid-Year Report

Chris5 Comments

Screen Shot 2019-07-02 at 9.03.13 PM.png

Anyone feel oppressed by the ridiculous heat blasting through the Northeast?  It almost makes you want to take a month off of writing for a website.  I kid, but in truth I needed some time because the amount of quality metal that has been coming out this year has been INSANE.  Label faves like Season of Mist and Gilead have been routinely hitting it out of the park, but great music has been crawling out of every nook and cranny, and it’s dizzying to be caught up in the middle of it.  I had a list of about 14 I wanted to throw on here, but in keeping with the nature of the column I stuck to nine, all released this year before 7/1, and all on Bandcamp, because dammit let’s support artists with dollars, not fractions of pennies (plus it makes the formatting nice).

So here’s a glimpse of where my head is currently at.  We’ll see where these land come end of year, but right now they’re red hot and in constant rotation in my ears.  Onward. Continue reading →

Album Review: Uhtcearu – “Madness & Creation”

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Uhtcearu - Madness & Creation

It’s a thing of true joy when bands do unexpected things or further explore smaller nuances of albums past and actually stick the landing. And while Uhtcearu’s direction on third full length, Madness & Creation, is more subtle than Lord Dying’s recent about face, it is a bit of a different look. This time out melodic black metal takes a backseat to the band’s progressive side as well as a more straightforward black metal approach and as a result we’ve got ourselves a different, more well rounded, and stronger version of Uhtcearu. Continue reading →

Initial Descent: May 5 – 11, 2019

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Idle Hands
Idle Hands

This is one of those weeks that could’ve easily seen double digit albums in the top slots. It’s. That. Good. This year just keeps on giving so let’s cut the chit-chat and get to it…

Following up on the STELLAR EP, Don’t Waste Your Time, is Idle Hands with their full length debut Mana and honestly you just don’t know how much this brand of goth metal is needed until you know so get acquainted with it, this is a freaking masterpiece of soaring anthems drowned in mellow sadness. Next up is the godfathers of death metal, Possessed, with their loooooong awaited third full length Revelations of Oblivion and if initial impressions hold true, this will be one for the ages and one that furthers the intimate brand that Seven Churches laid bare. And then, Spirit Adrift completely seal the deal of trad metal meets majestic doom on third full length Divided By Darkness and it’s a sweet ass album full of old soul metal energy. Last up top but certainly not least is Wisconsin’s melodic black metallers Uhtcearu with their third full length Madness & Creation which finds the band in a forward thinking, progressive frame of mind. Now, don’t get your panties in a bunch as this slight addition works EXTREMELY well so if you were a fan of the last two, this one will blow your mind but if you’re a newb then this is a great jump off point.

What are you waiting for? Get in there…. Continue reading →