The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 275 (3.18.2023)

He saw the light flash like a child’s sparkler on the 4th of July. It registered for an instant, then faded in the roar of the explosion reverberating in the open air. There was an odor that he couldn’t identify by name (it was cordite, not really used in gunpowder mixtures since the end of WWII) but instinctually knew. All of this happened in the space between synapses before his body acknowledged the impact of the bullet that – according to the laws of physics – he should have noticed before the sound of the revolver, or indeed the smell. As he dropped to the ground, consciousness slowly fading into the ether he had one solitary, lonely thought:

“What’s going to kick off the 275th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist?”

“The title track from the new Night Demon album,” a voice we only hear at the end of our life’s thread replied.

What’s the rest of the staff listening to? How about Boris, new Frozen Soul, Sortilege, Noxium Ferus, Lunar Chamber, Hideous Divinity, Paraphilia, Úlfúð and Afsky, not to mention the “correct” mix of a classic Megadeth song. There’s also tracks from Midwife & Vyva Melinkolya, Catherine Wheel, Mrs. Piss, old school love with Exodus and Exumer, a brutal throwback to Death Grips and much more.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week…

Chris

Album Review: Úlfúð — “Of Existential Distortion”

Over the past decade the Icelandic extreme metal scene has defined itself with a unique brand of chaotic, dissonant black metal very much inspired by Gorguts and Deathspell Omega. Enter Úlfúð (“ool-wooth”), who have decided to forge a different path from their peers in the local scene with their debut full-length Of Existential Distortion. Showcasing a healthy mix of dark melody and groove, this album is a solid slab of no-frills modern black/death metal.

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