ulthar

The Nine Circles Audio Thing: Ulthar was February 2023’s Album(s) of the Month!

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It’s Album of the Month time again and for this edition, Ulthar’s third AND fourth full lengths, Anthronomicon and Helionomicon won the most votes. For those keeping score of these sorts of things, the votes weren’t unanimous but really close. Buke once again captains the episode along with Ian, Dan M, Colin, Hera, and Vince. The conversation pretty much dives head first into the album, how it compares to the band’s first two, and deep thoughts surrounding it all and Ian gets lengthy runtime here since he nailed the double review. Elsewhere, the gang spends a good portion of the runtime gushing over everything else they listened to since they last spoke, and the usual banter back and forth on literally anything and everything.

In other words, just another episode of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.

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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 272 (2.25.2023)

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playlist - mixtape

Yeah…sometimes life just comes up and not only bites you in the ass, but grabs a hold and throws you down in the ditch, pisses on your head and laughs as it walks away. So this week’s edition – the 272nd – of the Nine Circles Playlist is coming a little later than it should, and that’s all on me. So I’m gonna make the preamble short and just get right into the meat of the matter, starting with a doozy from the new Venomous Concept album. I love the more punk and post-punk elements on it and hope you will, too. Looking through my recent vinyl acquisitions we’re also gonna drop a pair of 90s classics from Eucharist and Amorphis so you can all feel that weird snare and the cold ice blue of Finnish metal.

The rest of the staff will keep things on par with the usual varied insanity. So get your ears ready for music from the likes of Usnea, Klone, Polymoon, Grave Pleasures, Birdflesh, Lotus Eater Machine, Gravpel, Ulthar, Leander Kills, Dååth, Botanist, Big|Brave, Anatomy of Habit, and the newest from VoidCeremony. But that’s not all: you get some old emo from Marietta, some more In Flames love, older tracks from Opeth, Spectral Lore and Madder Mortem and a few more surprises, not to mention the ALWAYS appropriate Joy Division to close things out.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week…

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– Chris

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 271 (2.18.2023)

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playlist - mixtape

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…

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– Chris

Second Circle: Anthronomicon and Helionomicon

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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.

You know I couldn’t just pick one of these to review.  Ulthar are certainly about to unleash some of the most anticipated music in their career, and as if that wasn’t good enough, they’re gracing us with not one, but two full, 40-minute albums of new material, their first since 2020’s Providence.  The wait might have been long, but Anthronomicon and Helionomicon both make up for it in quantity and quality.

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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 267 (1.21.2023)

ChrisLeave a comment

playlist - mixtape

I’m still recovering from the drunken mayhem that was our first ever Album Ramble – I hope you dug it, we plan to punish our livers monthly for your entertainment. Anyway, as if a new GREAT Katatonia was enough to drop this week, we have the second single from the mighty Metallica’s 72 Seasons, so we’re kicking off with that – and the newest video from Katatonia backing it up.

After that it’s a gaggle of new and classic heavy hitters, including cuts from The Ocean, Bodyfarm, Polymoon, Turbid North, Ulthar, Nite, Asunojokei, Coheed & Cambria, Full of Hell, Cäina, Black Country New Road, Fvnerals, and Miserable.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week…

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– Chris