van records – Nine Circles

CANTO: Stormkeep, Shape of Despair, The Ocean, and More

November 17, 2021November 17, 2021CoreyLeave a comment

I feel like I accomplished slightly more than usual today… which means I’m ready for a beer.

Let’s open with Stormkeep, who are streaming the entirety of Tales of Othertime ahead of its release on Friday. That album will be out through Ván Records. Yes, the vinyl pre-order has been sold out there for quite some time already, but we’re keeping our eyes open for additional distributors.
Abysmal Dawn is hitting the road with Obscura this coming February and March for a run across the United States. They’ll be supporting 2020’s Phylogensis, and I think tickets are on sale now? I don’t know, just go to the venue links and give it a shot.
Shape of Despair unveiled new album details, and a fresh single. Return to the Void drops on February 25th through Season of Mist, and pre-orders are up at this location. Give “Reflection in Slow Time” a watch and listen right here… if you feel like having a doomy sort of evening.
And we’ll toss some more from The Ocean onto the pile today. The final video and single from Phanerozoic Live was revealed today, for “Eocene”. That footage, of course, is from their Roadburn Redux performance. Give it a watch below, and check out the full live album here.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb

Initial Descent: November 14 – 20, 2021

November 15, 2021November 11, 2021JoshLeave a comment

And…we’re back. No idea where the last week has gone, feels like we just did this. To top that off, we’re getting close to another year in the books which is wild. Anyway, this is a year that even the naysayers will have to admit there’s been at least a handful or so every week that’s been in top shelf category. How many will make it to the best of lists out of those…who knows. But, we’ve got more to add to that pile this week starting with the best all around example of doomed heavy metal Khemmis has ever done, a pair of essential black metal albums from Der Weg Einer Freiheit and Stormkeep, an equally essential tech death return from Obscura, and several more in the list that follows. You know what to do, get after it.

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Rainbows in the Dark: Mortifero — “The Death Ballads”

May 2, 2021April 30, 2021IanLeave a comment

Fresh blood on the scene is always a good thing. It keeps the older bands on their toes and it brings in new and exciting perspectives, especially if those perspectives come from people who don’t often have their voices heard in the metal and metal-adjacent communities. However, 2020 was not a year that I thought many new projects would be popping up, but then again, the world is full of pleasant surprises, especially when it comes to Dutch singer/songwriter/bandleader Mortifero. Her brand-new debut EP The Death Ballads blends a lot of creative influences that definitely keep things fresh.

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Initial Descent: April 25 – May 1, 2021

April 26, 2021April 24, 2021Josh1 Comment

I don’t know about you but the live show wait has nearly come to a sudden stop with the announcement of Deicide hitting the road AND coming near me. As far as this show goes, August can’t come soon enough and if any of you are near or somewhat near the ATL, hit me up. Alrighty, we’re back, again, for another installment of “what’s new and exciting this week.” Answer: plenty. Goregäng return from the crypts of death with a few new tracks and a few live tracks, everyone’s favorite hard hitters Gojira offer up album number seven—finally, Mortifero cover that dark folk space I love so much, and ewïg frost continue their reign of beer swillin’, liquor shooting, excellent speed metal. And that’s just the start of a lengthy list that follows. So, hop to it.

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The Nine Circles Audio Thing: The Ruins of Beverast was February 2021’s Album of the Month!

March 10, 2021April 1, 2021ninecirclesadmin2 Comments

Episode 68 of The Nine Circles Audio Thing showcases just how musically polarizing The Ruins of Beverast have been and continue to be on their latest “The Thule Grimoires.” Buke again captains the episode with a handful of the usual suspects in tow as they discuss, argue, and break down the album and the band.

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