vanum

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 234 (6.4.2022)

ChrisLeave a comment
playlist - mixtape

When this comes out I’ll be 49 fucking years old. One goddamn year away from being half a century old. I haven’t been listening to metal for quite as long, but it’s close, you know? I gave quite a bit of thought about simply punting the playlist picks and just forcing all my favorite music down your throats. But I suppose age begets some kind of patience and humility, and besides…I’ll be doing that to my family all day. So maybe I’ll just sprinkle some aggressive favorites throughout and let you suss out which ones they are in this, the 234th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist.

I’m not going to do the usual gang of idiots round up (that’s a reference to Mad Magazine, the crew here all rule); but I’ll mention that folks seems to be pretty hot on new music from Artificial Brain, Gwar, Amon Amarth, Benighted and Origin. Find that inside plus a ton more music to get your weekend in the proper gear ratio.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

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– Chris

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 218 (2.11.2022)

ChrisLeave a comment
playlist - mixtape

Thank whatever gods you lay your oblations to, because if we were basing the 218th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist solely on my recent listening history, it would be nothing but the new Zeal & Ardor. I wrote two reviews this week for Nine Circles – for two excellent albums – but the new self-titled release by Manuel Gagneux is something for the ages. For form’s sake I also added new tracks by Vicious Knights and All Them Witches so not to seem too biased.

But that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Anton wants to make sure everyones gets in on Cailleach Calling, Tomarum and Gloson. Josh is going in hard with the latest from Midnight, Kreator and Dark Funeral, but then turns around and reminds you that Blue Murder was a kickass band back in the day. Vincent rolls out some Rolo Tomassi for the second week in a row, sprinkles in some Holy Fawn and ends on another recurring track with some Mitski. Angela can always be counted on to bring something fresh to the proceedings, and she doesn’t disappoint with tracks from Konvent, Greet Death, and the great collaborative album from Pijn and Conjurer. Finally, Buke roars in with some new Mortuary Drape, Vio-lence, Vanum, and Walg.

Get listening. See you next week.

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– Chris

Circle Pit: Albums We Missed Q1, 2019

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purgatory

I don’t know about you, but 2019 started a little thin and then by the first quarter’s end just exploded all over the good linen like a beast.  This year, more than most, we’ve been a little behind the ball in getting reviews out, but with a lot of new blood coming in I have a feeling that’s going to change soon.  In the meantime we got your quarterly round up right here of all the stuff we wanted to review, should have reviewed, but didn’t.

Until now.  So let’s dive in. Continue reading →

The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 61 (12.22.2018)

JoshLeave a comment

playlist - mixtape

Who knew when we started this thing that we’d be 61 volumes deep at this point. I don’t know but I do know that we just love it so there’s that. Brother Vince is off swashbuckling somewhere and probably killing his liver just a little bit more than usual so I’ll be your temporary host – miss me? I didn’t think so. Are we having fun reading all the best of 2018 lists yet? Yep, me too. AND, we will be hosting a few more of those in the coming days so stay tuned for that. Be sure to go back and check out what new blood J and Chris had to offer and you just might find something new or something you forgot about but shouldn’t have. After all, that’s the point. Anyway, you came for another loaded playlist and we’re here to be a blessing in that regard so hit the play button below. Oh and Merry Christmas or Merry Tuesday if you don’t celebrate. See you here next week.

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– Josh

Second Circle: Vanum and Druid

Chris1 Comment

Second Circle

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.

In case it hasn’t been apparent in the (holy shit) six months since I started writing for Nine Circles, I love black metal. The scope and variety of tone it can encompass without losing that ineffable quality that qualifies it as “black metal” is amazing to me, and so today’s Second Circle turns its light on Vanum and Druid, two bands working on opposite ends of the spectrum yet still to these old and tinnitus-afflicted ears hewing to the cry of the black. So pancake on that corpsepaint and let’s dig in.    Continue reading →