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The Nine Circles Playlist Vol. 226 (4.09.2022)

ChrisLeave a comment
playlist - mixtape

Dear Diary,

Today I was this many years old when I found out Hällas released a new album, so we’re kicking off the 226th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist with a track from the incredible Isle of Wisdom, followed by some righteous early 70s proto-metal I’ve been playing nonstop the past few days.

Lest you think it’s nothing but underground and garage rock from before you were born, the loyal 9C staff have you covered with the more extreme stuff. Aton kicks us off with some new Werewolves, Autarkh III, and Enphin. Josh and I have been gushing over the latest from Wo Fat, so here’s a dose of what to expect when their new album explodes, as well as tracks from Demonical, Tenebro, Lord Belial, Hurakan, and a Motörhead classic. Vincent goes for the outer reaches with some Cremation Lily, The Callous Daoboys, Egregore, and a killer live cut from site favorite Kowloon Walled City. Buke goes decidedly old school with Manowar, Demilich, Sepultura, Darkthrone, and MSG. Finally Angela brings the proceedings to a close with the new single from Astronoid and tracks from Vattnet and Soft Kill, followed by a KILLER old cut from Thou. Really…we should have more Thou in our lives.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

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– Chris

Best of 2017: Some stuff Dan liked this year!

Dan4 Comments

9C 2017 EOY Header Image

Hey y’all, it’s been a minute! More accurately, it’s been about 221,000! Over the last four months, when I haven’t been watching the world rapidly start to resemble a toilet overflowing with diarrhea, I’ve been slaving away at my first semester of nursing school. Which has meant that finally, after a solid 2-3 years in a row of telling myself, “I’m gonna listen to less music this year,” I actually did listen to less music this year! My best estimate is…probably 165 albums? Maybe 170? Still a bunch, but down more than a hundred from each of the last couple of years. MISSION [SORTA] ACCOMPLISHED.

On the other hand, this puts me in something of an odd position when it comes to picking my “Best of 2017.” I didn’t listen to as much music. I deleted my Twitter and reduced my overall social media presence by, conservatively, 75% — which, by the way, was a fucking AMAZING life decision that I recommend all of you try — so I had neither a steady stream of albums-you-must-hear-or-you-will-be-shunned crossing my radar screen, nor the urge to seek out even more obscure albums that I could shun others for not having heard. Oh, and also, most of my favorite albums this year were from outside the metal genre. Me putting this list together and claiming it to be THE BEST OF 2017 would be a little delusional.

So, that’s why I’m not doing that. Okay fine, I’ve made a list and ordered it — alphabetically, because EAT IT, BIG RANKINGS — but that’s it. This is just some stuff I listened to and happened to really enjoy this year. Authoritativeness be damned. (Or left for the folks over at Last Rites.) Let’s jump in.

A note before beginning:

This list is going to focus on the metal portion of this year’s listening. (And perhaps, in some cases, the metal-adjacent.) So, even though Ulver put out my favorite album of the year in any genre with The Assassination of Julius Caesar, you’re not going to see that thing in this post. Same with Anathema. Same with…I dunno, Steven Wilson, or The War on Drugs, or other contributions from pretty-blatantly-not-metal artists. If time permits, I’ll do a year-end Rainbows in the Dark recap. (Maybe.) But this is my metal list, and it shall be kept metal. Now, all that said…

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Best of 2017: Jon’s List

Jon1 Comment

9C 2017 EOY Header Image

He’s back!  Our brother from the north and black metal maven Jonathan Petkau (Domestikwom, Dudeist Priests, Spacekau, Respectably Loud, etc.) has taken the metaphorical pen in hand to draft up some words on his favorite music of 2017.  Without further ado, here’s Jon!

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On a global scale, 2017 was a garbage fire of a year, and 2018 doesn’t show any signs of dying down. It is so omnipresent it often overshadows the personal goals I was able to achieve this year. I put out two EPs (one featuring one of my all-time favourite guitarists), as well as my first full-length album which for so many reasons is one of the things I’m most proud of (after family, etc.).  If we all go out in nuclear fire or global warming floods tomorrow, at least I was able to get that one in under the wire (nervous laughter).

To combat the void staring us all in the face, I’d like to talk about the music that made me happy, because talking about said music also makes me happy. And if you in turn find that reading this makes you happy, fantastic.

This list will be alphabetical and not ranked: doing so at this point would not encourage my happiness.   Continue reading →

Donuts & CANTO: Wolves in the Throne Room, Vallenfyre, Megadeth and more!

DanLeave a comment

wolves in the throne room band 2017
Wolves in the Throne Room

June 29, 2017

Good morning, it’s time to metal. Here’s some news you might have missed from the last couple of days:

    • Leading off, Wolves in the Throne Room have announced a new album, titled Thrice Woven. The album will drop September 22 via the band’s own label, Artemisia Records, and features a guest spot from Neurosis’ Steve Von Till. Sounds better than Celestite already!

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Donuts & CANTO: Rammstein, Meshuggah, Origin and more!

DanLeave a comment

rammstein band 2017
Rammstein

June 5, 2017

Good morning, it’s time to metal. Here’s some news you might have missed from over the weekend:

    • Leading off, Rammstein‘s Friday evening set at the Rock Am Ring festival was cancelled as the festival was forced to evacuate due to concerns over a possible terrorism threat. Thankfully, nothing came of the threat and the festival was able to resume the next day.

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