veilburner

Initial Descent: December 23 – 29, 2018

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Beaten To Death
Beaten To Death

Just beyond the Winter Solstice — shortest day of the year for those of you somewhat challenged by that — and new metal releases are in short(er) supply. No surprise really. But, that’s ok because we still have a few here that are more than worthy of cramming in your ear holes. What do we have? Read on to find out…

Slapstick grindcore innovators Beaten To Death return with Agronomicon and again hit us with an album that jars the senses while tugging at the funny bone – plus that album art, I’m 100% in for this one. Speaking of innovators, Veilburner continue to defy standard black and death metal with their jagged experimentations on A Sire To the Ghouls of Lunacy and the Ukraine’s Bölthorn let their viking death metal flag fly on Across the Human Path.

Since 2018 is all but in the rear view mirror, we here at Nine Circles want to thank you for continuing to stop by and see what we’re up to. There’s a ton of great outlets you can go to in order to get your metal fix but we sincerely appreciate all the visits you pay here! We all do this because we love the music and getting to share it with all of you is the icing on the cake. 2018 was a blast and 2019 will be even better. Now, get in there and taste the steel. Continue reading →

Best of 2016: Josh’s List

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Nine Circles Best of 2016 Standard

Outside of metal so much happened this year that it really is mind boggling to think back on it. We lost visionaries and legends, witnessed violence of epic proportions, politics took a huge dive into the void and negativity seemed to reign supreme. And all that is barely scratching the surface. I’m definitely not going to be the one to say that 2017 WILL be better but I will say — let’s attempt to make our little corners of the world better, be better to each other and approach it with some semblance of positivity.

On the flip side of the coin, 2016 was about as strong a year in metal that I personally have seen in ages which was a great thing considering the state of affairs otherwise. As usual, metal was my comfort food and the offerings were bountiful. With that said, making a best of list was extremely difficult. What made the cut is only a fraction of my favorites but they represent what I listened to and enjoyed the most but also are the ones that I returned to an insane amount of times and for endless reasons. Stick a fork in 2016 and let these champions ride you out on a high note.  Continue reading →

Initial Descent: September 25 – October 1, 2016

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Winterfylleth
Winterfylleth

Here we are at the dawn of October. One of the finest months of the year, obviously. What better way to kick it off than with a stacked list of metal that is as varied as the many horror movies you need to watch over the next 31 days. Anyway, Initial Descent knows you need it so, this week we have the amazing new album The Dark Hereafter from Winterfylleth, a jazzy avant-garde self titled debut from Brain Tentacles, Okkultokrati‘s Raspberry Dawn that is satan rock at it’s finest and of course Sorceress from everyone’s favorite target Opeth. For everyone still mad about the whole no death metal thing, news flash, they’re still great. Also Veilburner returns with their third full length of inherently evil and challenging black/death/experimental The Obscene Rite and Halshug cracks the earth in half with their brutal new album Sort Sind. Plenty here for you to enjoy so without further delay, get busy after the jump. Continue reading →

Album Review: Veilburner – “The Obscene Rite”

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Veilburner - The Obscene Rite

On Veilburner‘s third full length in as many years, The Obscene Rite, the band not only closes a conceptual and ideological trilogy but offers their most comprehensive and cohesive album to date. After hearing this multi-jointed approach cohesive may not be the first choice of descriptor. But after the scathing black/death metal from The Three Lightbearers and the progressive, oft times experimental song structures from Noumeneon this album combines and expands on both. It’s not an easy first listen but that’s precisely what makes it so magnetic. Continue reading →