The Nine Circles Audio Thing

Another year down -- okay, another year and a couple of weeks, give or take -- and that means another whole buttload of new music released in genres other than our beloved metal. Just sit with that for a second and ponder. There was punk! There was indie! There was shoegaze! And that's just in the rock sub-categories. What about jazz? Hip-hop? Electronic?"Whoa. I need to sit down for a minute," you're thinking to yourself. No you don't, you big dummy! Dan and Chris have you covered!Well, okay, they couldn't -- and, to be fair, don't -- even pretend to have you fully covered on all the myriad 2024 things that weren't metal. But bless their hearts, they do try on this, their... fifth or sixth annual end-of-year NON-metal podcast. It's a wide-ranging, two-plus-hour convo about all the best stuff they listened to from outside the heavy realm. Wanna catch up with 'em? Grab a (+/-) alcoholic beverage of your choice and get listening! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram

Once again the gang comes forth with candidates, this time under the watchful gaze of Ian.  But although strong arguments were put forth for the raw black metal conceptual piece by Ungfell, the morose progressive post-doom of Crippled Black Phoenix, and whatever insane caterwauling The Body did in the month of American Thanksgiving and apocalyptic elections, the rose could only be gifted to one. And that one was Hera with her pick of Thy Catafalque and their progressive world stew that is the unwieldy titled XII: A Gy​ö​ny​ö​rü Álmok Ezut​á​n J​ö​nnek, which I'm sure is fantastic since I pre-ordered the vinyl but in all honestly haven't had time to listen to it yet.But that's okay because the crew talked about it and a lot more, so unwrap your audio gift and check out what else the group was listening to in November! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram

The Nine Circles Audio Thing is back with our Album of the Month for October!Once again the gang comes forth with candidates, this time under the watchful gaze of Angela.  But although strong arguments were put forth for the avant-black metal of Doedsmaghird, the exploratory and modern melodic black metal of Gaerea, and the ripping, quite possibly AOTY contender Blood Incantation the rose could only be gifted to one. And that one was Chris with his pick of Chat Pile and their sledgehammer classic in the making Cool World, which ups the ambition and stands as the voice for the rage and raw pain of a global space far greater than their native Oaklahoma.  Dig into the feast and also check out what else the group was listening to in October! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram

The Nine Circles Audio Thing is back with our Album of the Month for September!Once again the gang comes forth with candidates, this time under the baleful glare of Hera.  But although strong arguments were put forth for the Brazilian prog of Papangu, the icy cold black metal of Marrow of Man, the might return of melodic death metal giants The Black Dahlia Murder, and the woeful fragile beauty of 40 Watt Sun the rose could only be gifted to one. And that one was Angela with her pick of Alunah and their fantastic new album Fever Dream, which isn't afraid to mix some Skynrd and flute in with their specific brand of stoner doom.This one runs long (sorry, too much going on for a proper edit!), so dig into the feast and also check out what else the group was listening to in September! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram

A month to the day the Nine Circles Audio Thing is back with our Album of the Month for August!The staff approached, their pitiful, mewling offerings raised with trembling hands in full view of the gnarled stonework to vie for the attentions and affections of the new Judge.  But despite Hera's impassioned plea for the acidic sludge post metal of Norna, Angela's sadly tossed asides poetics to the virtue of black metal chameleons Zeal & Ardor, Colin's progressive medieval circus ride that is the latest from Sur Austru and Ian's gleeful presentation of the blackened speed thrash attack of Demiser the Demiser's Demiser the rose could only be gifted to one. And that one was Chris, who revelled in the hyper-glitchy grind punk noise rock of Melt-Banana, back with their first album in 11 years 3+5, a blizzard of wonder that races by in only 24 minutes.The gang gets in deep, with lots of talk about vocal tics and tremors, the increasingly silly labelling and confining our notions of what constitutes "heavy" or "extreme", and whether we can all kill Hera if we make her listen to enough thrash metal.  There's also a lot of talk about what else we listened to in August, including a way too long conversation about how positively limp and punched in the long awaited(?) Time II from Wintersun is...you've been warned! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram

It may be a week or so later than we intended but – as promised – the Nine Circles Audio Thing is back with our Album of the Month for July!Candidates were offered up on the gnarled stonework that is the 9C dais, and despite strong arguments by Ian for the storming dissonant fretwork of Occulta Veritas, Colin's impassioned please for the frigid and beautiful Finnish black metal of Autumnfall, and Dan's out in the wilds remote pitch for the all guns blazing power metal of Orden Ogan, only one could wear the mantle of Album of the Month. As this month's presiding Host and Arbiter of Metal Justice (and therefore the only one without a candidate to proffer), Chris got on one knee and handed the rose to Vince and his pitch for the ever evolving and mutating gothic black metal post-punk emo warmth of Vuur & Zijde and their debut full length Boezem (Prophecy Productions).Lots of ground covered, as the gang gets into the difference between blending genres together as opposed to letting them sit haphazardly side by side, the love of a good warm muffled thump in your production, as well as the merits of forging new ground vs. flawless execution of a tried and true formula. We talk about the similarities between black and power metal, and three of us even geek out royally (sorry, Colin!) over 70s era Genesis…and that's before we get into what else we've been listening to in the month of July! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram

It's been a hot minute, but the gang returns along with a new intro to celebrate the return of the Nine Circles Audio Thing!  We're going to get back into the Album of the Month starting with July, but for now Chris returns to the mic for the first time in forever to gather the crew and talk about a few select highlights from the first six months of the year.  Colin, Vince, Ian, Hera and...holy shit, DAN?! Yup, it's a full crew at the ready and madness is had, whether it's risking Swiftian armies or generally squealing with delight over some very, very good metal this year.Variety abounds as the crew gets into it, talking about Dödsrit, Inherits the Void, Ulcerate, Chapel of Disease, Job For A Cowboy, Alcest, Pallbearer, Hamferð, AWS, Thot, Ryujin, Aborted, Hammer King, Lascaille's Shroud, Farsot, and Lord Dying.No spoilers for the anticipated albums, and only a short tease about the new AOTM format moving forward, but it's a blast to be back so grab your favorite beverage, put on those headphones and dig in.  See you next month! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram

Of all the death metal currently burbling in the cauldrons of 20 Buck Spin, SLIMELORD might be one of the most peculiar...and that's saying a lot!Mixing vicious cavernous death metal with forward thinking technicality and hints of psychedelia in their brutal attack, the band released their debut full length Chytridiomycosis Relinquished in March.  Guitarist Alexander Bradley sat down with Nine Circles to talk about the new album, the shift in direction from the technical thrash of Bradley's other band Cryptic Shift to the more filthy strains of SlimeLord, his love of From Software video games and their influence on his lyrics, and much more.A lot of ground is covered in just over 30 minutes, so be sure to check out the conversation and grab yourself a copy of what is sure to be one of the most talked about releases come end of year time! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

What do you get when you combine members of Generation of Vipers, A Storm of Light and Intronaut, then get their collective creative juices flowing about, well... a lot of really heavy shit? (Think global warming, AI, the slow decay of human society in real time... you know! Fun stuff!)Well, you get GUILTLESS! (And also, you get one hell of a heavy listen.)Back in February, the intranational quartet released their new EP, Thorns, via Neurot Recordings, and Buke sat down with guitarist Josh Graham to learn a bit more about it. Throughout their conversation, the duo chat about the band's origins, how they came to work with Neurot, and the long debate they had over whether to release Thorns as an EP or try to stretch it into a full-length. Then, as tends to happen in conversations like these, things diverge. They talk about Graham's "day job" in design, and the increasing creep of AI into his livelihood. They talk about a harsh lesson Graham learned about the music business while performing in an industrial band in high school. They even trade GWAR stories!It's a short and sweet (by our standards), yet still wide-ranging conversation that you won't want to miss. Check it out!  9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Hard to believe it's been a decade since Job For A Cowboy graced us with Sun Eater yet here we are on the eve of Moon Healer (Metal Blade) and we couldn't be more stoked for it if we tried. This band occupies a special spot for most of here on staff as they exemplify our varied tastes in death metal and all things extreme. With this album that statement couldn't be more true as it is wildly all over the map yet cohesive and heavy as lead at the same time. Ian screamed the loudest when the news dropped of a new album so it was the obvious choice to get him on with our podcast maestro Buke to discuss all things Job For A Cowboy with bassist Nick Schendzielos. The guys cover the obvious items but as per usual they cover a whole lot more so get comfy and settle in for a spell. Enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

It's a well known fact that Vitriol slap, as they say. But did you know that they are one of a very few and select bands pushing death metal to new heights? That's kind of a rhetorical question…more of a fact tidbit for you than anything since their latest effort Suffer & Become (Century Media) is somehow better than anything they've touched to date and blows everything out of the water thus far this year. Fitting it is that this album lands at our collective Album of the Month pick and also fitting that it was pretty much unanimous for those in attendance for this chat as well as those absent for this chat. No spoilers beyond the obvious though so you'll need to grab a piece of floor or something comfy and kick back while we embellish on this album as well as several other highlights from the month and of course all the other places we meander to during these things. Dive in and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Yep, we're strongly and firmly in 2024 annnnd late with this by just a bit. But hey, you guys know that‘s our way by now and if not, now you do. Anyway, 2023 was huge for metal and if you've followed along on the site, we've all plastered our picks for you to peruse, enjoy, and maybe find something new or a nugget you missed. We love list season and that's whay our normal cast of fam (Angela, Hera, Ian, Colin, and Vincent) led by our MC Buke got together to put the proverbial nail in the “Best of 2023” coffin once and for all. As usual the discussion is all over the place and fun was had by all. With that said, grab a seat or a piece of floor, your favorite beverage, and enjoy! We are already looking forward to doing this again in 2024. Oh and a big THANK YOU is on order from all of us to all of you for visiting and listening, we really do appreciate it! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Welcome back everyone! As is customary this time of year, our resident NOT-metal heads, Dan and Chris, are back to discuss their favorite music of 2023. Tune in for a sprawling, but not overly rambly discussion of all things NOT-metal, including country, jazz, Canadian punk, and everywhere in-between!Timecodes:(00:00) - Introduction(04:18) - Shared Picks / "Top Two"(16:50) - Chris: "We're in the Rock category"(28:54) - Dan: Punk(35:39) - Chris: "Just Left of Rock"(46:15) - Dan: Country(53:46) - Chris: "We've moved off the Rock Highway"(1:06:50) - Dan: Pop (in its various guises)(1:21:44) - Chris: "I'm Lost" (Off the Rock Highway, Pt. II)(1:31:19) - Dan: The "Don't Get My Own Category"s(1:39:57) - Honorable Mentions(1:50:19) - New Old Music of 2023 (Chris)(1:54:23) - New Old Music of 2023 (Dan)(1:58:12) - Closing ThoughtsArtists and Albums Discussed:Jason Isbell - WeathervanesThe Dirty Nil - Free Rein to PassionsJeff Rosenstock - HELLMODEOsees - Intercepted MessageThe Damned - DarkedelicUriah Heep - Chaos & ColourBrutal Youth - Rebuilding YearFucked Up - One DaySweeping Promises - Good Living is Coming for YouMike Keneally - The Thing That Knowledge Can't EatParamore - This is WhyMargo Price - StraysLucero - Should've Learned By NowSufjan Stevens - JavelinLana del Rey - Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd?Everything But the Girl - FuseBlonde Redhead - Sit Down for DinnerCaroline Polachek - Desire, I Want to Turn Into YouJessie Ware - That! Feels Good!Gunship - UnicornDisclosure - AlchemySZA - SOSSunwatchers - Music is Victory Over TimeThe Reds, Pinks and Purples - The Town that Cursed Your NameQuestlove, David Murray & Ray Angry - PlumbParannoul - After the MagicGrave Pleasures - PlagueboysRodrigo y Gabriela - In Between Thoughts... A New WorldBeach Fossils - BunnyDanny Brown - QuarantaDOMi & JD Beck - NOT TiGHT (2022)Owane - yeah whatever (2018); Chapter One: Shredemption [w/ Jack Gardiner] (2021) 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Welcome back one and all to the final AOTM (Album of the Month) pick discussion for 2023 with Panopticon's The Rime of Memory (Bindrune Recordings). It's safe to assume our regular readers, and listeners, know our feelings on Panopticon at this point but to cut to the chase, we love the project and everything that has come from it. And The Rime of Memory is no different, hence why it ended up here in this discussion. We won‘t spoil any of the actual chat though so hit that play button to hear all about it as well as a follow up discussion on everything else that stuck out during the month of November. All that and a ton more is covered so grab a drink - or twelve - and settle in for the long haul. Enjoy! Oh and we'll see you next month…ish for the Best of 2023 chat.  9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

By now, and as one of 20 Buck Spin's longest running acts, the death metal institution Vastum needs zero intro from us, or you for that matter. Album number five, Inward To Gethsemane, continues the stomach churning filthiness they've so readily displayed but this time the songwriting and delivery has some incredible punch to it. The band has been long time favorites of most of us on staff but none moreso than our very own Buke who got the opportunity to chat with guitarist, vocalist, and synth master Leila Abdul Rauf and vocalist Daniel Butler about the album, some band history, and tons of other stuff along the way. Needless to say he was excited, as we are to bring you this conversation so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. Huge thanks to Leila and Daniel for their time!9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

This was the first time of 2023 that we picked a favorite the fastest and the most solidified. We've all been fans of Wayfarer's Wild West black metal since their debut and with American Gothic (Profound Lore) this love has grown deeper. It's a fantastic album but I'm sure by now you already know this so we won't bore you with frivolity here. The fam got together with our man on the mic, Buke, to discuss this album, why it's our collective favorite of the month, other albums that grabbed our attention and should have your attention as well, and a ton of other stuff is covered. Fun was had by all as the convo went literally all over the place so grab a comfy seat, your preferred beverage, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

For anyone following along in the Nine Circles universe, it comes as no surprise that Autarkh is a huge favorite pretty much across the board. Form In Motion was, and still is, very high on our revisit list as it was unlike anything out there in the metal spectrum at the time. Progressive, epic, monumental, challenging are but some of the words to describe that first effort but even those barely scratch the surface. And now, they're back with their sophomore outing, Emergent (Season of Mist), and yet again will change the face of metal as we know it. Anton and Buke were both ecstatic when presented with the opportunity to chat with 75% of the band (Michele Nienhuis (vocals, guitars), Tijnn Verbruggen (synths, beats), and Desmond Kuijk (bass)) for the second time and wasted no time getting into the new album, what's been going on since they last spoke, and so much more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. Huge thanks to Michele, Tijnn, and Desmond for their time!9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

One might think that with an album name such as Drudge To The Thicket (Profound Lore), California's Fabricant plays around with sludgy doom. However, that couldn't be further from the truth as this debut is squarely in the death metal camp and is technical throughout, brutal at times, charred around the edges, and savvy beyond its years. So yea, you need to get in on this while things are getting off the ground floor. Buke recently chatted with lead guitarist and vocalist Troy Roberts about the new album, some band history, a stint in Mefitis, and a whole bunch more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. Huge thanks to Troy for his time!9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

If you've been following along, The Enduring Spirit (20 Buck Spin) by Tomb Mold is an all encompassing hit for the Nine Circles crew and we pretty much blew our load talking about it on this interview right here. But, we're back in crowd format to blow the last bit of load we have left on it since it truly is that good of a death metal album. You know how these things work: the team picks an album from the month as a favorite then discuss then go over everything else that struck a chord then go over life and whatnot. Fun was had by all as the convo went literally all over the place so grab a comfy seat, your preferred beverage, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

2017 saw the debut full length release, Primordial Malignity, of Ontario's Tomb Mold and without knowing it changed death metal forever. It basically made everyone take notice and up their games. Now, with their fourth full length The Enduring Spirit (20 Buck Spin), they do the same thing yet again. It's challenging and fluid yet melodious, brutal and unforgiving yet accessible, wildly technical yet super catchy without any sort of cliches. It's been a homerun here at Nine Circles pretty much across the board so we're extremely excited that Buke got the chance to chat it up with guitarist Payson Power and drummer / vocalist Max Klebanoff to shed some light on the band, new album, some backstory, and so much more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. Huge thanks to Payson and Max for their time!9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

TesseracT are as essential for progressive metal as blood is to most living organisms - some may say they are the grandfathers of the term ‘djent' but that's for another day. They've been the lifeblood of the genre since their debut landed in 2011 and have charted their own unique path ever since. Each album finds the band exploring their capabilities and possibilities but none so far has been heavier than their just released fifth effort War of Being (Kscope). As usual, it's massive in scope and the songwriting is next level but the heaviness and clarity here will blow any long term fan out of their seat. Buke recently spoke with bassist Amos Williams regarding the new album, some history, other things coming, and tons more topics. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. Huge thanks to Amos Williams for his time!9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

Crow Lotus and Capra are no strangers to Nine Circles or this podcast. Their frenetic and damn captivating energy is second to none and with new album Errors (Metal Blade / Blacklight Media) they slam the door shut on any doubters and seal the deal that was inked in blood with their 2021 debut In Transmission. Any of you can find that album on tons of year end lists and this one will leave a bigger mark, trust us. Just ahead of the album's release, our man Buke got the chance to chat, once more, with the inimitable Crow Lotus surrounding the new album, the past, the future, and so much more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. Huge thanks to Crow Lotus for her time!9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

Hey, for once we're not suuuuper late with this thing OR having to double up on picks in the same episode. Anyway, for our Album of the Month pick for August it was nearly an overwhelming victory for Ontological Mysterium (Season of Mist) from one of death metal's brightest stars, Horrendous. And even still, some of us were there in spirit while Colin, Angela, Ian, Vince, Dan M, and Hera discussed this beast with Buke once again helming the festivities. In case you forgot how this works: each member gets a turn to discuss, Buke then asks for final thoughts, then the gang moves into everything else that tripped their triggers in August. Buke was recovering from a nasty bout of the ‘rona so he actually sounds, at times, like a death metal vocalist so there's that. Fun was had by all as the convo went literally all over the place so grab a comfy seat, your preferred beverage, and enjoy. P.S.: don‘t miss our interview with Damian Herring and Alex Kulick!9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

With Ontological Mysterium (Season of Mist) being the fifth full length from Horrendous, it goes without saying that this band is on one hell of a trajectory. And, with said fifth album they've outdone themselves and released the best of not only their career, but most likely in all of 2023. Bold? Yes. True? Also yes. This is death metal for the ages. With both Damian Herring (guitars, vocals) and Alex Kulick (bass) still reeling from the recent release date, Buke sat down with them for an extremely wide ranging discussion surrounding the new album, their career, and so much more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. Huge thanks to Damian And Alex for their time.9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

It's slowly becoming the norm that our world gets away from us and we're packing two months worth of album picks, aka podcasts, into one episode.  If you like avant-garde, weird, folky black metal, you are in luck since our picks were Alföld (Season of Mist) from Thy Catafalque and Agriculture (The Flenser) from Agriculture and no, nothing to do with farming at all. Buke and the 9C staff have you covered, just like last time, with what is a conversation composed of many, many, MANY words. It's over three hours long, again. So yea, tons of words, tons of catching up, and tons of album talk.Grab a comfortable seat..it's another Album of the Month episode of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Sometimes the world gets away from you and you have to pack two months of podcast into one episode.  So whether your mood swings to the raucous sound of LO! and their new album The Gleaners or the more trepidatious approach of The Ocean and their latest Holocene (both coincidentally on Pelagic  Records) Buke and the 9C staff have you covered with what is sure to be a conversation composed of many, many, MANY words.  I mean, it's over three hours long - I'm assuming this is because of the amount of words being spoken but I supposed it could be something else: maybe there's some bird calls?  Smoke 'em if you got 'em...it's another Album of the Month episode of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

No one, and I mean no one in the extreme metal game has given us a better glimpse of what our impending apocalypse is going to look/feel/sound like than Cattle Decapitation. For the past nine albums the band have blazed a nasty deathgrind path and put the exclamation mark on it all with their last crowning achievement Death Atlas. So, where to go from there? How about deeper exploration of the textures and ambiance from that album and somehow coming away with a superior final product in the form of Terrasite (Metal Blade Records)! Crazy but oh so true. You'll hear it soon enough but for now, our man Buke got a chance to chat with guitarist Josh Elmore about the new album, some history, their upcoming tour, and a whole lot more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

It has been said that Richmond, Virginia turns out some incredible metal. Enforced are one of those bands that prove it with their brand of crossover thrash that nudges the gates of death and speed metal. With two incredible albums under their belts, their third, War Remains (Century Media Records), turns those on their head and curb stomps them...for real, it's that good. We could go on and on about how good but our man Buke recently sat down with vocalist Knox Colby to discuss the new album, band history, Richmond's metal scene, and so much more (you know how we roll). We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

There's no doubt as to whether or not Enslaved are household names at this point in their career, and have been for quite some time. With the release of Heimdal (Nuclear Blast) our back office halls went nuts so it was the obvious choice for the March Album of the Month pick. Well... maybe not obvious as in landslide but close. The rest of that story will surface during this discussion as Buke once again captions the episode alongside several of our usual suspects as they cover this album, catch-up discussions since last time, an enormous section on everything else that tripped their triggers across March, and the usual banter back and forth on literally anything and everything. Pro tip: pack a lunch and a case of beer, this one's lengthy.In other words, just another Album of the Month episode of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Thirty years is a long time, but this year marks exactly that for San Francisco's Acid King. And, they're still the lords of doom and the almighty riff even this far in. Zoroaster and Busse Woods stand as deeply seminal albums as well as stone cold classics. Beyond Vision (Blues Funeral Recordings) is an excellent continuation of their legacy but also marks a chance to really hear its members stretch out and reach for the sky in ways we've never heard before. Buke recently had the chance to speak with Lori S. on the new album and how it came to be, they also discuss her extremely storied history and career, and so much more. Lori is absolutely a legend and should be protected at all costs. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

California's VoidCeremony are readying their second full length Threads Of Unknowing (20 Buck Spin) and if you dabbled with their debut, then you already know we're all going to be in for a hectic black and death metal ride. With this band, it's far more than just those two genres, the way they cross the chasm with their music is akin to the old style of jazz improv which to some says prog but to us it's just...massive. Just ahead of the album's release, Buke spoke to mastermind, vocalist and lead guitarist Garrett Johnson about the album, how it came to be, some band history, and so much more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

It's Album of the Month time again and for this edition, Ulthar's third AND fourth full lengths, Anthronomicon and Helionomicon (20 Buck Spin) 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 Album of the Month episode of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Metal fans know the difference when categorizing a band as tech death versus technical death metal. But, for those unaware, the former implies a bunch of noodling and wankery just because it can be done while the latter implies an actual gift for the technical side of death metal. And that's precisely where you can find France's Gorod as they've been cranking out extremely “technical death metal” now for over 25 years. The Orb, their seventh full length, finds them at their best; mind-bendingly technical, more brutal than ever in their attack, and quite possibly some of the best songs the band has ever written. Buke recently had the chance to chat with vocalist Julien “Nutz” Deyres about the new album, how it came to be, and many other topics. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

Enslaved is a name known far and wide by fans of metal and well beyond. The band are celebrating over 30 years which is in and of itself amazing, even more amazing is that they are more vital now than they've ever been. Over the years their sound has evolved but they've always kept their black metal roots intact and fully alive. Heimdal (Nuclear Blast Records) sees the band push their progressive nature even further while keeping a firm hold on icy venom and, no surprise, it's an epic and glorious album. Buke and lifelong Enslaved fan Colin pair up to chat with drummer Iver Sandøy about the album, how it came to be, and many other topics along the way. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

It's Album of the Month time again and for this edition, Ahab's fifth full length, The Coral Tombs (Napalm Records) was nearly a unanimous pick among the staff. Buke once again captains the episode along with Ian, Angela, Colin, and Vince. The conversation opens with a lengthy back and forth on beer then dives head first into the album, how it compares to past efforts, and deep thoughts surrounding this band's legacy to date. Elsewhere, the gang spends a good portion of the runtime gushing over everything else they listened to since they last spoke. That and the usual banter back and forth on literally anything and everything.In other words, just another episode of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 

If anyone would‘ve hinted at Obsequiae and Inexorum combining forces in a new band, Majesties brand of 90s loving meloswedeath would not have been the first assumption. Yet, here we are on the eve of Vast Reaches Unclaimed (20 Buck Spin) and it's an absolute beast of an album full of everything fans loved about that timeframe in melodic death metal. It's almost as if these guys wrote the next chapter of the genre and the past twenty five years never happened. Buke recently sat down with Matthew Kirkwold (bass), Carl Skildum (guitars), and Tanner Anderson (guitars, vocals, drums) to get the lowdown on this new band and album, how it came to be, and so much more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

One thing is for sure, Memoriam don‘t need us to rekindle their storied history in this band or their members long and legendary careers. Basically, if you don't know them by now you are on purpose avoiding it…they are just that much a part of death metal. For their fifth album, Rise To Power (Reaper Entertainment), it's all about diversity and varying up the songs just a bit. And no, that doesn't mean they've done a 180. It simply means, they're building on what they've created over the course of the past four albums. Is it heavy? Yes. Still trademark Memoriam? Yes. Better than their previous outings? Our opinion only, but YES. Their sound is as vital to death metal as air and water is for humans to keep living and it only gets better with time. Buke recently sat down with the genre defining vocalist Karl Willetts to discuss the new album, how it came to be, Memoriam's and its members histories, and a ton more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

It's that time of year once again! Chris and Dan (K, that is -- we've got more than one Dan now!) are back for another lengthy conversation about their favorite non-metal releases of 2022. With no shortage of terrific records to choose from, the guys highlight everything from Australian pub punk, to Australian dream pop, to Australian prog/jazz/uh... kind of everything? (Australia, as you'll see, had itself yet another tremendous year for music.)But! There was plenty of stuff not from Australia, too. What kinds? You'll have to check it out! So grab your tasty armchair of choice, sit down in a comfy beverage, and strap on in for our Best of Non-Metal 2022!---9C LINKS:WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagram

List season has been in full swing on our site, as well as across the metal writing sphere, and we still have more fun to be had there. And yes, we love list season in case you were wondering. For this episode our maestro of the mic, Buke, pulls together Hera, Ian, Vincent, Angela, and two new members who have jumped in with both feet: Colin and Dan M., to discuss some of their favorites from 2022 and of course a lot of catching up was had since the last time these folks chatted together. The format “loosely” follows a round robin style of five picks with some honorable mentions thrown in for good measure. From there the conversation is all over the place as we do on these episodes of The Nine Circles Audio Thing. Be sure to pull up a chair and your favorite drink(s), this one is a bit longer than our norm.Big thank you's are in order to our excellent staff, PR folk, bands, labels, and our dear listeners and readers for a HUGE 2022! Keep an eye out for a few more Best of 2022 lists to come, I assure you there are several you'll want to take note of. See you here, and on the site, throughout 2023, cheers.9C LINKS:  Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

Album of the Month time again and for November the winner was Dream Unending's second full length Song of Salvation (20 Buck Spin). The usual gang of suspects, along with some new blood, join in along with our main man on the mic Buke leading the charge. The gang spends time covering how this album compares to their last and why this one somersaults over their last effort. Elsewhere, the gang spends a good portion of the runtime gushing over everything else they listened to since they last spoke. That and the usual banter back and forth on literally anything and everything.In other words, just another episode of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Supergroups in extreme metal take on a whole other meaning when it's comprised of Dave Witte, Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns, and Phil Hall. Those names are synonymous with some of the best offerings extreme metal has to offer. And now with Morbikon, this supergroup crosses the threshold of 90s era Scandinavian black metal and melodic death metal on their debut Ov Mournful Twilight (Tankcrimes). To say this album rips would be a gross understatement, but with its membership this should surprise no one. Buke recently spoke to Phil "Landphil" Hall, who handles guitar and bass here, for a wide ranging chat about the band, the album, how it all came to be, and so much more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

Norway's In The Woods… have had a much storied trajectory over the spectrum of time since forming in the early 90s. Early on they were black metal to the bone but as many bands have done, they morphed into a progressive rock band with a black metal heart. And it has paid off in spades. One listen to Diversum (Soulseller Records) and it's clear they have a hard grasp on what it means to age with grace and distinction. It's an epic journey that begs repeat listens and now that the weather here in the States has turned colder, it's like a warm blanket and a spiked cup of coffee. Buke recently sat down with guitarist and keyboardist Kåre André Sletteberg to find out more about the band and the album, and as always, a whole lot more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

Death, gore, zombies, chainsaws, horrors of all sorts; these are all topics Exhumed have covered over their  thirty plus years of existence and across a multitude of releases. The latest of which, To The Dead (Relapse Records), finds these deathgrind masters as blood soaked as ever. You'd think that in that many years there might be misstep or something just out of place, but this isn't the case as every single album is better, and more destructive, than the last. Buke recently sat down with split guitarist and vocalist, and founding member Matt Harvey as they cover the new album and how it came to be as well as some band history, juggling tons of projects, and so much more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat or a coffin lid, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

Album of the Month time again and for October the winner was Goatwhore's eighth album Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven (Metal Blade Records). The usual gang of suspects join in along with our main man on the mic Buke leading the charge. The gang spends time covering how bad ass this album is as well as the band's past and their road to the present. Elsewhere, the gang spends a good portion of the runtime gushing over everything else they listened to since they last spoke. That and the usual banter back and forth on literally anything and everything.In other words, just another episode of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Denmark's Orm have been active since 2015 and with their last two albums the band have shown a deep understanding of epic and melodic black metal that at times veers close to atmospheric and at other times close to the vicious and raw side. It's a beautiful amalgamation and even more so on their latest, Intet • Altet (Indisciplinarian), where they opt for longer compositions and more time to explore their multi-faceted approach. Buke recently spoke with drummer Adam Bjørn Schønemann-Warming to discuss the new album and how it came to be, the choice for longer songs, and so much more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Some 40 years and change has seen a lot in the Voivod camp. A handful of genres crossed, a deep discography, and tons of rabid fans that soak up anything and everything they can get their hands on. The Voivod of today makes some of the best sci-fi metal you're likely to ever hear and on their newest EP, Ultraman (Century Media Records), they offer a stunning tribute to the TV series theme of the same name. As if that's not enough, the EP also offers some bonus live tracks. Buke recently sat down with vocalist Denis “Snake” Bélanger to discuss the new EP, the band's deep history, and so much more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Texas is known for a lot of things, and metal is one of those things. San Antonio in particular is home to none other than melodic black / death metallers Scars Of The Flesh who are about to release their third full length In Darkness Alone (pick it up here). Debut Harvest Of Souls was a barnburner and follow up Reaching Into The Void was a projectile of incendiary violence that far eclipsed the debut in many ways. In Darkness Alone stands to be the album that truly puts this band on the map with five brand spanking new tracks alongside four amazing cover songs that the band truly makes their own. Buke sat down with lead guitarist Bryan Eckermann, rhythm guitarist Derek Russell, and vocalist Kobey Lange to discuss the new album, how it came to be, and so much more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 

Once again it's Album of the Month time and for September it was pretty much unanimous that Survival Of The Sickest (Napalm Records) from Sweden's death metal masters Bloodbath got the pick. The usual gang of suspects are present for the discussion as well as MC Supreme Buke leading the charge. Much is made of just how good Bloodbath are this far along in their career and how they still reign supreme in any discussion surrounding Swedeath. Elsewhere, the gang spends a good portion of the runtime gushing over everything else they listened to since they last spoke. That and the usual banter back and forth on literally anything and everything.In other words, just another episode of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

North Dakota's Phobophilic may be a new name to some but they've been mining the death metal underground since 2016 in the form of demos, EP's, and fast moving recommendations from those 'in the know.' But now, they have a vicious debut full length, Enveloping Absurdity (Prosthetic Records), and are set to turn heads all over the death metal sphere. Buke recently spoke with guitarist Josh Poer about the new album, how it came to be, some backstory, and a ton more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

It's been awhile since last hearing from Daeva. Five years to be exact. And since that time they've taken their brand of sweaty, priest burning black / thrash metal to a whole new level. Their EP, Pulsing Dark Absorptions, was a lightning rod, but debut full length Through Sheer Will And Black Magic… (20 Buck Spin) will turn heads far below the southern end of the cross. To put it in quick layman's terms; imagine Mayhem and GG Allin in a knife fight and you're in the realm of what's included here. Buke recently spoke with guitarist Steve Jansson and drummer Enrique Sagarnaga about the new album, how it came to be, their much lauded Crypt Sermon ties, and a ton more. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Goatwhore started out, at least for me, as the band you wanted to hear but couldn't get your hands on any material. That was then. And now with their eighth full length Angels Hung From The Arches of Heaven (Metal Blade Records) these dudes are a household name in any house that lifts up damn good metal. Call it blackened thrash or thrash and death with a splash of black metal or whatever you want to call it, bottom line is this band rules and that's all there is to it. Ahead of the new album, which rips the door to hell wide open, Buke got the chance to chat with guitarist and part vocalist Sammy Duet about the new album and how it came to be as well as the Goatwhore ethos and how it plays into metal in general. But, they don't stop there, a ton is covered beyond that, rest assured. We now bring you this conversation in its entirety so grab your beverage of choice, a seat, and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram