Explore every episode of the podcast The Nine Circles Audio Thing
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best of 2024: Dan and Chris recap the year in NOT-Metal! | 19 Jan 2025 | 02:13:19 | |
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 | |||
| Thy Catafalque was November 2024's Album of the Month! | 25 Dec 2024 | 01:32:34 | |
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 Gyönyörü Álmok Ezután Jönnek, 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 | |||
| Vitriol was January 2024’s Album of the Month! | 14 Feb 2024 | 02:05:55 | |
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 (X) | Instagram | |||
| Best of 2021: Buke and David Stepanavicius of Atræ Bilis share their favorites and more! | 07 Jan 2022 | 01:45:20 | |
David Stepanavicius of Atræ Bilis is no stranger to the podcast as he and Buke discussed Apexapien (20 Buck Spin) at length back in November and it was such an electric discussion that Buke reached back out to have David on again to discuss all things Best of 2021. The two catch up a bit since last time then launch into their biggest disappointments of 2021, their Honorable Mentions, and their collective Top 10. They also discuss Best of lists in general and how an artist / band views list season, how music usually finds David and how much labels play a part in it, whether Chris Barnes or memes are better, upcoming things for Atræ Bilis, and so much more. You'll definitely want to keep a pen and paper handy as they cover a ton of great albums, forty in total. No surprise here at all, this is an excellent discussion! Huge thanks to David for joining us once again and we're already looking forward to the next one! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Best of 2021 | 05 Jan 2022 | 02:32:24 | |
List season. It's like Christmas every day of December and some of January where we get to regale the best metal that 2021 had to offer. It's a time to catch up and find things you slept on or had no idea came out but also a time to raise hell over picks and placements, ahhh good times. Buke wrangled Ian, Vince, Hera, and Angela to discuss their individual top three of 2021, picks of albums that were not in their top three but close, favorite song of the year, and biggest disappointments of the year. Spoiler alert: Rivers of Nihil's The Work was unanimously discussed here. They also cover the post Christmas spirit, coffee and coffee kettles, covid and awaiting tests, Yules in lieu of trad Christmas because Halloween is better, rainbow Christmas trees, our All In Nine Circles Best of 2021 list, how Buke has yet to grasp Jane Doe, and so much more. Big thank you's are in order to our excellent staff, PR folk, bands, labels, and our dear listeners and readers for a HUGE 2021! Keep an eye out for a few more Best Of 2021 lists to come, I assure you there are several you'll want to take note of. See you in 2022, cheers. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Haunt's Trevor Church on new album "Unplugged Vol. 1," strong work ethic, skateboarding, family and upbringing, and much more! | 08 Dec 2021 | 01:50:16 | |
Through his projects, Haunt and Beastmaker, and intense work ethic, Trevor Church has become a household name for heavy metal fans and enthusiasts. Particularly if Bandcamp is part of said fans' daily visits. The discography between just these two projects is staggering and the speed in which he releases new music is astounding. With new album Unplugged Vol. 1, Trevor shows a side we haven't heard and yet again knocks it out of the park just as he has with every other album under his belt. The man is an anomaly to be blunt, and the kind we rarely see these days. His love of all things rock and metal, no matter the timeframe, shines through in everything he does and is part of why his fanbase has grown to epic proportions. Buke had the chance to chat with Trevor about Unplugged Vol. 1, how it's easier said than done to make an unplugged album, and other landmark unplugged albums through the years. They cover how Trevor is always working and grinding the gears and how he prevents burnout, how instrumental Trevor's dad was in making this particular album and the significance of it being Vol. 1, his family and upbringing in a household with Bill Church who was bassist in Montrose and worked with Van Morrison, to name a few, volatile relationships in rock and metal and how they changed the landscape of music as we know it, and Trevor's label Church Recordings and a Night Demon tie in. They also cover who Trevor's rock and metal idols were, monster trucks and Guitar Center, favorite lyricists and his one biggest musical influence. All this and so much more is covered in this epic length conversation so pull up a chair or a piece of floor and enjoy! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Desert Island Albums (w/ the Power Trio) | 03 Dec 2021 | 02:13:31 | |
Episode 102 is upon us! After an extended time away, Chris and Dan rejoin Lord Goldenvoice himself, Buke, for a rousing, back-and-forth-and-back-again discussion of their "desert island picks" -- the albums they'd want to be their Wilsons if ever stranded in the South Pacific. (Or South Atlantic. Or maybe even Indian. We don't discriminate here.) In any case, the crew -- henceforth to be known as The Power Trio™ -- covers a wide net, with everything from jazz to progressive metal to classic hip-hop getting a seat at the proverbial, uh... log next to the signal fire? There's also a mention of the band Orgy, which is one more mention of the band Orgy than there should ever be in a Desert Island albums chat. But, we digress. Our selections are linked for your listening pleasure in the notes below. (Though not spelled out in those links because, you know, spoilers and all that.) So grab a seat and at least one adult beverage, 'cause this is a long one. Enjoy! --- Buke's Picks: Album 1 | Album 2 | Album 3 | Album 4 | Album 5 Chris's Picks: Album 1 | Album 2 | Album 3 | Album 4 | Album 5 Dan's Picks: Album 1 | Album 2 | Album 3 | Album 4 | Album 5 --- 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Imperial Triumphant's Steve Blanco on new live album "An Evening With Imperial Triumphant," New York City, local venues, jazz, and much more! | 01 Dec 2021 | 01:06:00 | |
For Imperial Triumphant and extreme metal fans around the globe, Vile Luxury was a statement of avantgarde supremacy of the like none of us have ever seen and follow up Alphaville twisted that blade in even deeper. Their sound is the heartbeat of their home base New York City in the sense of its roots in jazz and the extremities found at every corner and perfectly encapsulates every aspect of day to day life in the city's grasp. Melodies, or hooks, are sparse and generally non existent but this is just the genius of what they do; every second is a different experience and every second of every song is monumental which is captured to near perfection in their latest live album An Evening With Imperial Triumphant (Century Media). On the heels of this live album, Buke had the chance to chat with Steve Blanco about the album, the choice to record it at Slipper Room, and how it felt to finally get back on the road. They also cover the importance of the live aspect to their band as well as importance to all bands and the fans connection to the music in that setting, New York City and how it was eerily similar to Blade Runner during the height of the pandemic, evolution of the band since their debut and what's to come, how jazz being a part of their music isn't deliberate but instead just a natural part of the trio's fabric, BBQ and coffee, and David Lynch. All this and so much is covered so dive in and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| First Fragment was October 2021's Album of the Month! | 25 Nov 2021 | 02:06:45 | |
Time sure does fly but don't worry - the episode opens with what everyone was listening to for September, except for Hera, who talks about an album back in May. That's how we roll, folks! Then it's onto current matters with Anton reaching for Gloire Éternelle by First Fragment (Unique Leader). It's an interesting choice for the team, with staunch tech death advocates on one side of the house and folks that...let's say lean toward the polar opposite in terms of musical tastes. And yet, there's something undeniable about the way First Fragment blend so many different styles into their unique brand of music. Of course it helps immensely when you have people like Phil Tougas and Dominic Lapointe bringing the heat in at a nuclear level. Unique Leader is no stranger to putting out great technical death metal, but in First Fragment we have something that colors outsides those lines and yet stands as a champion of what the label and genre have to offer. All that and - surprising no one - a lengthy segment about some of the other great music that came out in October (though no mention of Mastodon...something we'll rectify for year, end ;-)) including fellow tech death nerds Archspire who released their mammoth second album Bleed the Future, Monolord's latest Your Time to Shine, and the death doom glory of Foreverglad by Worm. Deep waters ahead so dive in and join the crew! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Atræ Bilis' David Stepanavicius on new album "Apexapien," deep dive into extreme metal, preferred way of listening to music, desert island albums, and much more! | 23 Nov 2021 | 01:39:59 | |
Vancouver's Atræ Bilis made quite the splash with last year's EP Divinihility and nearly overnight made them a household name in any house that heralds death metal. A quick year later here we are with their debut full length Apexapien and they prove the success of that EP was no joke. From start to finish, this album is an absolute beast with teeth big enough to tear the planet in two. It hits hard as a ton of bricks but is amazingly smart in its construction. Not clinging to any one leg of death metal it blazes its own path forward with Albert Einstein level riffs and chest crushing blows around every corner. It goes without saying, this album is a favorite for us here at Nine Circles and for good reason. For this discussion, Buke had an epic length chat with David about the new album and some backstory on it, how it's been working with 20 Buck Spin and owner David Adelson as well as the huge impact 20 Buck has made on the extreme metal landscape, a lengthy back and forth appreciation chat on metal of all sorts, and David's favorite strain of death metal and what got him hooked. They also cover Mortician, pandemic effects, David's life in Australia and the move to Canada and what spawned that decision, a pitch of an album and song choice from grindcore to get Buke into it and the key to knowing you've found a great grindcore album, and five desert island album picks. All this and so much more is covered in this excellent discussion so dive in and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Monolord's Thomas Jäger on new album "Your Time To Shine," readying for an upcoming tour, thoughts on the afterlife, being a music teacher, and much more! | 03 Nov 2021 | 01:06:27 | |
Your Time To Shine (Relapse Records) is Monolord's fifth full length release since exploding onto the doom metal scene back in 2014 with their excellent debut Empress Rising. To say their rise in this genre has been anything other than meteoric would be an atrocity, and even including 'rise' in that statement is misleading since their debut captured fans from across the globe and landed on many best of lists. Their sound has become the new standard in doom metal for anyone looking for something outside the 'paint by numbers' formula that's been around for so long. And, with every album since, their star shines ever brighter. Your Time To Shine continues this tradition and further cements their legacy in doom metal. For this discussion, Buke caught vocalist and guitarist Thomas Jäger on the eve of the album's release as he was just starting to see the buzz surrounding the album get louder and louder. The two chat about the new album and how it came together, how they are hoping an upcoming tour will happen, his other profession as a music teacher and full on thoughts about that, whether the afterlife is a thing or not, and the amazing nugget of how the album cover art came together. They also cover the importance of not making the same album twice, having direction and rules within the band and how they enjoy a lack of all those most of the time, the choice to stick to five tracks and why, and a track pick that represents where the band are today. All this and so much more is covered so jump in and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Creeping Death's Trey Pemberton on EP "The Edge of Existence," Ohio State football, readying for an upcoming tour, MMA training, Riley Gale, and much more! | 05 Oct 2021 | 00:59:18 | |
The Edge of Existence (eOne) is Texas based Creeping Death's third EP, but follows from their bludgeoning 2019 full length Wretched illusions. Death metal had no idea what it was in for when this band formed and called it its own. Their sound is immediately violent yet has a groovy, melodic edge to it that makes for fast kinship amongst fans of metal far beyond just death metal. Reviews came fast and furious for the full length and it seemed the band was an overnight success, rightfully so since said full length was such a hammer to the face of death metal that so many just couldn't get enough of, and us included. Just ahead of the EP's release, our maestro of the mic, Buke, had the chance to cross paths, yet again, with guitarist Trey Pemberton to discuss The Edge of Existence and how it came to be. They also discussed how the pandemic shaped the album and how that allowed them time to really focus on the album and their individual mastery of the puzzle pieces, their upcoming tour and what to expect, Trey's MMA training and how that has helped him in so many ways, the passing of Powertrip's Riley Gale and how hard that hit the band as well as fellow Texans and metal fans in general, and how Trey's Mom shaped his musical history since she was a huge metal fan and an absolute shredder on the drum kit. Plus, what song Trey feels perfectly encapsulates the Creeping Death sound off the new EP. All this and so much more is covered in this amazing chat so dive in and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Deafheaven was August 2021's Album of the Month! | 15 Sep 2021 | 01:43:36 | |
No doubt you know how this works by now...team members take turns picking their favorite album from a given month and for August 2021, it was a shoe in for Deafheaven's Infinite Granite (Sargent House) across the board. And, while no one on staff disagreed, not everyone was on the exact same page. Since 2010, Deafheaven have yet to make the same album twice or even close to the same album. The way they transition from black metal to shoegaze has made them critical darlings of a controversy that can never quite get its controversy correct. And now that they've gone full on shoegaze, the internet will never be the same. So it seems. The gang covers Infinite Granite and just how different it is as well as how much it rules, the fact that this might well be their "Opeth" moment, lyrics and how good George Clarke is in writing them as well as their impact over the years with certain team members, spooky season, a huge set of birthdays, and, as always, what else tripped our triggers during the month of August 2021 which features lengthy segments on both BTBAM's Colors II and WITTR's Primordial Arcana, obviously. So, do have a pen and paper on hand. All this and so much more as we dive head first into our eighth AOTM for 2021! So jump in and get an earful! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Best of 2023! | 21 Jan 2024 | 03:17:37 | |
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 (X) | Instagram | |||
| Wolves In The Throne Room's Aaron Weaver on "Primordial Arcana," nature, preserving history, first moving musical experience, and much more! | 08 Sep 2021 | 00:45:52 | |
With seventh full length, Primordial Arcana (Relapse Records), Wolves In The Throne Room literally have nothing else to prove to anyone. They make their brand of atmospheric black metal for themselves and their own spirits and have gained a massive following since their inception in 2002 due to their extremely nature inspired and spiritually grounded music and the feeling surrounding each release that fans have come to know and love. And, Primordial Arcana is no different yet is its own spirit animal as well as possibly their best release yet. On the heels of the album's release, Buke had the chance to chat with drummer Aaron Weaver about the album and its nuances, nature and specifically a piece of it that relates to his upbringing and how it has informed not only his life but his musical choices, how preserving history is important and why, his experience at the Fire In The Mountains Fest and how amazing the Grand Tetons are, how it's been working with Kody Keyworth, and how he stays close to the earth and his interests in early ways of building and surviving. They also cover Aaron's influences and how he either opens up to them or shuts down pending where he is in the creative process for new music, his go to gas station foods, and his song pick off the new album. All this and so much more is covered in this amazing chat so dive in and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Rivers of Nihil's Jake Dieffenbach on upcoming album "The Work," finding a green thumb, musical directions, and much more! | 01 Sep 2021 | 00:30:09 | |
Later this month, progressive / technical death metallers Rivers of Nihil will drop their fourth full length, The Work (Metal Blade Records), and by all accounts this album will be a crowning achievement for them as well as their fans and fans of extreme metal in general. 2018's Where Owls Know My Name really blew the lid off for them and received mountains of praise, as it should have. The Work finds the band at an even higher creative peak and, somehow, heavier than ever. We're foaming at the mouth over it and before long, you will be too. Just ahead of the album's release, Buke had the chance to chat with vocalist Jake Dieffenbach about the album, creation of it, and how the pandemic actually helped them take their time with it. They also cover other jobs that Jake has had and some local (Pennsylvania) recommendations of must stops when in the area. Jake opens up about a hearing disability and how he's turned that into a positive, how he feels about expectations of new albums from a fan's perspective, upcoming touring plans, and he drops the album pick he feels is truly a showcase track for where they are right now. This is an excellent chat so dive in and enjoy! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Burial In The Sky on their new album "The Consumed Self," playing multiple instruments, history of the band, Kenny G, and much more! | 25 Aug 2021 | 00:39:56 | |
Burial In The Sky's third full length The Consumed Self (Rising Nemesis Records) is an absolute beast of progressive and technical death metal that easily stands out from the crowd with its clarity, punch, and originality. And, it blasts past their last two albums even though both of those were no slouches. This one is the culmination of all their hard work to date and should, by all accounts, make them household names for any fan of the extreme spectrum of metal. Just on the heels of the album release, Buke had the chance to chat with James Tomedi, Brad Hettinger, Jorel Hart, Sam Stewart, and Zach Strouse about the new album and the state of their world post-release. They also cover how the pandemic shaped releasing it, what drove the members to the prog-tech spectrum of death metal, how they've evolved since forming, using the saxophone and a quick discussion on Kenny G, mechanics of songwriting within the band and lyrical content surrounding a story. Then they move into a history lesson and the importance of networking as well as their chemistry when playing. Unfortunately, we suffered technical difficulties near the end and lost them, but made the best of it in closing. Even with that, this was an excellent chat so dig in and enjoy! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Year Of No Light was July 2021's Album of the Month! | 18 Aug 2021 | 01:18:17 | |
No doubt you know how this works by now...team members take turns picking their favorite album from a given month and for July 2021, Cat (Hera) yelled the loudest over Year Of No Light's Consolamentum (Pelagic Records). And, based on their heavy history, no one on staff disagreed. Since 2001, Year Of No Light have been churning out some of the heaviest post-metal by way of sludge, doom, and drone anywhere and this release finds them at their most vulnerable yet heaviest of the bunch in their discography. It's been said that any band choosing to go the instrumental route better have plenty of meat to make a statement and this band has the whole damn cow on the grill. The gang covers Consolamentum and how it stacks up to their past while standing completely on its own, comparisons to like minded bands and how Year Of No Light are 100% unique, how Hera's virtual Roadburn experience colored this pick as well as how this one fits in her spiritual tear as of late and the color she sees when listening to the album, new homes for certain staff, the relentless heat, branching out with different genres of music due to the pandemic, whether to move to the West Coast or not, Egypt and our resident Egyptologist, and, as always, what else tripped our triggers during the month of July 2021. So, do have a pen and paper on hand. All this and so much more as we dive head first into our seventh AOTM for 2021! So jump in and get an earful! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Between the Buried and Me's Tommy Rogers on "Colors II," making videos, their impending tour, a look back on the band's history, and much more! | 11 Aug 2021 | 00:45:02 | |
Between the Buried and Me have blazed their own path and done things their own way now for some twenty years and change. So with a pandemic raging and nothing much else to do, they decided to record the follow up to their 2007 opus Colors, lovingly titled Colors II (Sumerian Records). Whether you go the Wikipedia route and call it new wave polka grunge or the band's route and call it adult contemporary progressive death metal, it kind of all fits and this is why the band is so endeared by its fans or, on the flip side, at arm's length to outsiders. Either way you slice it, Colors II is epic, colorful, and wildly entertaining. Just ahead of the August 20 release date, Buke had the chance to chat with vocalist and keyboardist Tommy Rogers about the new album, how it came to be, and behind the scenes. They also take a look back on Colors as well as band history and Tommy's background in music, becoming a vocalist, and how he came to play the keyboard. Time is spent on how the band doesn't pre-plan going into a new album and just how much time and effort goes into getting everything just right and sounding good, length of albums and the band's position on folks that say their music is too hard to get into, Tommy's solo work, and a discussion on their upcoming tour called An Evening with Between the Buried and Me. This is an excellent chat so dig in and enjoy! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Allegaeon's Riley McShane on voicing a character in the Resident Evil series, gaming and favorite platforms, favorite vocalists in death metal, future band plans, and so much more! | 21 Jul 2021 | 01:15:47 | |
Allegaeon has fast become a household name in the tech death metal arena, and for good reason. Their last album Apoptosis (Metal Blade Records) was a beacon in the tech-melodic-death-metal arena and placed the band on the same wavelength as the giants in this genre. And maybe even head and shoulders above their competition. Eye of the beholder sort of thing, obviously, but these dudes are the real deal. Period. In close proximity to Riley McShane's voiceover in the Resident Evil series, our maestro of the mic, Buke, had the chance to dig into the whys and hows of this voiceover, Riley's gaming background and favorite platforms, Riley's video game publishing platform and future releases, Cannibal Corpse vs Six Feet Under vocalists, a section on Apoptosis and the creative process surrounding that album, cover songs, and a ton more! Dive in for an excellent chat. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Amenra was June 2021's Album of the Month! | 08 Jul 2021 | 01:42:12 | |
You know how this works...team members take turn picking their favorite each month and this month was technically a landslide between the 9C members joining and the others not able to due to life and whatever else got in the way. De Doorn from Amenra is the band's fifth full length and first for new label Relapse Records who scooped them up on the strength of their discography, and what a strong discography it is! The fact that this is only their fifth full length misses the fact that they've put out six volumes of their out-of-body-religious experience Mass series and all the one-offs, splits, and EP's that are just as powerful. Amenra are all about the experience and each and every effort speaks volumes to how much they put into their music and to see them live is truly an otherworldy experience. The gang covers De Doorn and how this album stacks up to their previous works and how much of an impact the spoken word approach (in their native language) makes, the Church of Ra and its collective, and correct pronunciation of the band name. Following that is a "what else tripped our triggers" in June on the metal landscape which features several albums you'll want to take note of. All this and so much more as we dive head first into our sixth AOTM for 2021! So jump in and get an earful! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Gwar's Blothar on new EP "The Disc With No Name," the 30th anniversary extravaganza of "Scumdogs of the Universe," whether or not Covid was their fault, and much more! | 07 Jul 2021 | 00:57:39 | |
Gwar is an absolute metal institution and one that has stood the test of time for 37 years strong. They've done things their own way and have carved their own path from the word go and have been inspiration to so many bands since their 1984 start and to be clear, not many bands can lay claim to as many accolades as Gwar is worthy of. Fuckin' legends, is what I'm saying. If anyone needs an intro to this band...leave the hall. On the heels of their latest EP, The Disc With No Name, our maestro of the mic, Buke, chats with vocalist Blothar on this newest outing and details surrounding it as well as the decision to do some acoustic tracks. They also discuss the 30th anniversary remixed and remastered release of Scumdogs of the Universe and all the surprises surrounding this edition, whether or not they were to blame for Covid and whether or not they give a shit, a deep discussion on punk music that's kicked off by a mention of GwarBQ, some band history, Gwar as businessmen with all their new ventures, working with Brian Slagel (Metal Blade) and all he's done for metal and the band, LOADS (listen in), and so much more. This is an excellent chat so dive in and enjoy, and be sure to catch the 30th anniversary Scumdogs tour that was recently announced. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Beyond Creation's Simon Girard on their new collaborative beer "Entre Stout et Mirage," Montréal, Tech Death, and much more! | 24 Jun 2021 | 01:16:32 | |
Beyond Creation have become a giant in the tech death arena since forming in 2005 (under a different moniker) and, have done this with just three full lengths which is impressive to say the least. Beyond that, the band has a progressive side as well that went full tilt on their last album Algorythm (Season of Mist). Now, they've paired with Vox and Hops Brewtal North America and Overhop for a stout beer named closely after one of their songs. Our main man on the mic, Buke, chats with Simon Girard about this new beer venture and how it all came about as well as the whys of picking a coffee stout to be their maiden voyage into the beer market. They also cover technical death metal in general, band and personal musical history and how Simon's Grandfather made a huge impact on him, the explosion of craft breweries in Montréal as well as stateside, some of Simon's favorite beers and favorite death metal, and how they continue to experiment with tech death without crossing the line of alienating fans. As a bonus, we get some talk about Simon's upcoming solo album. This is an excellent chat so jump in and enjoy! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Thy Catafalque's Tamas on "Vadak," creating music on a Commodore Amiga, the art of blending multiple styles and genres, and much more! | 22 Jun 2021 | 00:54:25 | |
Thy Catafalque hold the great distinction of simply sounding like no other band out there. Hot off the heels of their stunning 2020 release Naiv comes Vadak (Season of Mist), and it's no secret to say the entire 9C crew is in the bag for more twisting songs that break genre convention yet maintain a level of heaviness that will induce even the most discerning of metalheads to thrash with abandon. The Man with an Iron Voice Buke sat down with the mastermind behind the band Tamás Kátai to discuss the history and genesis of the band and that evolution from humble demo beginnings on a Commodore Amiga of all things to the lush melange of sounds that have permitted the most recent recordings and especially Vadak. From the opening synth of "Szarvas" to the sublime hints of Paul Simon of all people (does no one else hear that?) on "Köszöntsd A Hajnalt" all the way to the final seconds of closer "Zúzmara" you'll be in awe at where the album goes, and how successfully it marries everything onto a firm foundation of metal. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Best of 2023: Dan and Chris recap the year in NOT-Metal! | 15 Jan 2024 | 02:01:17 | |
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:
Artists and Albums Discussed:
9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Majestic Downfall's Jacobo and Alÿ on "Aorta," the draw of doom, European vs. American fans, and much more! | 17 Jun 2021 | 01:07:19 | |
Majestic Downfall trade in some epic doom that stretches and luxuriates in melancholic surges of blood and tears. Aorta (Personal Records) is their latest testament to the power of the morose, and it's a feat of stirring arrangements, mournful melodies, and a bass sound that burrows under your skin and lays its eggs deep in the flesh. It touches on the classic 90s era of the scene without mimicking it, and it's one of those albums you'll be feeling in your bones long after the last note is played. Our Master of the Microphone Buke sat down with bassist/vocalist Jacobo Córdova and guitarist Alÿ to discuss the genesis of the band's latest record. Along the way all the usual detours are thoroughly explored, including the how's and why's of doom metal and the challenges of writing a long song and making it work (like the EXCELLENT 20-minute "Roberta" which kicks off the album), the differences between European and American audiences, and the growth found in writing and performing over the course of 15 years. This is one of those interviews that you just want to go on - a great conversation in service of an incredible record. Aorta lays its foundation in the earth of doom, but there are moments of blistering aggression balanced with delicate threads of hope. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Bossk's Tom Begley on "Migration," his history in music and playing bass, Star Wars, British food, and much more! | 15 Jun 2021 | 01:30:27 | |
With Migration (Deathwish Inc.), Bossk are only on their second full length since forming in 2005, give or take little, but that hasn't stopped them from being one of the heaviest bands in post-metal this side of Amenra. There, we said it. And, it's true. Migration is chock full of mood, atmosphere, and plain old heaviness...the kind you could hammer hot steel with. It's also an overall better album than their debut, the band has really stepped it up in the songwriting department and the construct of each and every track and how it reacts with its surroundings. Bottom line; this is an album you need in your life. Our maestro of the mic, Buke, chats with Tom Begley about the new album, its bleak industrial cover art, and building momentum off the static one might encounter from an old vinyl or radio transmission. They also cover Tom's musical background and what made him pick up the bass, the band's "wall of sound" stance, life for musicians in the Covid era, British food and beer, social media and whether it really helps anything, Star Wars and The Mandalorian, and several other topics. Tom opens up here and the back forth between him and Buke makes this an excellent chat so dive in and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| An Autumn For Crippled Children was May 2021's Album of the Month! | 10 Jun 2021 | 01:15:40 | |
You know how this works...team members take turn picking their favorite each month and As the Morning Dawns We Close Our Eyes (Prosthetic Records) was Vincent's pick. He had two reasons for doing so; one because it's up his alley and the other...you'll have to listen in to find out. The gang covers a slew of different angles and takes on the album, compares it to previous releases and attempts to get Buke up to speed on it as well as this genre crossroad. They also cover the slow maturation that An Autumn For Crippled Children has experienced since forming in 2009. Following that is a "what else tripped our triggers" in May section that prominently features the latest from Panopticon and several others worth taking note of. All this and so much more as we dive head first into our fifth AOTM for 2021! So jump in and get an earful! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Boss Keloid's Ste Arands on "Family the Smiling Thrush," band and sound evolution, Toto, and much more! | 08 Jun 2021 | 01:08:17 | |
Over the course of, now, five albums with Family the Smiling Thrush (Ripple Music) Boss Keloid have gone from stoner metal to a progressive metal giant. They defy easy categorization and genre tags by keeping fans, and new listeners, on their toes with an amalgamation of styles and varying degrees of heaviness. To put it plain, no one else is doing what this band is doing, nor has the balls to put themselves out there like they do. And it works, tremendously so. Our maestro of the mic, Buke, chats with Ste Arands about the new album and the pitfalls of jamming together in the midst of the pandemic, how the band has evolved over the years personally and in sound and scope, a more collaborative writing approach then in the past, and an enormous discussion on Ste's vast and eclectic ear for music and how his upbringing with music as a constant shaped him as a musician. They also cover upcoming tour plans, Toto, the negative effects of the social media age, a surprise family likeness, and Ste's background in drumming and how he got his start behind the kit. This is an absolute blast of a conversation so dive in and enjoy! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Perturbator's James Kent on "Lustful Sacraments," background in black metal, synthwave history, horror, and much more! | 01 Jun 2021 | 01:00:56 | |
Synthwave is one of those genres that has become a go to for metalheads due to its horror movie kinship, its wildly creative sound and its imagery which at times can mirror some of extreme metal's most enduring gorehounds. Perturbator and James Kent have been at the tip of this spear since Terror 404 back in 2012 and has shown more and more growth and depth on each successive album. Now, with Lustful Sacraments (Blood Music), the band dive further into the industrial side of the synth coin but do so in a way that doesn't leave anything behind. Think of it as an experiment gone incredibly right. Our maestro of the mic, Buke, chats with James about the new album and how it was conceived, his extensive background-and knowledge of-black metal, his deep rooted love for horror and how it has shaped his musical output, and how much time actually goes into making this type of music and being happy with final results. They also spend some time on synth and electronic shop talk, what James listens to and how it keeps him vibrant, a video game appearance and Alcest tie in, James' favorite Darkthrone album, and many other topics. This is an excellent conversation so dive in and enjoy! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| TECHNICALLY INCLINED: Cerebrum's "Iridium" | 28 May 2021 | 00:39:53 | |
Technically Inclined is back! And Hera -- having NOW (but not at the time of recording) newly completed grad school -- has rejoined the fold once again! And this time out, we're talking about Greek progressive death crew Cerebrum and their third album, Iridium. But we're also talking about other stuff! Like Gojira. And how Hera is synesthetic, which mesmerized the hell out of Buke. And also, bands in Greece. And also also, the line between prog death and tech death, and what each entails. It was a fun time! There's much laughter on this here recording. Plus, Iridium! It dropped in 2018 on Transcending Obscurity. It's also quite good and you should definitely listen to it. For more details, jump on in and give the fifth iteration of Technically Inclined a full listen! --- CEREBRUM LINKS: Listen to Iridium | Website | Metal-Archives 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Drummer, sound engineer, and producer Hannes Grossmann on new album "To Where the Light Retreats," creative process between solo work and guest slots, TAMA drums, and much more! | 25 May 2021 | 01:22:46 | |
Anyone familiar with Epitaph era Necrophagist or Obscura or Alkaloid, to name a few, will undoubtedly be familiar with Hannes Grossmann as he was an integral driving force behind all of it. Beyond drumming, he's also a sound engineer and producer with a long list of credits under his belt. As if all that wasn't enough, we're on the eve of his fourth solo album, To Where the Light Retreats, which promises to be as technical and heavy as anything he's ever been a part of. Our maestro of the mic, Buke, chats with Hannes about the new album and what to expect, the different mindsets of drumming for his solo work and for other bands as well as the various mindsets that prepare him for producing music, his early days in drumming and how his fascinations and heroes paved the way, and a very long standing relationship with TAMA drums. They also cover how different drummers leave their own unique fingerprints on the music they make, plenty of shop talk, and a huge back and forth on Hi-Fi and headphones. This is a great discussion with plenty of nuggets all along Hannes' career, jump in and enjoy! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Metal Blade's founder and CEO, Brian Slagel, on the label, its history, hockey, and much more! | 20 May 2021 | 01:03:51 | |
Metal Blade Records has been a household name for metal, and heavier music in general, lovers for longer than some of you listening to this podcast have been alive. Founder, owner, and CEO Brian Slagel had a vision back in 1982 with the first of the Metal Massacre compilation series, to highlight, then, unknown heavy artists. This led to the beginnings of Metal Blade Records and a long standing relationship with fans all across the globe. This week marks the XV edition of the Metal Massacre series as the label nears 40 years in existence, and remains a dominant force in metal and beyond. Our maestro of the mic, Buke, chats with Brian on the label and its history, Brian's first book and making of a second, Blacklight Media, the label's exceptional PR team and plenty of back office label stuff. They also get into a somewhat recent partnership with Violent Gentlemen which led into a major discussion on hockey as well as Brian's Stanley Cup pick. This is an excellent discussion, so jump in and enjoy. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Capra was April 2021's Album of the Month! | 18 May 2021 | 01:46:50 | |
You know how this works...team members take turns picking their favorite album of the month and In Transmission (Metal Blade Records and Blacklight Media) was Ian's pick. This album was pretty much an instant hit, all the way around the back office, as soon as Ian announced it and it has only grown closer and closer to the heart as time has passed. It's an incredibly vicious album but with a deeply emotional soul to it through hardcore, sludge, a touch of punk, and an amazing vocalist that casts a huge presence. There's plenty of back and forth on just how good this album is, the dual label release, Capra's energy and insane talent throughout, and whether anyone can actually pick just one favorite track. Following that is a roundhouse of "what else tripped our triggers in April" and a wide array of personal achievements since our last album pick. All this and so much more as we dive head first into our fourth AOTM for 2021! So jump in and get an earful! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| TECHNICALLY INCLINED: The Faceless' "Planetary Duality" | 11 May 2021 | 00:28:59 | |
Another round of Technically Inclined! This time out, Dan and Buke dig into The Faceless, and their second album, Planetary Duality. Planetary Duality came out in 2008 on Sumerian Records, and has since become a well-loved gem within the tech death landscape. It's too bad Dan thought The Faceless played deathcore and never listened to it until just this week! So, how'd the album land with Nine Circles' resident tech-noob? You'll have to listen to find out! And stick around for brief tangents into Mortal Kombat, Maryland Deathfest, and more! --- THE FACELESS LINKS: Listen to Planetary Duality | Facebook | Metal-Archives 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Panopticon was November 2023’s Album of the Month! | 20 Dec 2023 | 02:05:51 | |
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 (X) | Instagram | |||
| Ageless Oblivion's David Porter on "Suspended Between Earth and Sky," dissecting a long hiatus, progression of sound, and much more! | 07 May 2021 | 01:07:38 | |
Ageless Oblivion just broke a seven year hiatus with the outstanding Suspended Between Earth and Sky. This, their third full length, sees the band's sound veer further towards the ominously atmospheric side of death metal than their last outing, Penthos. This is an album that is as vicious as it is dark and as dense as it is vast. Put in other words, a truly excellent album for death metal fans and beyond. Our maestro of the mic, Buke, chats with David about...literally anything and everything. Things open with a discussion of Penthos and how the band has honed their sound since then. Once the gears get moving they discuss technical death metal and how Neurosis has helped to evolve their sound, David's excitement on release day, the band's desire for a more focused album this time out, and the current state of the UK metal scene from Davids' point of view and a video tie in to Celestial Sanctuary. And from there the chat evolves into British history and food, chess, and a 2021 forecast for the band. This is a great discussion, so jump in and enjoy. Suspended Between Earth and Sky is available now on Apocalyptic Witchcraft. For more information on Ageless Oblivion, visit their Facebook page. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Endseeker's Ben Liepelt on "Mount Carcass," the magic of Dimebag, European metal festivals, and much more! | 05 May 2021 | 01:05:50 | |
Mount Carcass is the latest from German death metal merchants Endseeker, and it dives deep into that classic old school sound pioneered by the likes of Entombed, Carnage, and Dismember. Sure, it's easy to grab an HM-2 and tune down to Drop B, but Endseeker bring the songwriting chops and vision to not just emulate the old guard but bring their own modern spin to the genre. The riffs are tight, the groove is firmly in the pockets, and the tone? Chef's kiss, my friends. Our man on the mic Buke took some time to sit down with Endseeker guitarist Ben Liepelt to run the usual Audio Thing gamut of, well...everything. Things kick off with life for a musician recording an album during lockdown and how the pandemic is still running riot in Europe, but once early influences kick and and the mighty Pantera is mentioned we're off to the races. It's a great conversation, so settle in for some fun and then make sure to check out Mount Carcass...just be prepared to break some furniture when you hear the hammer smash of songs like "Bloodline" and "Count the Dead" blast from those speakers... Mount Carcass is available now on Metal Blade Records. For more information on Endseeker, visit their website and Facebook page. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Cryptosis's Frank te Riet on "Bionic Swarm," Metal in the Netherlands, Switching Names (and Direction), and Much More! | 13 Apr 2021 | 00:24:49 | |
Bionic Swarm, the debut from Cryptosis has become an early favorite for many of the staff at Nine Circles. Jamming together old school thrash, progressive death metal, and a healthy dose of symphonic black metal in its arrangements, it's the kind of debut that instantly slams into your skull and rewires your brain. So it's only natural that Buke not only championed the band and album to everyone on the crew, but grabbed some time with bassist Frank te Riet to talk about album. But this is Buke we're talking about here, so of course the conversation winds its way into a number of interesting places, from the state of metal in the Netherlands, to the shared experience of Slipknot as a gateway to extreme metal, and to how you exactly mountain bike in a place not known for its mountains. It's a great talk as usual, and combined with the mighty riffs to be found on Bionic Swarm we're 89% sure you'll find your heart's desire tucked away in a drawer in your parent's old house. Or not - but you'll at least get some fantastic metal and a great chat. Bionic Swarm is available now on Century Media Records. For more information on Cryptosis, visit their website and Facebook page. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| TECHNICALLY INCLINED: Beyond Creation's "The Aura" | 02 Apr 2021 | 00:31:00 | |
Welcome back to another edition of Technically Inclined! In Round 3, we took a gander at Quebecois quartet Beyond Creation, and their debut album, The Aura. Beyond Creation formed in Montreal in 2005 and released The Aura via PRC Music in 2011. (Season of Mist later reissued the album in 2013.) While the album can frustrate at times, it also showcases a (then-)young band with a lot of promise -- promise that the band would go on to fulfill on 2014's Earthbound Evolution and 2018's Algorythm. No further spoilers in this here little blurb -- for our full thoughts, you'll have to jump in and take a listen! --- BEYOND CREATION LINKS: Listen to The Aura | Band Website | Facebook NINE CIRCLES LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Demiser was March 2021's Album of the Month! | 30 Mar 2021 | 01:31:39 | |
You know how this works...team members take turns picking their favorite album of the month and Through the Gate Eternal (Boris Records) was Josh's pick. This album fast became a favorite due to its blistering blackened thrash and its self awareness as well as its devilishly on point song titles and nods to the old guard of metal. There's plenty of back and forth on how this album forces involuntary reactions, the South Carolina tie in to Josh, Demiser's energy and insane talent throughout, past points of reference for everyone in the discussion and whether anyone can pick a favorite track. Following that is a roundhouse of "what else tripped our triggers in March" and a teaser, well...spoiler, for our April pick. All this and so much more as we dive head first into our third AOTM for 2021! So jump in and get an earful! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Capra's Crow Lotus on upcoming album "In Transmission," missing live shows, a geology degree, lyrics, and much more! | 24 Mar 2021 | 00:53:49 | |
Capra has caught lightning in a bottle on their upcoming full length debut In Transmission. It's equal parts metal, punk, and hardcore but the sum is way more than its parts. Blistering riffs, crushing blasts, and obliterating vocals are just some of what the band has to offer across these eleven tracks. It's hostile yet authentic, aggressive and angry yet carries so much depth and feeling and overall is a near perfect debut that fans all over the metal spectrum will unite around. Just ahead of the album's release, vocalist Crow Lotus took the time to chat with Buke about In Transmission and the length of time it has been ready to roll, the band's larger than life stage presence and missing the opportunity to showcase it, her geology degree, details surrounding her joining Capra, and how being a vocalist in lieu of a bassist fits her better. All that and a huge section on gaming and the Metal Blade hosted Dungeons and Dragons stream, women in punk and metal and the sisterhood in the scene, the band's Slay At Home set from November of last year, and a whole host of other topics. In Transmission will be available April 23 on Metal Blade Records and Blacklight Media. For more information on Capra, visit their Facebook page. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Cave Of Swimmers' Arturo Garcia on new album "Aurora," efficiency of being a duo, origin of the band's name, how his drumming career started, and so much more! | 17 Mar 2021 | 00:58:38 | |
Cave Of Swimmers have been around since 2012 and have finally released their debut full length Aurora. And what a surprise it is after two EP's worth of what could be described as "doom-prog." This album shifts effortlessly between a Mars Volta meets System of a Down vibe to a thrashtastic Megadeth vibe while giving a world music spin to their particular brand of metal. It's a mouthful on paper but rest assured it works seamlessly and is an absolute blast to experience. On the heels of Aurora's release, Arturo Garcia took the time to chat with Buke about the new album and just how different this band is than most out there right now, how freeing and efficient it is being a duo, origin of the band's name, how he got his start in drumming and when the music bug hit him, the impetus for moving from Venezuela to Florida, and his favorite track off the album. All that and a discussion on whether or not to defend the snare on St. Anger, the value of playing covers, and a whole host of other topics. Aurora is available now on BroomTune Records. To keep up with all things Cave Of Swimmers, visit their official website and Facebook page. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| The Ruins of Beverast was February 2021's Album of the Month! | 10 Mar 2021 | 01:37:47 | |
You know how this works...team members take turns picking the AOTM, and this month technically was a group pick but Vince screamed the loudest over The Thule Grimoires (Ván Records) as soon as it hit our inbox and, as you'll hear, is also The Ruins of Beverast's biggest fan. However, all is not in balance in the House of 9C, as there's plenty of back and forth on the vocals and how different the band has sounded over the years. One team member didn't even get to the vocals, so there's that. There's a lot of coffee talk, noodles and catfish (you'll have to listen in and figure that one out), the Martinek brothers sparring, and an in depth discussion on Vide, the latest from Emptiness, during the "what else tripped our triggers in February" section. All this and so much more as we dive head first into our second AOTM for 2021! So jump in and get an earful! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| TECHNICALLY INCLINED: Spawn of Possession's "Incurso" | 05 Mar 2021 | 00:30:23 | |
We're back for another round of Technically Inclined! Episode 2 -- which, for those keeping score at home, means this idea already has more traction than approximately 70% of ideas Dan has had for Nine Circles over the years -- features a conversation on Spawn of Possession, and their landmark final album, Incurso. Plus, a new fighter joins! Nine Circles' own Scholar of the First Sin, Hera, enters the ring to share her own tech death enthusiasm with the crew. And to help educate our brave lil' boy further. She'll be a regular on this segment going forward, so everyone say a big "HI, HERA!" Jump in, take a listen, and -- with apologies to Archspire -- stay tech! --- Listen to Incurso: Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Cannibal Corpse's Paul Mazurkiewicz on sports, band longevity, their upcoming album "Violence Unimagined," and so much more! | 03 Mar 2021 | 00:56:56 | |
Cannibal Corpse have been an absolute death metal juggernaut for over thirty years now and have long since past the point of having to prove anything. They've toured all over the world, been recognized by outlets that many would think not metal friendly, been featured in movies, and have had a career that most bands could only dream of. And with their upcoming fifteenth full length, Violence Unimagined, they show absolutely no signs of slowing down or even softening the blow of their brutal and very unique brand of death metal. Just ahead of the album's release, drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz took the time to chat with Buke about their over thirty year run and how he stays on top of his game this far in. They also spend a lengthy amount of time on sports and particularly hockey and how that was in direct competition to music at one time. Paul chats about his parents eventual support and the moment they became his, and the band's, biggest fans. They also discuss Erik Rutan joining the band and the positivity he brings, The Anchor Bar and La Nova and who has the best wings once and for all, Violence Unimagined, and a whole host of other topics. Violence Unimagined will be available April 16 on Metal Blade Records. To keep up with all things Cannibal Corpse, visit their official website. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Leila Abdul Rauf and Daniel Butler of Vastum on their new album “Inward To Gethsemane” and much more! | 22 Nov 2023 | 01:24:50 | |
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. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| TECHNICALLY INCLINED: Necrophagist | 21 Feb 2021 | 00:29:22 | |
Woohoo, it's new segment time! Technically Inclined will be a new jam here on the Audio Thing, devoted primarily to appreciating the oft-overlooked -- at least on this blog -- genre of technical death metal. Tech death: Buke's known and loved it for years; Dan's neutral and limited in his knowledge of it. And so, Technically Inclined will celebrate the genre by having Sensei Buke educate Padawan Dan on its many intricacies -- one album (or in this case, one band) at a time. (Plus, with these goons, you know there'll be jokes and banter involved. It's basically written into our contracts at this point.) So! For our first (and hopefully not only) venture into this world, jump on in and join us for our thoughts on dormant German tech legends NECROPHAGIST! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Tribulation was January's 2021's Album of the Month! | 09 Feb 2021 | 01:23:06 | |
Episode 64 of The Nine Circles Audio Thing kicks off 2021 with a bang, as the gang waxes poetic about the latest from Swedish prog/goth/death rock/kitchen sink outfit Tribulation, whose new album Where the Gloom Becomes Sound out on Century Media and Metal Blade has folks in a tizzy. Buke again assumes the captains chair and leads the chase with the usual suspects, and introduces newest member of the 9C gang Didrik to the insanity! You know how this works...team members take turns picking the AOTM, and this month has the combined love of Ian and Angela, who also co-wrote the review. However, all is not in balance in the House of 9C, as Didrik and Hera have a very different take on the band and album. Will the team survive this controversy? What side of the coin will Vince land on? How many tangents does Buke bring the crew to over the course of 90 minutes that was originally over 2 hours? All this and more as we dive heard first into our first AOTM for 20201! So jump in and get an earful! 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||
| Tribulation's Adam Zaars on their new album "Where the Gloom Becomes Sound," Jonathan Hultén's exit and Joseph Tholl's entry, Adam's entry into, and fascination with, heavy metal, writing an album in the midst of a pandemic, what 2021 may hold for the band, and so much more! | 27 Jan 2021 | 00:49:35 | |
At this point, Tribulation need zero introduction since they have been a powerhouse of both death metal and gothic metal over the course of four full lengths. And, with Where the Gloom Becomes Sound the band fully cement their gothic meets death metal stance. It's January but already we're feeling vibes of "best of 2021" with this album since it truly is their best yet and fully fleshed out album to date. And, that's saying a lot since any fan of the band would already say they've climbed that hill. Such is the power of Tribulation. Just ahead of the album's release, guitarist Adam Zaars took the time to chat with Buke about Where the Gloom Becomes Sound and how it was to craft an album in the midst of a pandemic, Jonathan Hultén's exit and Joseph Tholl's entry and how he fits in, how genre labels don't always do justice, influences for donning the makeup, a brief history of the band and a timeline discussion, Adam's "nerding out" with heavy metal in his younger days and changes in listening habits over the years, Adam's favorite track off the new album and why. All that and discussions on their collective kids, gaming, Tribulation's live presence and what 2021 may hold for the band. Where the Gloom Becomes Sound will be available January 29 on Metal Blade Records and Century Media Records. To Keep up with all things Tribulation, visit their official website, Facebook page, and Instagram page. 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | |||