The Nine Circles Audio Thing

Absent In Body are the absolute epitome of a supergroup with membership spanning Amenra, Neurosis, and Sepultura. Just the thought of these souls coming together for a project brings to mind some of the heaviest, most emotional and spiritualistic filled music on the planet. And that’s exactly what they’ve cooked up on debut Plague God (Relapse Records). It’s not unlike anything this group has done before yet it’s entirely its own thing with an industrial tinge that‘s pointed with sludge and doom and seismic levels of suffocating atmosphere. Buke sat down with Colin H. Van Eeckhout and Mathieu J. Vandekerckhove to discuss the new album, how it came to be, what brought the band together, and the multitude of ideas behind it all. They also discuss how it felt for these two artists to branch out a bit musically in the Absent In Body mindset, skateboarding and the joys, and pain, of the sport, the Belgian metal scene and how they both were first exposed to metal, their friendship with Scott Kelly and Igor Cavalera, working with Relapse Records, the decision to have Amenra’s last album in their native tongue, and so much more.

This is an epic conversation with two legendary artists, so grab your beverage of choice and settle in for another edition of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

On their debut Of Rot and Ruin, Hath stunned a crowded death metal landscape with their brutal Opethesque take on it. Now, three years and a pandemic later, All That Was Promised is even better with tighter songwriting, even more razor sharp riffs than before, and an incredibly apocalyptic atmosphere. In two albums, Hath has reached a level that most bands take years to develop. Just on the heels of the new album's release, Buke had the chance to chat with vocalist and guitarist Frank Albanese about the new album and how the band dealt with the extremely high bar they set three years ago, how it's been working with Willowtip Records and how that union came to be, Bandcamp and the Epic Games recent purchase of same, how Frank learned to play guitar, and some of Frank's and the band's history in the Jersey scene. They also cover one of Frank's favorite albums of 2021, video games, album art, giving black metal artists free ideas, and a ton more.

This is an epic length conversation, so grab your beverage of choice and settle in for another edition of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

Troglodyte are the bigfoot themed death metal band you probably don't know about, but should. They've been around since 2005 and have, with new album The Hierarchical Ecological Succession: Welcome to the Food Chain (Blood Blast Distribution), four full lengths of gnarly, meat and potatoes death metal that sounds like a big, bloody slab of top shelf filet mignon tastes. Buke sat down with vocalist and mainman Jeff Sisson to discuss the new album and what they've been up to since 2015 and their last album, the band's bigfoot theme and how that came to be as well as themed metal bands in general and what it takes to make that work. They also cover Jeff's history in horror movies, owning a video store, some of his favorite movies in general, consuming music in the current streaming age, how the new album art came to be, and the band's killer merch game. 

This is an epic length conversation, so grab your beverage of choice and settle in for another edition of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

Buke once again had this month's pick and once again helms the episode along with Vincent, Ian, Angela, and Hera in tow. The gang covers the sixth full length from Allegaeon, Damnum (Metal Blade Records) and while everyone was absolutely not on the same page, everyone voiced their opinions and why's or why not's for or against. Damnum is galvanizing as it's not the same album as Apoptosis, for several reasons, but the crew covers this in length as well as Disney songs, catching up with one another, stews and soups, and of course what else tripped their collective triggers through February. In addition to this discussion, be sure to check out Ian's review of this album and Buke's recent interview with Allegaeon's own Riley McShane.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

Vio-Lence may not have the largest back catalog of releases but they're a band that's been around since 1985 and have been a huge force in thrash metal, even through the 29 years since their last full length. New EP, Let The World Burn (Metal Blade Records), sounds like they've been steadily releasing work since then, they haven't lost a step and in fact rip it up like never before. As an EP, it rolls by way too fast but is an amazing piece of work that no one should sleep on. Buke recently sat down with guitarist Phil Demmel to discuss the new EP, how it came together and getting back in that thrash mindset. They also cover Phil's storied career in Machine Head and how The Blackening was such a lightning rod as well as how his other projects have colored his playing over the years, fatherhood and how it's the best thing ever, Phil's bar and how that experience has been, and so much more.

This is a killer conversation, so grab your beverage of choice and settle in for another edition of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

Crowbar is a band that has long been in legendary status. They've blazed a path in sludge metal since 1990 and have roots as far back as 1979. They've influenced about as many bands as people they've played in front of throughout the world and through all this, and on album number twelve, they are still as heavy and vital as ever. Zero and Below (MNRK Heavy) is a beast of an album that is as much of the band's legacy as powdered sugar is to beignets or butter to crawfish. But, it's also an album that continues the trajectory of one of the most beloved bands in the history of metal. Sludge would be an entirely different animal if not for Crowbar and their savage riffs coupled with Kirk's gravelly vocals, and Zero and Below is yet another triumph in a long line of them. Buke sat down with Kirk Windstein (aka RIFF LORD) and discussed the new album and how it feels to be on album number twelve, the NOLA music scene and how all its musicians create the most original and unique sounds as well as how it feels like one big family, a bit of Crowbar history and how Kirk got started on the guitar, a lifelong fandom of KISS and his favorite member, Kirk's love of animals, absolutely zero retirement plans in the works, and a whole host of other topics.

This is a killer conversation, so grab your beverage of choice and settle in for a wicked edition of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

What can you say that hasn't already been said about the guys in Blood Incantation? Whether it's their incredibly deep and sprawling slabs of death metal like Starspawn or Hidden Histories of the Human Race or their other musical endeavors that read like a primer of the best extreme metal of the last 10 years (Spectral Voice, Stormkeep, Wayfarer)...it seems no matter what they put their hands in, it comes out righteous and heavy. So it's no surprise that their latest left turn, the ambient experiment Timewave Zero (Century Media Records) manages to retain the signature sound of the band even as it stretches into the furthest reaches of space without the raging riffs of down-tuned guitars to power it. We sat down with 3/4 of the band (Isaac, Paul and Morris) to discuss how the collaborative process works when you're creating an ambient record, the close-knit nature of the Colorado scene, keeping riffs fresh and alive in a world where almost everything has already been done, and so much more (just wait until the episode shifts to the majesty of Gorguts).

This is a killer conversation that just reinforces howe vital and essential Blood Incantation is to the extreme metal scene, so put down that fidget spinner, grab your beverage of choice and settle in for a wicked edition of the Nine Circles Audio Thing.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

It's no secret that here at Nine Circles we love some Allegaeon. So, it's obvious we had to get vocalist Riley McShane back to chat about their new album Damnum (Metal Blade Records) and how it came together as well as how it was to work with new blood drummer Jeff Saltzman and what he brought to the table. They also cover how touring brings the best and worst out of people, the deeply personal lyrics in the new album, attachment to albums and when to let them go, how there's never any finish line to success and there's always room to grow, pandemic effects on the band and their touring, not taking criticism from someone you wouldn't take advice from, and gamer talk. All this and so much more.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

Amorphis has had a long and storied career in death metal that has seen the band become influences for so many and one that has produced many exceptional albums. Upcoming album Halo (Atomic Fire Records) is yet another feather in the hat of a band that gets better with age. Just ahead of the new album, Buke and bassist Olli-Pekka Laine uncover some backstory on Halo and some of the differences of this album to Queen of Time, they go down memory lane of Amorphis and how their sound has changed over the years and what's been instrumental in adding fans over the years, Olli's past with hardcore and some of his favorites from the genre, the importance of Tales from the Thousand Lakes, and they discuss an upcoming tour and memories of touring in the U.S. All this and so much more so dig in.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

January was atypically strong for metal even with short new release lists. However, Buke jumped all over picking Wilderun's fourth full length Epigone (Century Media Records) as soon as it was announced. Wilderun are no strangers to Nine Circles with a recent interview and album review, we dig them, obviously. So, the normal gang of Buke, Ian, Angela, Vincent, and Hera discuss the album at length and it's a pretty even split of those who love it and those who don't. They also cover several other albums that tripped triggers throughout January so be sure to keep a pen and paper handy. All that and more so dive into the first Album of the Month discussion for 2022!

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky