The Nine Circles Audio Thing

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 | Bluesky

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!

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Listen to Incurso: Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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

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 | Bluesky

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 | Bluesky

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 | Bluesky

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 | Bluesky

With #BestOf2020 coverage having been fully underway here at Nine Circles for a couple of weeks, it’s time for a bit of a breather. Time to crank down the volume, switch off the HM-2 pedal, and talk some non-metal for a change. If you read Ian’s end-of-year Rainbows in the Dark blog post and thought to yourself, “boy, I sure would like a two-and-a-half-hour audio version of THAT,” well, reader, have we got the episode for you!

A little while back — okay, almost a month back now, because Dan works in a hospital and doing anything productive when he's not at work has been a tall order this year — he and fellow non-metal aficionado Chris Voss sat down to talk about their favorite stuff from all the other genres that dropped this year. There’s some shoegaze and some folk, some powerful hip-hop and some super-catchy synth pop. They covered as many bases as they could, for a near Buke-sized amount of time.

So if you, too, need a break from all the heavy stuff, jump on in and check it out. Maybe some of the stuff that floated their boats will float yours too!

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9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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

For this episode we go all in with most of the staff for our best of 2020 picks. We hit the high notes of what tickled our fancies for the year that was a shitstorm and even welcomed in a new member to the family. So, buckle up for an epic episode that has a wealth of stuff you may have missed and be sure to take notes, artists we mention need your support so open up those wallets and purses.

Needless to say, 2020 was a wasteland of a year but it drove metal to be an epic beast throughout its twelve months of existence. As always, Buke pilots this episode with Charles, Angela, Ian, Vincent, Heracat, and new member Didrik who all cover some of their favorites from the year. Discussions range from the best metal had to offer as well as Christmas traditions on the US side as well as the Canadian side, a brief primer on Didrik's metal background, pandemic woes, and the Slay At Home series and many other avenues our staff sought live entertainment in 2020. Settle in and enjoy some fireside conversation on what 2020 had to offer and we'll be seeing you in 2021.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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

Tombs are on the eve of releasing their fifth full length Under Sullen Skies which is much like biting the head off a rocket and reveling in the burn of the explosion. No surprise really, the band have been incendiary since their debut Winter Hours and just get better and better with each release. This album however finds them better and more vicious than ever. It's not a stretch at all that they've already been placed high on one specific best of 2020 list and we are certain they'll be on many more to come.

Just ahead of the album's release, mainman Mike Hill took the time to chat with Buke about Under Sullen Skies and how Savage Gold was somewhat an impetus for it. They also spend some time talking about Mike's deep love of the extreme side of music and how it's shaped him over the years as well as some of Mike's early favorites and how Venom, Celtic Frost, and Norwegian Black Metal shaped Tombs' sound. Mike also reveals the album that made him pick up a guitar and how Tombs got its start as a band that he would love to hear as a fan. The two chat about the experience of working with Season of Mist and some old Relapse tie ins as well as the Anthrax Club and the Maryland Deathfest experience. All that and an extended discussion on mixed martial arts and combat sports in general. 

Under Sullen Skies will be available November 20 on Season of Mist. To keep up with all things Tombs, visit their official website, Facebook page, Instagram page, and their YouTube channel. 

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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