Aeviterne's debut The Ailing Facade (Profound Lore) hasn't been out long and has already garnered a ton of favorable press and chatter around the metal world for its unique take on experimental death metal. Wide ranging beast would be one way to put it but that misses the musical genius of this band. Experience it, you must. Buke sat down with drummer Ian Jacyszyn to discuss the new album as well as drummer techniques and how Phil from AC/DC was a huge influence, defining the band's sound, what excites him as an artist and the vinyl journey, and so much more. We now present that conversation to you in its entirety so grab your drink of choice, a chair, and enjoy. 

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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

Now on a sophomore album run, Undeath have made a huge name for themselves by simply being as death metal as they can be. On paper, that sounds simple but some bands can go a lifetime and never find the groove Undeath has. Mining the meat and potatoes as well as the 'gimme that nasty riff' crowd, It's Time...To Rise From the Grave (Prosthetic Records) is a violent beast and a massive statement that they are here to stay. Buke sat down with vocalist Alexander Jones to discuss said album and how it was to make this album as a full band, how they've evolved from their 2019 demo, his writing and journalism major, early music interests and influences as well as several grindcore recommendations, living in New York and that music scene, how he landed in a death metal band, and so much more. We now present that conversation to you in its entirety so grab a beer, a chair, and enjoy.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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

By now, Khemmis is a household name for any house that counts doomed heavy metal as law. And for good reason, across four full lengths and a handful of EPs and singles they've trod their own path and created something musically that has no equal. It's heavy as lead, super emotional, and about as down to earth as it can be. They've garnered spots on best of lists around the world for each release and their star shines brighter each and every time out. Just ahead of a huge tour with Opeth and Mastodon, Buke sat down with vocalist and guitarist Phil Pendergast to discuss said tour and how it came to be and the fact that they've somehow been labeled a non touring band, how important it is to stay true to themselves, how difficult it was navigating their friend and ex bassist Dan departing during the pandemic, and a whole smorgasbord of other topics. We now present that conversation to you in its entirety so grab a beer, a chair, and enjoy.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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

Skull Fist are a tried and true heavy metal machine. Period. And on their fourth full length, Paid In Full (Atomic Fire Records), they fully cement the deal. So, obviously, Buke jumped at the chance to discuss this beast with vocalist and guitarist Zach Slaughter. The pair discussed the new album which will be available April 22, as well as skateboarding and a broken neck, hitchhiking across Canada for Iron Maiden, getting a start on guitar at age 15 and early influences, what brings Zach joy, his other projects, hockey, and a whole list of other topics. We now present that conversation to you in its entirety so grab a beer, a chair, and enjoy.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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

London's progressive metallers Monuments are on the eve of releasing their fourth full length album, In Stasis (Century Media), on April 15 and if you've been paying attention they've come along way since their debut. Their songwriting is more captivating than ever, the band's performances are better than ever, and to add to it all, they've added a technical component here that makes this quite possibly their heaviest release yet.

Just ahead of this album's release, Buke jumped in the interview machine to chat with drummer Mike Maylan to discuss a multitude of topics: the new album, his and the band's musical inspirations, injuries and overcoming some major struggles, drumming styles, selling guitar tabs, enjoying music without judgement, and a whole host of other topics. We now present that conversation to you in its entirety.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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

Portland, Maine, black metallers Falls of Rauros released their sixth full-length, Key to a Vanishing Future (Gilead Media / Eisenwald), on March 25. As you may already be aware, Key earned our Album of the Month honors here at Nine Circles, and it represents a tremendous next step in the evolution of a band for which our staff is quickly running out of superlatives.

On the eve of its release, Buke hopped on a call with guitarist Jordan Guerette to discuss a whole multitude of topics: the new album, the process of sonic evolution, simplicity in music... even the simple process of existing as a band during a global pandemic. We now present that conversation to you in its entirety.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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

Vincent had this month's pick and joins with Ian, Angela, and Hera while Buke once again helms the show. The gang covers the sixth full length from Falls of Rauros, Key to a Vanishing Future (Gilead Media) and unlike last month's pick, most are in agreement that this album is an absolute epic entry in the band's discography. As usual, the group covers this album at length and talks about nearly every facet of it as well as catching up since last chatting together, bike riding, books, and a lengthy section on what else tripped our triggers in the month of March.  

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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

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

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

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