A micro-genre/movement/what have you that I've been doing my hardest to champion this year at Nine Circles is "castle metal"; melodic black metal rooted in the sound and aesthetic of Obsequiae while incorporating a multitude of other influences. There is an ever-growing roster of bands that have taken up the banner in similar yet distinct ways, and three released full-length albums this year: Morke with To Carry On, Veytik with Carmina Aerea in Aetate Ferrea, and Weald + Woe with Far From the Light of Heaven.

The incredible musicians behind these three acts were kind enough to sit down with me to have an extended discussion on their main influences, lyrical and thematic inspirations, albums of year, and more. Don your chain mail, sharpen your sword, pour a chalice of your desired beverage, and enjoy!

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

Discovering and giving exposure to brand new artists is one of the greatest privileges when it comes to writing about music. And when a fantastic musician you're already familiar with announces something completely new, it's hard not to set your expectations high. With Weft and debut LP The Splintered Oar (Bindrune Recordings) I can say with confidence that these expectations were not only met, but surpassed. Best known to the metal world as the live and session violinist for the almighty Panopticon, Charlie Anderson's debut album with his first solo project is a tremendous amalgamation of black, prog, and death metal with some beautiful folk passages to top it all off in a fresh and unique fashion.

In anticipation of The Splintered Oar's release next month Charlie was generous enough to chat with me about his influences and the musical journey to get here, the incredible musicians he worked with on this album, and more. Grab a cozy beverage, sit down, and enjoy!

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

Joining together the righteous forces of Obsequiae and Inexorum for some Gothenburg-style melodeath throwback, it's been nearly two and a half years since the release of Majesties' debut album Vast Reaches Unclaimed (20 Buck Spin) and it's still a favorite amongst some of us here at Nine Circles. A follow-up may not (yet) be upon us, but myself and a couple others had the utmost privilege of catching their incredible live debut at this year's Fire in the Mountains festival on the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. I had asked the core trio of Tanner, Carl Skildum, and Matt Kirkwold if they were down for an interview at some point during the festival; naturally it's hard to arrange such a meeting with no cell service and schedules all over the place (not to mention not wanting to miss a ton of killer bands), but Tanner and I were able to set aside some time to record on the shore of Two Medicine Lake right near the festival grounds. We discussed how the show went, nerded out about classic melodic extreme metal (a lot), and more. Check back in the not-too-distant future as more from Majesties is on the horizon!

HUGE thanks to Tanner for the time and audio assist!

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