You have probably heard of Black Metal circles before.
If not, is basically when black metal bands from a certain territory decide to form a coalition consisting of bands from the same place.
What do you think of these circles? What are your favs? Are you a musician involved in one?

Now below, a list of circles I have listened (not very important lololol).

I have decided to check 6 of these circles (and I've also heard 6 albums by circle to make it 666, original amirite?):
-Prava Kollektiv (Place: Unknown | Bands: Arkhtinn, Voidsphere, Pharmakeia): This circle has no place of origin and there is no info about the people behind, the only thing we know is that they are en "entity from the north". Most bands have a similar sounds. You like Darkspace? You will like Prava Kollektiv.
-Blazebirth Hall (Place: Russia | Bands: Branikald, Forest): From Russia, this circle knew what they were doing by making songs where the main riff is repeated for 15 minutes. Honestly, I did like the sound but the instrumentals were boring as fuck. Most of the musicians were shitty people, but they are also dead because they didn't know the rules of the road so yeah... go wild. FFO: Hate Forest or Sanguine Eagle
-Les Legions Noires (Place: France | Bands: Mutiilation, Vlad Tepes, Belkétre): FUCKING RAW AS FUCK, YOUR EARS WILL BLEED HOLY FUCKING SHIT CALL THE MEDICS.
-Black Twilight Circle (Place: State of California, USA | Bands: Volahn, Arizmenda, Ashdautas, Blue Hummingbird on the Left): One of the most unique circles, with bands that bring experimental moods through insane riffs, unforgiving vocals and creative song patterns. Most bands on this circles are very experimental with their songwriting, check it out.
-Korpsånd (Place: Denmark | Bands: Ærekær, Gabestok, Fanebærer): I have not listened yet so I don't know what to expect
-Inner Circle (Place: Norway | Bands: Mayhem, Burzum, Immortal): I have not listened but, I know what to expect

Just to name a few other circles I’ve stumbled across... (I’ll just copy M-A’s descriptions, and you can follow the links.)

-via Nazxul’s page:

Part of "Ordo Ater Anguis", or "Order of the Black Serpent", along with AGLS, Akhtya, ARC, Apparition, Black Funeral, Darkness Enshroud, Drowning the Light, Eidolones, Forgotten Kingdoms, Ghosts of Oceania, Harvest, Ichor, Kuru, L.C.F, Pestilential Shadows, P.N.G, Red Dragon, Rift, Shroud Devourer, Sic Itur ad Astra, Strigoii, Taghairm, Tzalmot, and Valefor.

-via Obskuritatem’s page:

Part of the Black Plague Circle along with Arjen, Cave Ritual, Deathcircle, Master's Voice, Nigrum Ignis Circuli, Night's Majesty, Niteris, Sulphuric Night, Suša, Void Prayer and Vrač.

-via Irae’s page:

Belonged to the Black Circle, together with Decrepitude, Mons Veneris, Rainha Cólera and Vetala. In 2022, the circle was reported to have disbanded.

Not much to say in the way of additional info or commentary on my part. Nazxul’s probably the best-known of any of the above. I like Pestilential Shadows as well. I’m meaning to spend a little more time with Sulphuric Night. Otherwise...mostly “okay” or haven’t heard.

EDITED TO ADD:

One more, via Vetëvrakh:

Belongs to the VIIIXIII collective along with Aiqëhahirit, Dräkavtré, Humnerë, Llahtarë, Tmärrdhë, Vrasësinerëzve and Vrkolak.

ABMS - Austrian Black Metal Syndicate
Mostly related to Abigor/Summoning in the beginning, which completely went away from the circle and became more of a Pazuzu and surroundings circle somehow. Maybe others know more.

Sampler CD exists with all bands involved
https://www.discogs.com/de/release/3692 ... scura-Pars

I guess the Nidrosian scene could be considered one? Mare, Celestial Bloodshed, Kaosritual, Black Majesty, One Tail One Head etc.

I must intervene here as Immortal was not part of the Inner Circle at least they were not a significant band of Euronymous early circle. Concerning the infamous homicidal Inner Circle events, you would be more looking at Mayhem, Emperor and Burzum.

In the "Lords of Chaos" (Book version, not the movie) they describe a network of French bands called "Order of the Emerald." Whose primary bands consisted of Funeral, Blessed in Sin, Seigneur Voland, and Krystallnacht. (I believe the bands actually pictured in the book were Seigneur Voland and Krystallnacht, though they were uncredited.) At least two or three of the members of that circle were involved in grave robbing and desecrating a Jewish cemetery.

Would the Icelandic bands be essentially a black metal circle, just with how many of them moonlight in other bands, play and tour together, record and produce one another, alongside a few non-Icelandic members and bands? Or since they don't call themselves one, it's kind of pointless to put that onto them?

Could be one, the whole concept is a bit abstract. Both the scene that appeared around Vánagandr and Mystískaos (which overlapped with Skaphe, etc).

Haeresis Noviomagi could be another one.

Ive never been in a black metal circle but it sounds like it could either be really awesome or really toxic. Ive been playing since 2008 and theres just too much of everything in the south for anyone to give a shit about one certain thing. Sadly the only people that formed such a coallition were slam death metal guys, but they were bonded over their lifestyle, and they dont really exist anymore due to all the deaths. In the mid-south, there are 2 or 3 black metal circles straggling that stick around for a few years and then dissolve in Arkansas.

That could be the case if Iceland wasn't a remote island.