February 24th, 2013 - Caress Of Witbier

Probably a bad idea on a work night, but one more for you from the Meista tonight gang!  How about a Hoegaarden Wit - Blanche and the 1975 Rush progressive hard rock masterpiece, "Caress Of Steel"?  Hells yes!

With the simply perfect ingredients of water, yeast, wheat, hops, coriander, and dried Curaçao orange peel known as Laraha, the Hoegaarden Original White Ale, a witbier (white beer) from Brouwerij van Hoegaarden is a traditional, unfiltered Belgian pale.  Spiced with coriander and orange peel, along with a variety of spices, witbiers have become quite popular in the U.S.  The Hoegaarden pours a very hazy and cloudy straw yellow hue with a frothy and billowy head.  The nose is ripe banana with notes of orange, lemon, and yeast.  Light-bodied with medium carbonation, the mouthfeel is foamy, crisp, and dry.  The flavor is dominated by strong notes of pink bubble-gum and soft banana.  There are also those lovely and mellowing coriander spices that give it a somewhat peppery finish.  If you are not familiar with Belgian ales, the Hoegaarden is a great place to start... so much better than that Blue Moon shite!  Crisp and refreshing, with lower ABV, the Hoegaarden is great ale to throw back with the rock and roll majesty of Rush!

"Caress Of Steel" is the album that nearly ruined Rush.  Their record label at the time was so dissatisfied with the album that they almost dropped them.  (Of course the problem with record labels is that they are run by accountants and producers, therefore it is all about marketing and business, not about propelling artistic integrity.)  Fortunately, Rush endured and lived on!  Some of the prominent and more compelling elements of  "Caress Of Steel" as opposed to earlier works are the long, conceptual pieces and extended solo passages.  This would be the album that would help launch Rush into the world of progressive rock, amplified ten-fold by their next album, "2112."   With songs about the French Revolution ("Bastille Day"), aging (the humorous "I Think I'm Going Bald"), the innocence of youth ("Lakeside Park"), Tolkien mythology ("The Necromancer"), and the epic chronicle of a journey to find a mythical fountain ("The Fountain of Lamneth"), "Caress Of Steel" is a fantastic voyage of heavy rock integrity and artistic depth.  The musicianship is warm, rich, and personal... and it freaking rocks!  "The Fountain of Lamneth" blows me away with each and every listen!  In fact, this is one of the albums that helped get me through that hell we call adolescence.  :)

Well friends, I'm going to finish my beer and lose myself in the heaviness of "Caress Of Steel."  Until next time, cheers!  Have a good night and a great week!

February 24th, 2013 - Lark's Tongues In Doppelbock

Hello friends!  The Meista here with another pairing for you today...  I'm now going in a very different direction, spinning King Crimson's 1973 progressive and experimental masterpiece, "Lark's Tongues In Aspic" with a Spaten Optimator from Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu imported from Munich.  (As you have probably deduced from the attached photograph, I have a bit of an affinity for this album.) 

"Lark's Tongues In Aspic" is English progressive rock master minds' King Crimson's fifth studio album.  The first album by the third incarnation of Crimson, the 1973 band was made up of founding member Robert Fripp (guitars) along with a cast of new members that included John Wetton (vocals, bass), David Cross (strings, Mellotron), Bill Bruford of Yes (drums), and Jamie Muir (percussion).  The entire band would contribute to the writing of the "Lark's Tongues In Aspic" album and Robert Palmer-James (who later was a founding member of Supertramp) provided lyrics.  This album would see the band's musical direction take a more experimental, heavier, and more progressive approach as opposed to the previous more jazz-oriented releases.  The band would also incorporate world music sounds and passages into their work, especially with the addition of Cross' violins and Mellotron soundscapes.  Opening with the epic, 13:35 minute "Lark's Tongues In Aspic, Part One" and ending with the 7+ minute finale, "Lark's Tongues In Aspic, Part Two," the album is a rich texture of profoundly honest songwriting and unparalleled musicianship.  At 40 years old, it still sounds to me as vibrant and fresh as the day it was released.  Fripp's powerful guitar work, coupled with Cross' haunting strings is mesmerizing, transcendental.  The drumming and percussion work of Muir and Bruford is breathtaking, and Wetton's bass and vocals are concurrently rich in tone and depth.  "Book Of Saturday" is a warm and expressive track.  "Exiles" opens with magically bizarre soundscape and then morphs into a perfect acoustic/electric lament.  "Easy Money" is a tumultous and sarcastic track with heavy guitars and wonderfully poetic lyrics.  And "The Talking Drum" is downright insane and beautiful experimentation.  The album ends with "Lark's Tongues In Aspic, Part Two," a song of amazing musical integrity... an all-time favorite of mine and one of King Crimson's best songs ever.  (Dream Theater does an incredible cover of this song as well.)

Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu's Spaten Optimator is a Doppelbock, a very strong and very malty German Bock.  Characterized by full-bodied flavor and an abundance of malts, Doppelbocks have been often called "a meal in a glass" by connoisseurs for centuries.  As the name denotes, this is a beer with optimum flavor, which is great for the optimum depth of "Lark's Tongues In Aspic."  The Optimator pours a very deep, transparent mahogany with a creamy, mocha head.  The nose is strong, sweet, and malty with notes of raisin bread, molasses, and plums.  There's a slight bourbon tone to this Doppelbock as well... almost smoky.  Like the nose, the flavor is rich, malty, and sweet.  There are notes of brown sugar, sweet bread, and subtle cherry notes.  Like a deep red wine, the Optimator is a very meaty, very thick and chunky brew.  Big on flavor and higher in ABV percentage (nearly 8%), the Optimator is a good "sipping" beer... perfect for relaxing and analyzing the impressive complexities and richness of "Lark's Tongues In Aspic." 

For an evening of introspective and amazing artistical pursuits, might I suggest a pairing of "Lark's Tongues In Aspic" and a Spaten Optimator or two?

Cheers and happy pairing!

February 24th, 2013 - For Victory Or Brew

A pairing from the Meista for you today friends that combines a bit of my Scandanavian Viking heritage (Danish) and the Trappist influence on American breweries... I'm going with Swedish melodic death metal gods Amon Amarth and their 2011 album "Surtur Rising" and pairing it with a PranQster Belgian-Style Golden Ale from North Coast Brewing Company.  Now I usually like to go more with bitter and big double IPAs or heavy Imperial stouts when I pair brews with death metal, but I decided to try a sweet Belgian with "Surtur Rising," specifically because of the name of the beer (PranQster) and one song in particular, "Töck's Taunt: Loke's Treachery Part II."  I thought the trickery theme would make for a nice pair.  In pairing these, I also discovered that the sweet esters and zesty spices of the Praqster make for an interesting juxtiposition with the aggressive power of Amon Amarth!  This pairing goes out to my nephew Mike... cheers buddy!!

Hailing from Tumba, Sweden, Amon Amarth is a bombastic and explosive melodic death metal band in the tradition of European extreme metal.  The guitar work of Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg is fierce, precise, and chunky.  The bass of Ted Lundström and drumming of Fredrik Andersson is as thunderous and fiery as a Viking invasion.  And Johan Hegg growling vocals are honest, real, and perfect for the subject matter.  Musically, Amon Amarth is aggressive, incredibly fast, and powerful.  Lyrically, Amon Amarth writes mostly about the Viking Age and Norse mythology.  Because of this fact they have been categorized by some as Viking Metal, but vocalist Johan Hegg has jokingly remarked: "We play death metal.  We write about Vikings so, therefore, some refer us to Viking metal, but I have no idea what that is.  I can't imagine the Vikings were into metal at all except on the swords and stuff.  And musically, I guess they only played these strange lip instruments and some bongos or whatever."  He adds, "We don’t really see ourselves as one of those bands doing pagan folklore music.  The reason we took the Viking theme and mythology theme as a lyrical theme for the band was, perhaps, more accidental from the start. When we wrote the first song with Viking lyrics, we felt it was a topic that suited the music that we wanted to write really well...  It was something different, as well, from a lot of other bands.  In Sweden, I think only Bathory and Unleashed had done anything like it.  For us, it was to do something different, to stand out a little bit, to use those lyrics."  And stand out they do!  Amon Amarth has quickly become one of my favorite metal acts.  Like a good Belgian beer, their content is complex, engaging, multi-layered and just so goddamned exhilarating!

 PranQster Belgian-Style Golden Ale from North Coast Brewing Company is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale.  Like the Norse god of mischief himself (Loke or Loki), the PranQster is a deceptively drinkable.  The unique and antiquated yeast strains and fruit esters make this an ale that is light and refreshing and goes down easy, but it packs a 7.6% ABV punch (or Viking battle axe swing).  The PranQster pours a wonderful, cloudy apricot-amber hue with a billowy white, Odin's beard, 2-finger head in a frosted glass.  The nose is floral and fruity with notes of spring blossoms, sweet pear, and orange along with spices: coriander, nutmeg, and cloves.  Like the complex aromas, the flavor is a mix of sweet and spicy with just a hint of hops.  There are some really nice soft banana notes along with white grape, clover honey, and wheat bread.  There's a nice clean, bubble gum finish as well to the PranQster, which is almost comical in terms of pairing it with a death metal band singing about Norse gods and Viking battles.  :)  But it works!

Pick up a copy of "Surtur Rising" from the Heavy Metal Shop (www.heavymetalshop.com) and check out the PranQster and all of North Coast Brewing Company's other great beers at www.northcoastbrewing.com.

February 20th, 2013 - Grace For Drowning With The Devil

The Meista here with a delicious pairing for you this evening my friends.  Tonight I'm pairing Steve Wilson's 2011 album "Grace For Drowning" and a Lucifer Belgian Pale Ale from Brouwerij Het Anker.

Steve Wilson's "Grace For Drowning" is a truly brilliant and progressive album.  Progressive rock as defined by Wikipedia: "progressive rock, also referred to as prog rock or simply prog, is a rock music sub-genre, which... intended to break the boundaries of traditional rock music by bringing in a greater and more eclectic range of influences, including free-form and experimental compositional methods."  All this and more can be heard (and felt) on "Grace For Drowning."  This is the second solo album of Steven Wilson, the multi-talented producer, songwriter, guitarist, and frontman of Porcupine Tree.  With haunting melodies, lyrics steeped in emotional transition and brilliant despair, and fantastically complex musicianship and songwriting, Wilson creates an album of deceptively dark beauty.  He employs rock, jazz, folk, classical, and psychedelia along with a very impressive group of prog musicians for this dark beauty including: Jordan Rudess, Steve Hackett, Tony Levin, Nick Beggs, Trey Gunn, and Pat Mastelotto among others.  The artistic depth of this album is beyond my simplistic writing skills.  It is truly awe-inspiring.  Imagine if you will a musical melting pot of Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Opeth, and early Genesis along with true honest emotion... the result is "Grace For Drowning."  Songs like the title track, "Sectarian," "Deform To Form A Star," "Pastcard," "Remainder The Black Dog," "Index," and the epic 23+ minute "Raider II" are all experiments in musical genius and artistic integrity.  "Grace For Drowning" is a must for any fan of progressive rock!

As the name of the beer denotes, Lucifer by Brouwerij Het Anker is an ale of deception.  It is sweet and mellow, but there is a sneaky bite of 8% ABV hidden in those ester notes.  In a frosted schooner, Lucifer pours a very pale and hazy yellow-blonde hue with a 2-finger, foamy head that leave pronounced and sustained lacing upon dissipation.  The nose produces a rather vibrant bouquet of floral hops and sweet fruits.  There are notes of ripe pear, soft banana, lemony zest, and Belgian yeast.  Like "Grace For Drowning," the flavors are complex and multi-layered.  This "fiery blonde" ale is top fermented giving it some farmhouse sour "funk," but with the utmost subtlety.  The Lucifer has some nice blended flavors of white wine, pear, and a touch of spice and bitter hops.  It is very crisp, very refreshing, and somewhat dry.  The complexity of this ale is great for the complexity of the Wilson's songwriting.  The dryness and bitterness works well with the melancholy.  The mellowness works well with the beauty of the performances.  And the hidden, boozy kick is a nice coupling with Wilson's element of surprise and the listeners continuance of discoveries with each spin.  All-in-all, a very nice brew to contemplate the genius of Mr. Steve Wilson!

Well, I'm going to finish drowning myself gracefully in this glass of Lucifer with Mr. Wilson as my guide.  Until next time... cheers!!

February 16th, 2013 - Night Songs For the Polygamist

Good evening!  Grab your red cowboy boots, tie a colorful bandanna around your thigh, and wrap a lacy scarf around your belt because we are taking Brews and Tunes into hair-metal adrenaline high-gear!!  How's 'bout some Cinderella "Night Songs" and a Wasatch Polygamy Porter from the Utah Brewers Cooperative?  Hell yeah! 

Steeped in a healthy dosage of L.A. glam in the vein of Mötley Crüe, Ratt, and W.A.S.P. and some heavy, Led Zeppelin-esque blues, Cinderella's debut album, "Night Songs" took the metal scene by storm in 1986.  With Tom Keifer's distinct and raspy vocals along with his and Jeff LaBar's crunching guitars, Eric Brittingham's thumping bass, and Fred Coury's driving and rhythmic drumming, "Night Songs" is a fist-pumping, sexually-driven rocker.   Yes, these guys had teased hair, way too much make-up, and a somewhat silly name, but unlike some of their contemporaries, I would argue that Cinderella had the chops to back it all up.  Keifer is a great guitarist hands-down.  And his raspy vocals are powerful, emotional, and honest.  Opening track "Night Songs" is worth its weight in gold... an almost mystical beast of a song.  "Shake Me," "Once Around The Ride," and "Push, Push" are sexually-charged bluesy rockers reminiscent of AC/DC's work.  "Nobody's Fool" (probably their biggest hit) is a masterfully written ballad, full of angry, jealous truth and raw emotion.  "Nothin' For Nothin'" just plain kicks ass as does "Hell On Wheels..." some great slide guitar in the intro there!  "Somebody Save Me" is another great rocker as is "In From The Outside" and the finale, "Back Home Again" has a certain early Aerosmith quality... you know WAY BACK when Aerosmith still rocked!  :)  (As a side note: I had the pleasure of meeting drummer Fred Coury a few years back.  He is a very gracious, very cool guy!  And a kick-ass drummer to boot!)

For the very rocking, very sexy, and very nocturnal "Night Songs" I thought we should go with something that goes down easy, but is a bit smoky, very dark and mysterious, and hinting at the abnormal (at least in terms of the name)... thus the Polygamy Porter!  The Polygamy Porter pours a deep mahogany... almost opaque black with a thin mocha head with fairly good lacing.  The nose is dominated by rich, dark chocolate notes and a hint of smoked grains.  It is a medium-bodied beer with light to medium carbonation.  The flavor is rich and earthy, yet very drinkable.  There are notes of chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, and oak with a smooth, smoky finish.  This is a good session porter that goes down easy and is great for kicking back on a Saturday with the boys in Cinderella.  As the name suggests, you will want more than one... concurrently, you will want to listen to "Night Songs" again and again!  And I think the twisted, devious behaviour of polygamists fits well with the decadence of 1980s, L.A. metal excess... don't you?  :)

Cheers!

February 16th, 2013 - A Watershed Of Sound And Taste

Opeth's 2008 album, "Watershed" is an exercise in perfection: a perfectly complete and complex balance of haunting prog melancholia and intense death metal brutality.  Likewise the Blanche de Chambly Belgian Witbier (white ale) by Unibroue is a perfectly complete and complex balance of sweet and tart ester and spiced malts... thus a great pairing! 

"Watershed" is the 9th studio album by Swedish progressive death metal band Opeth (and probably my favorite).  Incorporating progressive rock, folk, blues, classical, and jazz along with death metal and a sprinkling of black metal, Opeth creates a thing of mesmerizing wonder with "Watershed."  The music is imaginative, honest, and dynamic with sweeping tempo and signature shifts.  There are passages of acoustic beauty and explosive passages of brutal death metal aggression.  In all, this album demands your attention.  Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt carefully crafted a masterpiece with "Watershed."  The guitar work of Fredrik Åkesson, the keyboard/synthesizer work of Per Wiberg, the bass work of Martin Mendez, the drum work of Martin Axenrot... all flawless. The beautiful guest vocals of Nathalie Lorichs on "Coil" adds a nice feminine, yet haunting touch.  Åkerfeldt also employs the use of English horn, oboe, flute, violin, and cello to add to the richness of sound.  There is precision, passion, and depth in every note, every nuance, and every directional change.  With each listen I make new discoveries and my mind is once again blown!  After the haunting beauty of "Coil," "Heir Apparent" is song of brutal power and amazing composition.  Åkerfeldt's growl is sublime.  "Heir Apparent" is followed by a song of utter depth, despair, and beauty, "The Lotus Eater," which seems to marry progressive rock and death metal succinctly and completely into one momentous composition.   "Burden" comes next with its chilling lament, grooving organ, soaring guitar work, and wonderful "clean" vocals.  "Burden" transitions into "Porcelain Heart" with an odd, off-key acoustic interlude.  "Porcelain Heart" is a powerful, evolving masterpiece.  "Hessian Peel" is richly textured and progressive as hell that transitions into a killer death/black metal monster.  And "Hex Omega" finishes the album off with engrossing and profound power.

The first beer Unibroue brewed, the Blanche de Chambly pours a wonderful, very pale, very cloudy, straw-gold color with a bright white, frothy head in a frosted glass.  The fact that it is unfiltered with high wheat content adds to the rich color.  Not as pungent as most Unibroue ales, the nose has subtle notes of white grape juice, orange peel, lemon, banana, and a hint of zesty spice.  The mouthfeel is light and refreshing with sharp carbonation like champagne with "fine and abundant" bubbles, which is perfectly accurate for this style and a good .  The flavors are somewhat mellow, but complex.  There are muted notes of tart citrus and sour Belgian yeast on the front end.  The mid-range finds notes of malt, soft banana, and bubblegum.  And then the Blanche de Chambly finishes with some really, really nice pepperiness from the spices: coriander and clove.  Although it is the dead of winter, I could see this as a wonderful beer for the dog-days of summer.  The various flavors make the Blanche de Chambly a great ale to truly accompany the fantastic songwriting and musicianship of Opeth's "Watershed."  The sharpness of the carbonation, the mellowness of the fruit ester, and the spicy finish really bring out and compliment the emotional complexities of "Watershed."

Learn more about all the wonderful Belgian-style ales (and their accompanying legends) of Unibroue at www.unibroue.com and discover the genius that is Opeth at www.opeth.com! 

February 15th, 2013 - "With [An IPA In My Hand] And Satan On My Right..."

Hello beer and rock fans!  The Meista here with one last pairing for you tonight.  I'm going with a couple of my all-time favorites... Squatters Brewery's India Pale Ale and Ace Frehley's 1987 album, "Frehley's Comet"! 


Let me take you on the way-back machine... it was 1987.  I was in high school.  I had a cheesy Patrick Swayze-style mullet and a cheesy (and rather thin) mustache.  I wore acid-washed jeans and Converse Chuck Taylor high-tops (black) and Ace Frehley's "Frehley's Comet" kicked my ass!!  And it still does to this day!!  With the Spaceman himself, Ace Frehley on lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals; Tod Howarth on rhythm and lead guitars, keyboards, lead and backing vocals; John Regan on bass guitar and backing vocals; and Anton Fig on drums and percussion, "Frehley's Comet" is just straight-ahead, bad-ass, fist-pumping rock and roll!!  Now don't get me wrong, I love KISS, but this is the album Paul and Gene wished they had put out in '87 rather than "Crazy Nights."  Ace and his band produced the perfect late '80s rocker album... perfect I say!!  Yes, some of the lyrics are a bit dated and thin, but the guitar work (oh, the guitar work!), bass work, drumming and vocal stylings are brilliant!!  I recently replaced my cassette copy with this album on disc and I cannot stop listening to it again and again!  It is like 1987 for me all over!  I love each one... so I won't go into a long discription of why I like them... just know that each song is a rocking gem!  Here's the track list:


1. Rock Soldiers
2. Breakout
3. Into The Night
4. Something Moved
5. We Got Your Rock
6. Love Me Right
7. Calling To You
8. Dolls
9. Stranger In a Strange Land
10. Fractured Too


Squatters India Pale Ale IPA from the Utah Brewers Cooperative may be the perfect IPA!  Along with Uinta's Hop Notch and Lagunita's IPA, this is a staple IPA for me.  The Squatters IPA pours a cloudy goldenrod with a bright, foamy head with good lacing.  The nose is distinct... lots of floral hop resin aroma with strong notes of juniper, grapefruit, and lemon.  I could stick my nose in a glass of this all day long!  Perfectly well-balanced, the flavor is crisp, hoppy, and dry.  There are wonderful notes of pine, lemon grass, orange peel, summer grass, and some malty, caramely goodness in the undertones.  The Squatters IPA goes down easy and has a nice, clean finish... a perfectly refreshing beer for a rocking good time with my man Ace!!


If you don't own this album... shame on you!!  :)  Go pick up a copy from the Heavy Metal Shop: www.heavymetalshop.com!  And pick up a six-pack of Squatters IPA today!  Check out all of the great ales from Squatters at http://squatters.com/!

February 15th, 2013 - St. Pauli Girl's Special Dark Adrenaline

Good evening beer and music fans!  Another pairing for you tonight from your drinking buddy, the Meista!  I'm going with a dark theme tonight with a pairing of Lacuna Coil's 2012 album "Dark Adrenaline" and St. Pauli Girl Special Dark (a German Dunkel Lager) from St. Pauli Brauerei C.L. Wilh. Brandt Gmbh & Co.

"Dark Adrenaline" is the 6th album from Italian metal band Lacuna Coil.  This band is characterized by down-tuning, distinct bass and drumming, elements of power metal and progressive metal, a hint of electronica, and the beautiful female vocals of Cristina Scabbia contrasted by Andrea Ferro's more aggressive male vocals.  That fact that Scabbia is incredibly attractive doesn't hurt either.  :)  My only criticism of this band is that I would like to see them strip down the production a bit and give us a rawer sound sometimes.   However, Lacuna Coil really does create a succinct, bold, and powerful album with "Dark Adrenaline."  Although I definitely like Ferro's vocals and the guitar work of Cristiano Migliore and Marco Biazzi, I think the real driving factor of this band and specifically this album is Scabbia's amazing vocal range and the booming and profound rhythm section of bassist Marco Coti Zelati and drummer/percussionist Cristiano Mozzati.  From the opening track "Trip The Darkness" to the finale, "My Spirit," Scabbia and the boys entrance the listener with complex rhythms and catchy hooks along with a very metal backbone.  "Give Me Something More" is a wonderfully rich (and a bit poppy) track where Scabbia really shines.  And lots of great, fist-pumping rockers here... "Against You," "Kill The Light," "Upsidedown," "I Don't Believe In Tomorrow," The Army Inside," "Fire," and of course the opening track, "Trip The Darkness."  There are some great moments of heartfelt beauty here as well like tracks "End Of Time," "My Spirit," and an interesting cover of REM's "Losing My Religion."  And "Intoxicated" is a haunting track of interesting tempo changes, powerful imagery, and fierce musicianship.

And speaking of "Intoxicated," let's talk beer!  St. Pauli Girl Special Dark is a Munich Dunkel Lager. Munich Dunkel Lager are characterized for their smooth, rich, and complex flavors, but without the heaviness of bigger dark beers.  It pours an opaque, deep cherry brown with a thin, but creamy head with fairly good lacing.  The nose is quite strong with lovely and earthy notes of light coffee as well as roasted grain, smoky caramel, and floral hops.  Medium bodied with mellow carbonation, the mouthfeel is very smooth with a light effervescent tickle.  The flavor is hearty (without being heavy like a porter or a stout) with lots of roasted barley notes, Munich malt notes, baked bread, and nuts with some nice hop undertones and a sweet toffee finish.  A really nice session beer, St. Pauli Girl Special Dark is a very drinkable brew, great for an adrenaline-filled album like Lacuna Coil's "Dark Adrenaline"! 

Salud!

February 15th, 2013 - Death For A Dead Guy

Good evening!!  Today the Meista is pairing Death's first album, 1987's "Scream Bloody Gore" and a tasty German-style brew, a Rogue Dead Guy Ale.  This pairing is dedicated to the memory of the "Father of Death Metal," Chuck Schuldiner.  Rest in peace metal brother!  And although he really isn't a death metal fan, my friend Jamie is a big Dead Guy Ale fan... so this one goes out to him as well!  Cheers Jamie!!

A metal pioneer, Schuldiner's metal band, Death was one of the original death metal bands (maybe the original) to come onto the scene along with the Possessed and Morbid Angel.  Many consider "Scream Bloody Gore" to be the very first death metal album and it certainly is a template for the genre.  Schuldiner wrote all the songs, was the vocalist, the bass player, and played all the guitars on the album... in other words, he was one talented s.o.b.!  Created from the building blocks of thrash, punk, and black metal, Death created a whole new sound with "Scream Bloody Gore."  Schuldiner employed heavily distorted guitars, alternate/tremolo picking, an obsession with minor keys/atonality, machine gun-fast drumming, and a new way of approaching vocals - growling!  And all this with complex song structures and multiple tempo changes!  With the speed of punk and the aggression of thrash, Death's lyrical focus (and what set them apart from other extreme metal/hardcore bands of the time) was on gore, on horror film imagery.  Songs like "Zombie Ritual," "Mutilation," "Baptized In Blood," "Torn To Pieces," "Evil Dead," (obvious nod to the film) and the title track, "Scream Bloody Gore" all stemmed from Schuldiner's love of slasher, zombie, and monster movies.  "Sacrificial" is an explosion of speed, energy, and power.  There is an intensity, a raw energy with all of these songs that really had not been heard before... at least not to this degree and definitely not in this fashion.  Schuldiner seemed to channel the absurd evil of Venom, the dark rawness of Bathory, the insane aggression of Kreator, and the blistering speed of Slayer with each and every note!  Sadly, Schuldiner died in 2001 from brain cancer.

With the ferocious speed, heaviness, and complexity of "Scream Bloody Gore," I felt I needed a beer that was hearty and higher in alcohol, yet very drinkable.  Rogue Ales' Dead Guy Ale is a Maibock or Helles style of beer.  Characterized by a lighter color than most bocks, as well as a hoppier bite and a higher (and noticeable) ABV percentage, Maibocks/Helles beers are generally celebratory, Spring ales.  The Dead Guy Ale pours a wonderful, transparent honey-amber with a frothy, 1-finger head.  The lighter color makes for a nice juxtapostion with the "darkness" of Death's "Scream Bloody Gore." The aroma is somewhat sweet, biscuity, and malty from the Northwest Harrington, Klages, Maier Munich, and Carastan malts, but there are definitely some nice hop notes as well.  The mouthfeel is crisp with medium body and carbonation. There's a nice dry finish as well.  The flavor is definitely malty, but there's some really tasty hop complexity from the use of Perle and Saaz (coming in at 40 IBU).  It has a nice, sharp bite... just like Death!  Oh, and Rogue also uses their very own Pacman Yeast and free-range Coastal Water to make this brew.  This one goes down real easy... so be careful my friends!  You can get a bit wonky quite quickly if you are not careful... especially when you are thrashing about to Death!

Death is a MUST for any fan of extreme or death metal.  You can order "Scream Bloody Gore" (or any of their great albums) from my buddy Kevin at the Heavy Metal Shop: www.heavymetalshop.com!  And make sure you pick up a sixer of Dead Guy Ale for a very solid, very delicious Maibocks/Helles German-style ale!

Cheers head bangers!!

February 9th, 2013 - South Of Ruthless!

Hey there fellow brew and tune fans!  The Meista here with a pairing of shear bitter aggression!  Tonight I'm pairing a Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA with the thrashing monstrosity that is Slayer and their 1988 masterpiece, "South Of Heaven."   This pairing goes out to my good friend Stephanie Krusell!!  Cheers sister!!!

Produced by Rick Rubin, "South Of Heaven" is Slayer's fourth studio album and a bit of a musical shift for the band.  Rubin had convinced the band to slow down the tempo to "contrast the aggressive assault put forth" on their previous album, "Reign In Blood."  According to Hanneman, "We knew we couldn't top "Reign In Blood," so we had to slow down. We knew whatever we did was gonna be compared to that album, and I remember we actually discussed slowing down. It was weird—we’ve never done that on an album, before or since."  They also employed undistorted guitars, pick work on the bass, and toned-down vocals for the first time to create a more precise, yet subdued sound with a doom-like feel.  But make no mistake, although it may not be as fast as "Reign In Blood," "South Of Heaven" is as heavy as hell itself!  Bassist and vocalist Tom Araya is amazing!  Moving away from his high-pitched screams on earlier albums, with "South Of Heaven" Araya seems to channel doom metal singers of the '70s.  Guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman are superb!  Although King has publicly criticized his work on this album, I find it is wonderfully complex, precise, and crisp.  And drummer Dave Lombardo brings the hammer down!  His drumming is powerful, fast, intricate, and tribal.  Opening with the Sabbath-esque title track (and probably my favorite from the band), "South Of Heaven," Slayer weaves a richly complex and intense thrash tapestry.  Each song is metal perfection, incredibly heavy, musically tight, and smart.  "Behind The Crooked Cross" and "Read Between The Lines" take an intensely critical look at religion.  "Silent Scream" is a haunting and furious speedster.  "Live Undead" asks the question "what if you could feel and think after death?"  "Mandatory Suicide" and "Ghosts Of War" examine the horror of combat.  "Cleanse The Soul" takes a stab at the dark arts and ritualistic murder.  This album also includes the only cover of Judas Priest's "Dissident Aggressor" from their 1977 album, "Sin After Sin" (once reviewed here on Brews and Tunes!)  Of "Dissident Aggressor," Hanneman stated they picked it to cover because of its war-themed lyrics and because it was, "more just like one of those odd songs that a lot of people didn't know, but it was a favorite of Kerry and I, so we just picked that one."  The album ends with the fist-pumping, head-banging classic "Spill The Blood."  I cannot believe this album is 25 years old!  It still sounds as fresh and innovative as the day it came out!

I think this may be the only time I've done this on the page, but I'm pairing a beer I've paired before... the Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA.  I picked this beer specifically for "South of Heaven" due to the beer's aggressive bite, but complex peppery aftertaste.  In all honesty, I'm not sure if any beer can do this album justice, but the Ruthless comes damn close!  I probably could have gone with a bigger IPA, a double perhaps, but I think anything bigger would be too much... a sensory overload.  The Ruthless Rye IPA goes down easy, which is great for the speed of a thrash album.  With the 6.6% ABV it still delivers a nice, heavy metal kick!  It pours a deep, copper-red amber with a thick, mashpotato head, lumpy and creamy with strong, sustained and layered lacing... like a frothy ladder as you drink it down.  The nose is floral, sweet, and citrusy with an ever-so subtle hint of spice.  Brewed with rustic grains and whole-cone hops, the Ruthless Rye IPA is a complex and well-balanced ale with a wonderful bitter kick from both the citrusy and piney hops and the peppery rye.  There's a very mellow and almost hidden toffee note in the background as well.  But what really stands out with this beer is the interplay between the rye and the hops... fantastically complex!  And speaking of fantastically complex... I'm thinking of a band... SLAYER!!!

Alright, have a good night my friends!  Until next time, I raise my glass to you all!!  Be well and rock on!!

February 9th, 2013 - Awaken The Steam!

Good afternoon my rocking/drinking friends!  The Meista here with another pairing for you... today I'm pairing Fates Warning's 1986 album "Awaken The Guardian" with a tasty lager, an Anchor Steam Beer from Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco, California.  And this one goes out to my buddy Jeff, who runs the great progressive/power metal facebook page, Progressive Power (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Progressive-Power/205541442875714).  He also requested a pairing with this band.  Cheers Jeff!! 

Released in November of 1986, "Awaken The Guardian" is Fates Warning's third studio album.  Formed in 1982 in Hartford, Connecticut, Fates warning was made up of vocalist John Arch, guitarists Jim Matheos and Victor Arduini, bassist Joe DiBiase, and drummer Steve Zimmerman.  Having influenced bands like Queensrÿche, Symphony X, and Dream Theater, Fates Warning is an "anchor" and one of the "flagship bands" of American progressive/power metal.  With their soaring and booming guitar and bass work, explosive and wonderful vocals, pounding drums, and mythical lyrics and atmosphere, Fates Warning created a powerhouse of an album with "Awaken The Guardian."  Songs like "The Sorcerer," "Valley Of The Dolls," "Guardian," "Prelude to Ruin," and "Exodus" channel the intensity of Judas Priest, the complex song structure of early Queensrÿche, and the vocal power of Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson.  "Giant's Lore (Hear Of Winter)" has an almost NWOBHM quality (think Angel Witch), but with the intricacies of progressive rock.  With interesting signature changes and inspiring musicianship, "Awaken The Guardian" is a wonderful, wonderful album and a great place to start for new fans or the curious.  (Check out "The Spectre Within" as well!)  Sadly, this would be the last album to feature Arch on vocals.  He would be replaced by Ray Alder (another great vocalist) on the band's next album, 1988's "No Exit. " After "No Exit," the band would start to go into a bit of a mellower, more progressive direction.

To compliment the complexity and aggression of Fates Warning's "Awaken The Guardian," I decided that I needed to go with the solid crafting that is an Anchor Brewing Company's Anchor Steam Beer...  nothing too fancy, but just a good, very drinkable lager... perfect for some head-banging with the Fates boys!!  Dating back to the 1800s, steam beers are usually brewed with a "special strain of lager yeast that works better at warmer temperatures" according to the Beer Advocate (http://beeradvocate.com/).  Since ice wasn't any easy commodity to come by in California at that time, this method of brewing became quite popular.  The Anchor Steam pours a a deep copper-amber with a thick and creamy, white head with bubbly lacing that has good retention.  The nose smells of caramel and toasted malts.  There are some subtle woodsy notes in there as well.  The Anchor Steam has a medium body with good carbonation... crisp and refreshing.  The flavor is mildly fruity with an assertive hop kick. There are some really smooth, toasted oat notes along with a good, strong maltiness.  It goes down really easy and has a nice, clean finish.

So pour yourself a frosty pint of Anchor Steam, crank up the Fates Warning, and check out my buddy's page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Progressive-Power/205541442875714!!  Learn more about Anchor Steam at www.anchorbrewing.com.  Cheers!!

February 8th, 2013 - Beer Blogging Can Be Ugly Work... Or... "The Horror, The Horror"

At the end of Francis Ford Coppola's 1979, Vietnam War film "Apocalypse Now," Marlon Brando's character, Colonel Kurtz gasps the line: "The horror, the horror" as he lies dying in a pool of his own blood.  Obviously not really comparable to being hacked to pieces, "up the river" in the Vietnamese jungle, but tonight we are going into a heart of darkness of sorts, the horrifying world of glitter, choreographed dance moves, harmonizers, cans that turn blue, and cold-filtering.  Of course I'm talking about the horror ("the horror") of pairing run-of-the-mill, American domestic rice-water (beer) and Top 40 pop drivel.

Hello my drinking and rocking friends!  The Meista here with a rather odd pairing for you tonight.  My friend Jason challenged me to take standard mini-mart beer and pair it with the popular songs of the day.  So Jason, myself, and another friend (also named Jason) took it upon ourselves to explore the world of cheaply priced (and cheaply made) domestic brew and overproduced "musical" blather.  "I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one."  (In order to alleviate any confusion, we shall refer to the two Jasons as Jason 1 and Jason 2 respectively hereinafter.)  Are you ready to begin?  Yeah, me neither... but this should be an interesting challenge!  Haha!

1. First up is a Heineken with Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" from the 2012 album "Making Mirrors."  We paired this due to the fact that Heineken usually only has one non-skunky beer in the bunch and Gotye's "Somebody..." is the only "good" song on the album.  There's also that great Vaseline smell you get once you open the Heiny bottle. The Heineken starts as as dull-flavored as this song and then revs up a bit with some funkiness (but not the good Farmhouse ale kinda funk.)
2. And now we move to the horror that is Will.I.Am and Brittany Spears and their "hit" song "Scream And Shout" paired with a Busch Classic.  As Jason 2 states, "it tastes like tonic water that has been infused with a little bit of stale cigarettes and yeast."  Sounds great doesn't it?  Jason 1 states, "totally processed music - the vocals are auto tuned, much like the flavor."  The can states "clear and bright as mountain air..." just like Brittany's brilliance!  Ha!
3. Michelob Ultra deserves Justin Bieber and in turn, Bieber deserves the Ulta... why?  Bieber is the ultra d-bag and the Ultra is a feminine, soulless, tasteless pool of cow piss.  Jason 1 states, "and when you add the skinny jeans... I mean the skinny can, you have a tight package with foam."  The song we went with is "Boyfriend."  I seriously think I may shoot myself before the night ends.  Good god!  What the hell is this??  The beer and the song!
4. To continue the fun we move now to Miller High Life (the Champagne of Beers) and none other than Beyonce's "Single Ladies." Like Beyonce, the Miller High Life has a hot girl on the bottle, but when you taste it... not so good.  Jason 1 states, "the caramel color of the beer and the curves of the bottle give the impression (much like looking at Beyonce) that you are in for something classy, yet one taste and one listen to "Single Ladies" leaves a much different impression. Jason 1 says, "It smells like Vienna Sausages."  Jason 2 adds, "yeah, like potted meat!"
5.   Jason 1: "I think a chunk just came out." Meista: "A blood clot?" "You know when salsa ferments?" asks Jason 2.  Much like Jennifer Lopez's career, which has been left too long on the shelf, the Bud Light & Clamato Chelada is a bland, lackluster bloody mess.  "Dance Again" is actually better than the beer.  At least it has a little bit of kick.  But lets move on... this one isn't worth it.
6. And now we give you Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" and a Natural Light (Natty Light).  Would either one of these be consumed if they weren't given away? Both are so cheap, they appear more on youtube links than any other medium.  The taste comes across as desperate...I mean "Call me maybe"? WTF? What do you expect when you have absolutely no taste?  
7. Meista: "oh yeah, this is sh!t". That describes the pairing of Train's song "Drive By" and Coors Light. The beer starts off on a high note by actually smelling like beer, sort of like the first few beats of the song...right until the vocals begin. The two stage cold activation keeps this beer mellow, which is what Train thought when they ripped off Santana's song "Smooth" for the foundation of this song. It's always a good idea to rip off a crappy song to create an even worse song.  Adolph, what beer were you trying to rip off?
8. Fosters is Australian for piss we believe... as Chumbawumba is English for shit.  Fosters smells like goat cheese and tastes like the milk after you have downing a bowl of Fruit Loops.  There's a viscosity to the beer and a horrific clammy, thigh sweatiness to "tub thumping." That's all we have to say about that!
9. And finally, we leave you with the hellishness that is Taylor Swift's "Never Getting Back Together" and a Bud Light.  Here's our reasoning: "skinny, tasteless, mass-marketed, all the kids like it, and usually don't turn it down if it is put in your face."  Jason 2 adds, "it goes down easy."  (Smile),  That came from my man Jason 1.

Fortunately, we were smart enough to have some palate-cleansing ales on hand to counter the taste of the domestic swill. These craft beers include: Gueuze Lambic Cuvée René from Brouwerij Lindemans, Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA, Unibroue Maudite, Red Ales' Red Nectar, North Coast's Pranqster, North Coast's Blue Star Wheat, and a Uinta Anniversay Barley Wine.

"I love the smell of [double cold-filtered auto-tuning] in the morning!"

Cheers!  :)

February 4th, 2013 - An Interview with drummer Matt Starr!!

Matt Starr is a singer, drummer, and music producer.  He has played with the late Kevin DuBrow, Bang Tango, and is now Ace Frehley's drummer.  Mr. Starr has also formed his own band Automatic Music Explosion and has been working with guitarist Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake) in their band Burning Rain.  Influenced by drummer John Bonham to the works of Stravinsky, Mr. Starr is an amazing drummer, talented musician, and a very down-to-earth and open guy.

Brews and Tunes recently interviewed Mr. Starr about his work work with DuBrow, Bang Tango, and Ace as well as his views on music, his past work and future plans, and beer! 


1. I guess the big question would be how'd you get the gig? :) How'd you get started in music and specifically drumming?

 I heard about it from a mutual drummer friend & then made some calls to see who knew any of the guys in Ace’s band & I found a couple guys & they connected me with the band & we talked and a week later I was NY auditioning. I started playing drums begrudgingly when in 6^th grade I asked for a guitar for Christmas but got a bike instead. Not bad it was Redline & it kicked ass but I wanted a guitar. So my folks felt bad & bought me some sticks. I joined the school band. Got kicked out for screwing around & taught myself to play from there.

2. What is the story behind you joining Ace Frehley's band this year? How has it been touring with Ace? Any favorite moments/events?

Ace wants to do a new record this year. This will be the first record he has recorded the majority of the record with a drummer other than Anton Fig, from Letterman, so that means a lot to me. My experience with Ace, the band & his crew has been awesome. It’s a great organization & it’s always cool to play with someone who you used to have posters of on your wall. The sound he makes is like no other. Fave moment would be first night playing in New York City, Ace’s hometown & mine too. Had my family there & lots of friends too. A killer night.

3. Who are your biggest influences, both in terms of music and more specifically in terms of drummers?

Musically I love lots of stuff from Zeppelin to ABBA to The Ramones to The Hives to The Beach Boys to Stravinsky. Drumming-wise it’s Bonham, Tommy Lee & Vinnie Appice.

4. What is your favorite song to perform live and why?

Deuce. It’s the heaviest KISS song & I get to scream “do it!” right before the chorus.

5. What is your view of the current metal/rock scene in general?

Well I like that Metal is going strong especially overseas. I have lots of records of bands I love & I’m always open to hearing new stuff as well. So the Rock scene in my house is alive & well!

6. Who are your favorite live acts (either that you've played with or seen as of late)?

The greatest ever would be KISS. I saw them in ’79. Queens of The Stone Age are epic. Mute Math would be a newer act that I like a lot.

7. You toured with the late Kevin DuBrow during his "In For The Kill" tour back in 2004. What can you tell us of that experience? What was it like working with Mr. DuBrow?

Kevin was awesome. Kicked ass every night on the mic & was super supportive & cool to me and Alex Grossi(now QR guitarist). I found him to be a very sweet guy. We had a blast & lots of music tastes in common especially Humble Pie & Free. He was actually the guy who told me I should be playing more drums, because at that time I was also doing a lot of singing with my own band The Automatic Music Explosion. Kevin had killer stories & it was a pleasure to play with him. I learned to play listening to Frankie Banali’s drumming on Metal Health.

8. You also drummed for Bang Tango on the very underrated album "Ready To Go" back in 2005. Did you also tour on that album?

Yes I did. That was also with Alex Grossi & one the first records produced by Anthony Focx. Lots of booze & silly shit went down on that tour. We did the record in a rehearsal room & it was done very quickly, not rushed but it just came out fast. As it should.

9. Back in 2007 you stepped away from your kit to do some singing in a band you formed, the Automatic Music Explosion. So when can we expect to see the Automatic Music Explosion album released? What can you tell us about that project? Who are the other musicians involved? Is it all original material and if so, were you the primary song writer? What is your song writing process like?

No idea if/when it will be released but we made a killer record with legendary producer Mike Chapman (The Sweet, Blondie, The Knack). It was basically a modern real-life version of the Archies. We had a lot of fun & I’m really proud of what we did together. Chris Price has gone on to a solo project & producing, Jodie Schell sings for the Shakers, Jeff Covey plays in Vayden & Max Mazursky is living Vegas & playing lots of drums. I did write the music for The AME. When I’m in the mode of writing everything is a title, every moment is a lyric so I would just have my ears open for words & rhythms that caught my attention & I was always writing things down or talking into my mini tape recorder, now called an iPhone. That was a very specific thing we were doing & ultimately it got too confining but it was awesome when it worked.

10. What does the future (both short-term and long-term) look like for Matt Starr?

Touring the world & recording with legendary artists like Ace. More & more, bigger & bigger.

11. My blog (Brews and Tunes) pairs craft beer with music (mostly metal). So Matt Starr gets home from an evening of rocking... what beer does he grab and what album does he spin?

Guinness & Led Zeppelin “Physical Graffiti”
Stella & Humble Pie “Live At The Fillmore”
Heineken & Rainbow “On Stage”
New Castle & Black Sabbath anything from the debut up to “Born Again”
Wildcard* Jager & Motorhead
Iron Maiden anything up to “Piece of Mind” goes with any of the above

12. Anything else you would like to convey?

Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to talk to all your readers! More Beer & More Metal!

 

Check out Mr. Starr at www.mattstarrmusic.com or www.facebook.com/mattstarrmusic or
www.twitter.com/mattstarrmusic and we all will be looking forward to that upcoming Ace album with Starr on drums!!!  \m/  \m/

February 3rd, 2013 - This IPA Gone To Heaven

Hello my friends!  The Meista here with a pairing for you Pixies fans out there!  In this late hour I'm pairing the Pixies' wonderful 1989 album, "Doolittle" and a Lagunitas India Pale Ale (IPA).  Oh, and I'm throwing this one out to my buddy Jason Esplin... cheers my friend!

As you may have gathered, I'm into a lot of different musical styles, but the underlying theme is usually innovation and originality.  In my senior year of high school a very eclectic, innovative, and original band released what I consider their best album... "Doolittle."   Surrealistic, somewhat biblical, catastrophic, always sexy, and truly "alternative"... all characteristics of the beautifully insane "Doolittle" album by the Pixies (originally titled "Whore.")  Black Francis was once quoted as stating, "I thought people were going to think I was some kind of anti-Catholic or that I'd been raised Catholic and trying to get into this Catholic naughty-boy stuff. [...] A monkey with a halo, calling it Whore, that would bring all kinds of shit that wouldn't be true. So I said I'd change the title."  There are elements of 1950s rock and roll and do-wop as well as 1970s punk and New Wave.  You can almost taste the Hüsker Dü-stylings in some of the songs.  Opening track "Debaser" is musical perfection... fast, poppy, and wonderfully aggressive!  The interplay between Black Francis' "harsh" vocals and Kim Deal's silky smooth and sexy voice is brilliant!  And Deal's bass work is perfection!  Joey Santiago is an incredibly underrated guitar player... innovative and intense.  And David Lovering brings an honest anger to his overall drumming on the album, as well as his singing and bass work on "Silver."  Deal played slide guitar on "Silver"... the only time she did to my recollection   So many great songs on this album... "I Bleed" alone is pure genius!   "Monkey Gone to Heaven" examines man's destruction of the world and his struggle to fit into his world's destruction.  "Wave of Mutilation" deals with Japanese businessmen committing murder-suicide.  And "Mr. Grieves" examines man's obsession with death and destruction.  And how about "No. 13 Baby"?  What a fantastic song!!  Finale "Gouge Away" is dark perfection.  PJ Harvey described "Doolittle" as "amazing."  And I couldn't agree more!

Speaking of amazing... with such a sharp and poignant album as "Doolittle" you need an equally sharp beer... which of course means a very bitter and hoppy IPA in this man's book!  Lagunitas IPA has a "raging hop character" that fits perfectly with the qualities of "Doolittle."   With a nose as skunky as Kim Deal's water bong, Lagunitas IPA smacks you right in the face with its hop intensity.   Poured in a "large mouth," Lagunitas' Mason jar, this IPA looks just like clover honey... golden perfection with a 1-finger head that shows strong and sustained lacing.  The flavor is floral, bitter, and biting.  It tastes just like "Doolittle" my friends... or at least like Santiago guitar work!  You love it, but you know it is mocking you!  There are notes of summer grass, pine resin, and bitter roots.  I may be almost falling-down drunk, but this is a wonderful beer for a wonderful album.  As the label on my bottle of  Lagunitas IPA states, "Life is uncertain, Don't Sip!"

Cheers!!

February 2nd, 2013 - Images And A Gift From The Beer And Prog Gods

Good evening!!  The Meista here with another pairing for you!  Tonight I'm drinking Unibroue's Don de Dieu Triple Wheat Ale On Lees and rocking out to prog-metal masters Dream Theater and their 1992 album, "Images And Words."  Oh, and this pairing is dedicated to my buddy, Jeff Turner who hosts my favorite facebook page, Progressive Power: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Progressive-Power/205541442875714... check it out!!  Cheers my friend!!

Apart from Rush, by the late '80s and early '90s prog-rock was all but dead.  And then something amazing happened!  At the height of the grunge movement, a bunch of fairly unknown kids from New York with a Canadian singer released the single "Pull Me Under" from their 2nd album, a multi-layered, complex, and epic metal/prog rocker, and a new age of prog was born, but with a twist.  Not only had they been influenced by ELP, Yes, early Genesis, and Kansas, they had deep roots in power metal (Iron Maiden and Fates Warning)and thrash (Metallica and Megadeth) as well.  Kevin Moore's keyboard work is beautiful, rich, and profound with a nod to Keith Emerson.  James LaBrie's vocals are melodic, wonderfully high, and honest.  John Myung's bass work is god-like... intricate, driving, and magical (just listen to the tapping on "Metropolis, Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper"!)  Mike Portnoy's drumming is in a word, incredible!  And John Petrucci's guitar work gives all prog guitarists before him a huge run for their money!  Ethereal at times, powerful and completely metal throughout, "Images and Words" is one of the most important albums of its age in my opinion.  It redefined not only prog-rock, but music in general.  The musicianship and song writing is what matters for Dream Theater.  Image (and just words) are always secondary.  Every song on this album is perfection.  From opening track "Pull Me Under" (the band's only hit) to "Another Day" to the epic "Metropolis, Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper" to "Under A Glass Moon" and on to finale, "Learning To Live," this album is an experiment in profundity and artistic integrity!

Named for the ship of explorer, Samuel de Champlain's ship the Don de Dieu (Gift of God), Unibroue's Don de Dieu Triple Wheat is a bold and insanely complex abbey-style ale.  It pours a cloudy and opaque goldenrod-amber with a thick, frothy head.  The nose is sweet with wonderful ester aroma notes of ripe pear, peach, and white wine with just a hint of spice.  The mouthfeel is crisp and refreshing with a medium body and a lingering frothiness from the carbonation.  Interestingly enough, the flavor is unlike the nose with a more caramel flavor and notes of butterscotch, toasted malts, and a hint of spiced apple sauce.  The finish is crisp, clean, and rather dry.  As with all of Unibroue's ales, this is a wonderfully, complex, and flavorful Belgian-styled ale... perfect for the profound complexity of Dream Theater's musical acrobatics!!

I'm not sure if it was the guitar work on the song "Surrounded" or the 9% ABV of the Don de Dieu, but I think my face just melted!!  :)  Check out the Don de Dieu at http://www.unibroue.com/en/beers/12/product and pick up a copy of "Images and Words" by Dream Theater right away!!

I raise a glass to you all my friends!!  Thanks for your support!!  Cheers!!

February 2nd, 2013 - A Serving Of Sour Apple 'Umble Pie!

Hey there!  The Meista here with another pairing for you my friends.  Tonight I'm going with Humble Pie "The Best of Humble Pie - 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection" and a Sour Apple Saison from Epic Brewing Company.

 

As the 1960s closed out, the overall rock and roll sound of the time shifted from pop-driven singles to darker and heavier album-based writing.  Probably a reflection of the socio-political landscape.  During this time, former Small Faces frontman, Steve Marriott put together a soul and blues-based hard rocking outfit called Humble Pie.  With roots and influence in the African-American blues and soul of Motown along with a healthy dose of English hard rock in the tradition of Cream, the Yardbirds, and the Rolling Stones, Humble Pie (along with Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin) would help define the early 1970s heavy (proto-metal) rock sound.  Now I prefer to post actual studio albums or live albums rather than "best of " or "greatest hits" compilations, but damn it, Humble Pie's entire catalog is oh so very good!  I just couldn't narrow it down to one album... thus my choosing "The Best of Humble Pie - 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection" for today's pairing.  I won't go into great detail about each song, but know this my friends... Humble Pie is one of the greatest hard rock bands to emerge from the 1960s and the song "30 Days In The Hole" alone is the holy grail of English hard rock!!  The original band lineup featured vocalist, harmonica-player, and guitarist Steve Marriott from the Small Faces, vocalist and guitarist Peter Frampton from The Herd, former Spooky Tooth bassist Greg Ridley, and a seventeen-year-old unknown drummer by the name of Jerry Shirley.  Frampton would leave the band in 1971 (right before they hit it big with two releases that year, "Rock On" and the live "Performance Rockin' the Fillmore.")  He would be replaced by Colosseum guitarist and vocalist Dave "Clem" Clempson who would help the Pie move towards a heavier and grittier boogie-rock sound emphasizing Marriott's blues and soul roots.  Here is the AMAZING track list from "The Best of Humble Pie - 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection:"

1. Natural Born Woman
2. Big Black Dog
3. Stone Cold Fever
4. Shine On
5. Rollin' Stone
6. Four Day Creep
7. C'mon Everybody
8. Hot 'n' Nasty
9. 30 Days in the Hole
10. Black Coffee
11. Ninety-Nine Pounds
12. I Don't Need No Doctor

If that isn't sheer perfection, then I don't know what is!! 

 

In 1975, the band performed their 'Goodbye Pie Tour' before disbanding.  Various versions of "reformed" Humble Pie bands would exist throughout the late '70s and early '80s as well, but nothing that would match the spirit and intensity of the early years of the band.  Sadly, Marriott died in a house fire in 1991 at the age of 44 and Ridley died in Alicante, Spain of pneumonia in 2003 at the age of 56.  Shirley has continued to play music, most recently drumming for the Deborah Bonham Band.  Clem has also continued to play, mostly as a sessions and guest player.  And of course Frampton went on to huge solo success.

I'm pairing the Pie with Epic's Sour-Apple Saison-Style Ale Release #19 today because I needed something big and bold that would both compliment and compete with the huge wall of sound from the crunching guitars and Marriott's powerful voice!  Served ice-cold, the Sour-Apple Saison-Style Ale Release #19 pours a cloudy and pale golden-amber in a frosted glass.  The head is thin, white, and bubbly and dissipates rather quickly.  The nose is full of fruit ester notes: banana, pineapple, lemon, and Granny Smith apple.  There are also some nice spice notes as well: cinammon, coriander, nutmeg, and clove.  Like a white wine, the flavor is very dry, rather sweet, and very tart, but with a nice spicy finish.  There are notes of lemon, white grape, spiced apple, anise, and ginger.  The Sour-Apple Saison-Style Ale Release #19 is brewed with Weyermann Pilsner as a base malt and then finished off with Briess Flaked Oats and Muntons Wheat Malt, which gives it a very complex and well-rounded flavor.  Epic employs Saaz and Tettnang hops and plenty of spices: ground Ginger, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg, Anise Seed, Grains of Paradise, and Coriander to give this Farmhouse-style Saison and huge boost of flavor!  Stylistically speaking, this Saison reminds me of Humble Pie's musical approach.  Tasty and sweet, but with a big, sneaky kick!  The Sour-Apple Saison-Style Ale Release #19 is very drinkable with a very clean finish, but it packs a punch hidden under those sweet ester notes... 9.8% ABV... just like Steve Marriott... a short, little guy whose voice could knock you on your ass from 100 yards without amplification!  :)

 

Check out Epic Brewing Company's Sour-Apple Saison-Style Ale at  http://epicbrewing.com/our-beers/exponential-series/itemlist/category/23-sour-apple-saison as well as all their other fine, craft beers and pick up a copy of ANY Humble Pie album for an evening of straight-ahead rocking fun!!

 

Cheers!!

February 2nd, 2013 - Deluxe Winter Burrito

"And now for something completely different..."   The Meista here with another pairing for you my friends.  I'm going off the usual metal/hard rock track today with a pairing of the Flying Burrito Brothers and their sophomore, 1970 album, "Burrito Deluxe" and a Full Sail Wassail Winter Ale from their seasonal FB Pub Series.

What do you get when a bunch of long-haired freaks start playing honky-tonk and old-time country?  The Flying Burrito Brothers (FBB), that's what!  Founded in 1968 by former The Byrds members singer and guitarist Gram Parsons and guitarist Chris Hillman, as well as pianist and bassist Chris Ethridge and pedal steel guitarist "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow, the FBB essentially defined country rock.  Ethridge would leave the band before recording began on "Burrito Deluxe" and Hillman would take over on bass as guitarist Bernie Leadon joined the group.  Another ex-The Byrds member, Michael Clarke would join on drums for the "Burrito Deluxe" album sessions.  Expanding on the sound Parsons had created on The Byrds' seminal 1968 album, "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo" and "The Gilded Palace of Sin," the FBB's first album, "Burrito Deluxe" is a wonderfully rich and textured album.  "Lazy Days," my all-time favorite Parsons' song starts the album off with foot-stomping, honky-tonk goodness.  Sneaky Pete's steel guitar slide work is astounding and Clarke's drum work is almost proto-punk in speed.  The vocal harmonies are awe-inspiring on this track as they are with the rest of the album.  Songs like "Cody, Cody," "Image Of Me," and "God's Own Singer" hearken back to a time of childhood innocence and discovery as well the roots of American rock and roll music.  The album finishes with a breathtaking version of Keith Richards' "Wild Horses" released almost a year before its appearance on "Sticky Fingers" by The Rolling Stones.  A good friend of Richards, Parsons was so enamored by the song when heard it played in private that he convinced Richards to let him record it before the Stones did.

Unfortunately, this was the last FBB album to feature Parsons.  Due to disagreements between he and Hillman and alcohol abuse, Parsons was fired after "Burrito Deluxe" was recorded.  He pursued a solo career until his untimely death from a drug overdose in 1973.  Sadly, Clarke died in 1993, Kleinow died in 2007, and Ethridge died in 2012.  Also sad was the legacy of country rock.  The exciting, new sound the FBB had created would become watered down, pop drivel as the 1970s rolled on.  Musicians like The Eagles, Bread, and John Denver would gain great wealth while bastardizing the purity of sound that the FBB's short-lived existence had created, turning it into the soft rock hell it became of the mid-to-late 1970s.  There's Meista's two cents for y'all!  :)

The Wassail Winter Ale by Full Sail Brewing Company is a traditional "winter warmer" ale.  Brewed with four different malts and a blend of Pacific Northwest hops, the Wassail Winter Ale is a very enjoyable and very smooth dark ale.  It pours a rich mahogany with a frothy, 1-finger head that dissipates rather quickly.  The nose has notes of sweet bread, some mellow dark fruits, and overall maltiness.  The flavor is similar.  There are rich notes of freshly baked bread, sweet toffee and caramel, subtle raisin, and a nice hop finish.  Wassail Winter Ale is definitely a great beer to pair with the warmth of the FBB's "Burrito Deluxe" on a cold, winter night or a "lazy day."

Cheers!!

February 1st, 2013 - "I'm gannin' to see a man about a [Metal] Dog"

The Meista here with one more for you tonight my pretties!  Put on your leathers... 'cause we are rocking the fuck out!!  Closing the evening out with a couple from across the pond my friends...  a huge favorite of mine, the Metal Gods themselves, Judas Priest and their album, "British Steel" (remastered version) and a classic Newcastle Brown Ale from Caledonian Brewery Company in Edinburgh, Scotland.

"British Steel," released in April of 1980 is what I would consider one of the most important and influential metal albums ever recorded.  Showcasing classic, groundbreaking Priest tunes "Breaking The Law" and "Living After Midnight," this is the album that defines the Judas Priest sound!  A driving force of the early NWOBHM movement, Priest's "British Steel" transcended the music of the era and slammed a powerful metal, spiked fist in the face of the pop, punk, and new wave of the time.  Yes, hard rock was not dead!  Rob Halford's voice is metal perfection!  His range is expansive, his roots deep in classic English rock and American blues with a touch of flamboyant Italian opera.  The dual guitar work of Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing is wonderful, driving, and catchy with wonderful hooks and strong influence from Thin Lizzy and Peter Green.  Ian Hill's bass work is solid, thunderous, and booming.  British Steel is the first Judas Priest album to feature drummer Dave Holland, previously of Trapeze... and he nails it!  The lyrics are rebellious, sometimes simple, yet completely honest and oh so metal!  I love every goddamned note, every goddamned lyric, every goddamned nuance of this album... it makes me feel young, free, and metal!  Songs like the explosive "Rapid Fire," the fist-pumping "Metal Gods," the pounding "Grinder," the grooving "The Rage," and fast-paced "Steeler" are in-your-face, straight-ahead, bang-your-head, metal monsters!  This expanded edition also includes the bonus anthem "Red, White, And Blue" and a killer live version of "Grinder," recorded in Long Beach, CA.  I don't care what kind of metal styles and bands you are into now... they ALL were profoundly affected by this album!

Newcastle Brown Ale ("the one and only") is affectionately known as "Dog" by local Scotsmen.  Nothing fancy, Newcastle Brown Ale is a malty, sweet, and mellow brown in the English tradition.  The aroma is that of newly baked bread with some rather subtle notes of raisin and molasses.  It pours a lovely chestnut, cola brown with a thin, but well-sustained head that displays great hoarfrost lacing.  The flavor is very malty, fairly sweet, smooth, and mellow.  It finishes clean with a nice, malty aftertaste.  The Newcastle Brown Ale goes down fast and easy... great for banging your head to the might that is Judas Priest!!

If you don't own "British Steel," I pity you... but there is still time!!  Contact my man Kevin at the Heavy Metal Shop NOW at www.heavymetalshop.com!!