October 4th, 2014 - A Bumper Crop For A Witch

God dag!  The Meista here this afternoon pairing the self-titled album by Witchcraft and a Squatters Bumper Crop Honey Ale from the Utah Brewers Cooperative! 

"Witchcraft" is the debut album by Swedish doom metal band Witchcraft.  It was released in 2004 through Rise Above Records (the record company created and owned by Lee Dorian of Napalm Death/Cathedral fame).  Originally formed by Magnus Pelander as a tribute to Bobby Leibling of Pentagram and Rory Erickson of 13th Floor Elevators, Witchcraft's style is a throwback to the doom metal and blues rock of the early 1970s.  They seem to channel the late night rehearsals of bands such as Black Sabbath, Captain Beyond, Lucifer's Friend, Pentagram, and Sir Lord Baltimore.  In fact, "Witchcraft" was recorded in a basement on vintage equipment and on analog in order to get that dank, '70s garage band sound.  They also cover Pentagram's "Please Don't Forget Me".  A second Pentagram song ("Yes I Do") was also recorded for the album, but only appears on the original LP press and the Japanese version of the CD.  Along with "Please Don't Forget Me", other highlights include the title track, "The Snake", "Lady Winter", "Schyssta Logner", "No Angel Or Demon", "It's So Easy", and "You Bury Your Head".  All feel as if they were written and recorded 40 years ago; all have a rich and powerful sludgy drone and groove that will make you want to bang your head!  Personnel on the album include Magnus Pelander (lead vocals), Mats Arnesén (bass), Jonas Arnesén (drums), and John Hoyles (guitars). 

The Squatters Bumper Crop Honey Ale is an herbed and spiced beer brewed with honey and lavender.  It pours a cloudy and pale golden amber with a thin, fizzy white head.  The nose is characterized by aromas of sweet raw honey, crackery biscuit, cracked wheat, lemon, and blooming lavender and herbal spices.  The flavor follows suit.  The Squatters Bumper Crop Honey Ale's flavor is malty, yeasty, flowery, and slightly sweet.  There is a nice richness from the honey, but it isn't overwhelming.  It is clean, crisp, and refreshing and goes down easy.  I usually like to pair stouts and porters with doom metal, but the depth of character to this refreshing Squatters Bumper Crop Honey Ale makes it a nice partner to the doomy groove of Witchcraft.

Skål... helan går!!!