January 9th, 2015 - The Underground Apocalypse

God kveld!!  The Meista here tonight pairing "The Underground Resistance" by legendary Norwegian metal band Darkthrone with an Apocalypse IPA from 10 Barrel Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Darkthrone
• Title: "The Underground Resistance"
• Recorded: Spring 2010–Summer 2012 at Necrohell Studios
• Release date: February 25th, 2013 (15th studio album)
• Record company: Peaceville
• Album cover art:  Jim Fitzpatrick
• Personnel: Ted Skjellum (aka Nocturno Culto) - (vocals, electric guitar, and bass guitar) and Gylve Fenris Nagell (aka Fenriz) - (drums, vocals, and bass guitar on track 4)
• Major themes: Life and death, Norse mythology and folklore, destruction, warfare, the occult, etc.
• Musical style: A fascinating blend of black metal, speed metal, thrash metal, doom metal, power metal, NWOBHM, and a little bit of punk rock for good measure.
• Sound: With "The Underground Resistance", Darkthrone seems to channel elements of Bathory, Celtic Frost, King Diamond, Motörhead, and Venom while still being wholly original.  While the band's black metal roots are still evident and influential, there's a whole lot more going on with this album. 
• Tracks:

1. "Dead Early"
2. "Valkyrie"
3. "Lesser Men"
4. "The Ones Your Left Behind"
5. "Come Warfare, The Entire Doom"
6. "Leave No Cross Unturned"

  Brew Info:

• Brewery: 10 Barrel Brewing Company
• Website: http://www.10barrel.com/agegate
• Brew: Apocalypse IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.5%
• Ingredients: Brewed with four hop varieties and Victory malts.
• Pour: It pours a deep, copper-orange with a white frothy head that leaves sustained and intricate lacing.
• Nose: Characterized by notes of pine resin, citrus, fruit ester, and sweet, toasted caramel malts.
• Taste: Notes of lemon, pink grapefruit, juicy orange/tangerine, watermelon, juniper, and blue spruce.
• Mouthfeel:  Medium-bodied, the Apocalypse IPA provides a firmly bitter and crisp mouthfeel and a dry finish.

  Overall pairing: The bitterness, complexity, and interesting fruit flavors of the Apocalypse IPA works great with wide range of metal stylings on "The Underground Resistance"!  There is an element of aggressive brutality with both the brew and the album... a foreboding of the end of times!  :)

Skål... hails!!!