Saturday, October 14, 2017

October 14th, 2017 - Angel Witches Brew




Good evening evil-doers!  The Meista here tonight pairing a newly released ale from Talisman Brewing Company with the self-titled, debut album by NWOBHM monsters Angel Witch!  This pairing is dedicated to Mark Briody of Jag Panzer!  Cheers my friend!!

Album Info:
  • Artist: Angel Witch
  • Title: "Angel Witch"
  • Recorded: September through October 1979 at Roundhouse Studios in London, England
  • Release date: March 12th, 1980 (1st studio album by Angel Witch)
  • Record company: Bronze Records
  • Production: Martin Smith
  • Album cover art:  "The Fallen Angels Entering Pandemonium" by John Martin
  • Personnel:  Jay Evans (lead guitars), Kevin Heybourne (rhythm guitars and lead vocals), Dave Hogg (drums and percussion), and Kevin "Skids" Riddles (bass, keyboards, and backing vocals)
  • Guest musician: Sev Lewkowicz (keyboards)
  • Musical style: Heavy metal, proto-speed metal, proto-thrash metal
  • Sound: Considered by many as one of the most notable NWOBHM albums of the era, "Angel Witch" was released in 1980.  Characterized by the ferociousness of Rob Downing's blistering guitar assault, Kevin Heybourne's soaring vocal delivery with a touch of early English '70s glam, and the thunderous rhythm section of Kevin Riddles (bass) and Dave Hogg (drums), Angel Witch incorporated the bluesy heaviness of Led Zeppelin with the dark thematic approach of Black Sabbath and the fierce speed of Motorhead to create a wonderful, solid, metal album.  Songs like "Angel Witch," "White Witch," "Gorgon," "Sweet Danger," "Loser," and "Angel Of Death" are intense, fast-paced metal classics.  While songs like "Sorcerer," "Free Man," and "Devil's Tower" channel the slow, dirge-like heaviness of early Black Sabbath.  "Sorcerer" even has some nice Hammond organ toward the end of the track that is reminiscent of John Lord's work with Deep Purple.  "Atlantis" is fast and exciting, but with its harmonies and high-pitched chorus, it sounds almost like a metal version song by the Sweet, and yet it still fits the album perfectly.
  • Major themes: Evil, witchcraft, magic, evil, the occult, mythology, death, etc.
  • Tracks:   
  1. "Angel Witch"
  2. "Atlantis"
  3. "White Witch"
  4. "Confused"
  5. "Sorcerers"
  6. "Gorgon"
  7. "Sweet Danger"
  8. "Free Man"
  9. "Angel Of Death"
  10. "Devil's Tower"

Brew Info:
  • Brewery: Talisman Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
  • Website: https://www.talismanbrewingco.com/
  • Brew: Witches Brew Fall Ale
  • Style: Kölsch
  • Serving: 16 ounce bottle
  • ABV: 6.4%
  • Ingredients: Traditional Kölsch brewed with spices, orange zest, and cranberries
  • Pour: The Witches Brew pours a very cloudy peach hue with a frothy, bright white, 1-fnger head with good retention and lot of sticky, soapy lacing.
  • Nose: The nose is fruity, spicy, and grainy with a hint of sulfur. There are aromas of cranberries, raspberries, lemon juice and zest, orange peel, crackery grains, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and a hint white pepper.
  • Taste: The taste of the Witches Brew is fruity, spicy, sweet, and grainy.  There are notes of spicy cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon along with and tart cranberries, bitter orange peel, tart lemon, crackery biscuit, and grassy hops.
  • Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, slightly tart, and very refreshing with a clean finish.
  • Notes: "In the 13th Century England, one-third of women brewed for sale.  Commonly referred to as "Beer Witches", their tall hats, brooms, and cauldrons were symbols of their trade used to identify them.  As an adage to craft, this annual beer is brews b all the "Bad Brew Witches" at Talisman!  Cheers to women in brewing!"
Overall pairing: The Witches Brew Fall Ale is a very sold, very festive fall ale with lots of crisp and fruity flavors and aromas... perfect for the melodic heavy metal onslaught that is Angel Witch!  Those spicy notes work really well with the blast of guitars as well!

Cheers!!  And hails!!

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