November 4th, 2017 - A Taped Swivelhead Red

Good evening rockers, rollers, and hop and malt lovers!  The Meista here tonight getting heavy with a pairing of the brilliant "Tape Head" by King's X and a Swivelhead Red India Style Red Ale from Deschutes Brewing Company!  Oh yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: King's X
• Title: "Tape Head"
• Recorded: May 1998 through July 1998 at Hound Pound and Alien Beans Studios in Houston, Texas
• Release date: October 20th, 1998 (7th studio album by King's X)
• Record company: Metal Blade
• Production: Ty Tabor and King's X
• Album cover art: Ty Tabor
• Personnel: Jerry Gaskill (drums and vocals), Doug Pinnick (bass and vocals), and Ty Tabor (guitars and vocals)
• Additional musicians: Wally Farkas (vocals on "Walter Bela Farkas (Live Peace In New York)"
• Musical style: Hard rock with elements of alternative rock, funk, soul, and heavy metal 
• Sound: Heavy, funky, melodic, and powerful as hell, the sound on King's X's "Tape Head" is indicative of their 1990s sound!  There is a deep groove that permeates throughout every track.   Pinnick's vocals and bass work are (as always) powerfully emotional and soulful!  Tabor's guitar work soars, shreds, and moves!  And Gaskill's drum work is some of the most solid in the industry... a badass in his own right!  
• Major themes: Love and hate, relationships, music, pain, heartbreak, child abuse, , etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Groove Machine"
2. "Fade"
3. "Over And Over"
4. "One"
5. "Cupid"
6. "Ocean"
7. "Little Bit Of Soul"
8. "Hate You"
9. "Higher Than God"
10. "Happy"
11. "Mr. Evil"
12. "World"
13. "Walter Bela Farkas (Live Peace In New York)"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Deschutes Brewing Company (Bend, Oregon)
• Website: https://www.deschutesbrewery.com/
• Brew: Swivelhead Red India Style Red Ale
• Style: Amber Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.5%
• IBUs: 70
• Ingredients: Pale, Cara Red, and Black Barley malts, and Nugget, Delta, U.S. Tettnang, Crystal, Northern Brewer, Triskel, and Summer hops
• Pour: The Swivelhead Red pours a hazy, deep copper-amber with a creamy and dense, off-white half-finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate lacing throughout.
• Nose: The nose is malty, hoppy, earthy, and herbal.  There are aromas of doughy bread, bold and bitter herbs, black tea, sweet toffee, musty earth, pine resin, and light spices. 
• Taste: The taste of the Swivelhead Red is herbal, malty, and hoppy.  There are notes of bitter black tea, grapefruit rind, lemon zest, smooth caramel, pine, wild flowers, and subtle black pepper in the finish. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Swivelhead Red is with a very dry, slightly bitter, and very herbal finish.

Overall pairing: The bold, complex, and herbal notes and aromas of the Swivelhead Red India Style Red Ale from the fine folks at Deschutes Brewing Company is the perfect brew for the heaviness, intensity, soul, honesty, and musical prowess of King's X's brilliant and powerful "Tape Machine"!  I cannot get enough of this album or this brew!  You need both in your life brothers and sisters!!
    

Cheers!!  Rock on!!