August 8th, 2018 - A Voodoo Ranger In The Savage Lands

Good evening!  The Meista here tonight with a heavy duty, in-your-face, head-banging mid-week pairing of "Savage Land" by American death metal band Gruesome and a Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA from New Belgium Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Gruesome
• Title: "Savage Land"
• Recorded: at Riversound Studios in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Release date: April 17th, 2015 (1st full-length studio album by Gruesome)
• Record company: Relapse Records
• Production: Matthew F. Jacobson and Gruesome
• Album cover art: Ed Repka
• Personnel: Daniel Gonzalez (guitars), Matt Harvey (guitars and lead vocals), Robin Mazen (bass), and Gus Rios (drums and guitars)
• Additional musicians: James Murphy (lead guitar on "Closed Casket")
• Musical style: Death metal
• Sound: An unapologetic tribute to the late Chuck Schuldiner, Gruesome's sound is in the style of Death on their "Leprosy" album.  It is incredibly fast, incredibly aggressive, and a joy to hear!  If you love early Death albums and early death metal in general, this is your album!  
• Major themes: Death, horror, evil, sickness, fear, gore, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Savage Land"
2. "Trapped In Hell"
3. "Demonized"
4. "Hideous"
5. "Gangrene"
6. "Closed Casket"
7. "Psychic Twin"
8. "Gruesome"
9. "Land Of No Return" (Death cover bonus track)
10. "Black Magic" (Slayer cover bonus track)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Website: https://www.newbelgium.com/Brewery
• Brew: Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.5%
• IBUs: 42
• Ingredients: Pale, Wheat, C-80, and Oat malts with Citra, Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, and Nugget hops
• Pour: The Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA pours a very cloudy, pale golden-orange hue with a creamy, off-white, 1-finger head with good retention and soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, tropical, grassy, and sweet.  There are aromas of lemon drops, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, guava, mango, grassy hops, crackery biscuit, a hint of booze, and light caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA is characterized by initially sweet and fruity flavors that morph into more bitter flavors.  There are notes lemon zest, grapefruit, orange peel, pine, and black pepper.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA's mouthfeel is crisp, with a smooth, slightly peppery finish.

Overall pairing: The Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA is an assertive, hop-forward, punchy brew.. perfect for the death metal stylings of the wonderful Gruesome and their debut album "Savage Land"!  Those bitter and zesty notes are great for the blistering guitar work and Harvey's brutal Schuldiner-esq vocals while the hearty malt backbone is right in line with the power juggernaut of a rhythm section!

Cheers!!  And hails!!

"Respectfully dedicated to the memory of “Evil” Chuck Schuldiner, May 13, 1967 – December 13, 2001 R.I.P."