March 12th, 2020 - The Daemon And The Buffalo Solider

God ettermiddag evildoers and craft brew lovers!  I was planning on attending the Mayhem concert here in Utah this weekend and I even had an interview lined up with the band, but sadly the whole tour has been canceled due to this COVID-19 thing.   So instead I'm here tonight banging my head to their latest machination, "Daemon" with a delicious and punchy Buffalo Soldier Black Rye IPA from UTOG Brewing Company!  This pairing goes out to my buddy the Jester!  Cheers and hails my man!  We'll catch them next time!

Album Info:

• Artist: Mayhem
• Title: "Daemon"
• Recorded: 2019 at NBS Audio Studio (a.k.a. Necromorbus Studio) in Söderfors, Sweden, SleikBallaMi Studio and Lupercal Studio in Oslo, Norway
• Release date: October 25th, 2019 ( album by Mayhem)
• Record company: Century Media Records
• Production: Necromorbus
• Album cover art: Daniel Valeriani
• Personnel: Attila Csihar (vocals), Ghul (guitars), Hellhammer (drums), Necrobutcher (bass), and Teloch (guitars)
• Musical style: Black metal
• Sound: Fiery fast, unsettling, sometimes chaotic, and beautifully black as hell, the sound on "Daemon" blends classic black metal with more progressive and modern inspiration.  Powerfully haunting melodies are combined with buzzsaw tremolo picking, and classic black metal vocals, yet there are also elements of symphonic metal and slower, dirge-like passages.
• Major themes: Evil, the occult, darkness, paganism, death, Hell, nature, violence, desolation, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "The Dying False King"
2. "Agenda Ignis"
3. "Bad Blood"
4. "Malum"
5. "Falsified And Hated"
6. "Aeon Daemonium"
7. "Worthless Abominations Destroyed"
8. "Daemon Spawn"
9. "Of Worms And Ruin"
10. "Invoke The Oath"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: UTOG Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://www.utogbrewing.com/
• Brew: Buffalo Soldier Black Rye IPA
• Style: Black India Pale Ale (IPA) / Cascade Dark Ale / American Black Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.2%
• IBUs: 87
• Pour: The Buffalo Soldier pours an ink black color with a creamy and firm, 2-finger, light mocha head with great retention and lots of sticky and intricate spider web lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, malty, herbal, and spicy.  There are aromas of freshly baked rye bread, dark roasted malts, light coffee, black tea, grapefruit rind, tangerine, orange peel, soft caramel, and black pepper.
• Taste: The taste of the Buffalo Soldier is peppery, herbal, citrusy, and malty.  There are notes of dark roasted malts, rye bread, pink grapefruit juice, black tea, and sweet toffee. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium in body and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp, spicy, yet smooth with a peppery, slightly bitter, dry finish.

Overall pairing: The Buffalo Soldier from UTOG Brewing is a dark, spicy, citrusy, biting brew, which makes it a great companion to the beautifully chaotic, infernal aggressions and blackened ministrations of Mayhem's "Daemon"!  'Nuff said!

Skål and hails to Mayhem!!