November 14th, 2020 - I.X.X.I. And The Staff Of Life

 

Good afternoon headbangers and hop-heads!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here today pairing "I.X.X.I.", the latest by Canadian death metal band Votov and a tasty Staff Of Life Double IPA from Revision Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Votov
• Title: "I.X.X.I." 
• Recorded: Fall of 2019 at the Votov home studio
• Release date: August 14th, 2020 (2nd full-length studio album by Votov)
• Record company: CDN Records
• Production: Votov
• Album cover art: Chuck Labossiere 
• Personnel: John Duke (bass), Derrick Knoll (drums), and Chuck Labossiere (guitars and vocals)
• Musical style: Death metal
• Sound: Aggressive, heavy, and in-your-face, this album is a solid, well-produced, old-school death metal juggernaut!  Labossiere's vocals are low, powerful growls reminiscent of Steve Tucker or John McEntee.  The bass, guitars, and drums are tight, explosive, and an onslaught of death metal aggression.
• Major themes: Politically charged with lots of great abstract poetics, themes on the album include death, war, violence, world politics, the occult, manipulation, indoctrination, corruption, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Activating The Alteration"
2. "Blessphemy"
3. "Head Over Hooves"
4. "Pacify The Enslaved"
5. "Celf"
6. "Imprismed"
7. "Heinous Waveform"
8. "Nerve Stamp"
9. "Regeneration"

 Brew Info:

• Brewery: Revision Brewing Company (Sparks, Nevada)
• Website: https://revisionbrewing.com/  
• Brew: Staff Of Life
• Style: New England-style Hazy Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA (IIPA) 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 8.0%
• IBUs: 38 
• Ingredients: Mosaic, Equinox, and CTZ hops
• Pour: The Staff Of Life pours a very hazy golden-yellow with a frothy, bright white, 2-finger head with great retention and lots of sudsy, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very hoppy, floral, and citrusy.  There are aromas of orange peel, orange juice, tangerine, grapefruit rind, pineapple, mango, light pine resin, wild flowers, black tea, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Very hop-forward, the taste of the Staff Of Life is citrusy, fruity, and malty.  There are notes of orange juice, tangerine, lime, pink grapefruit juice, mango, pineapple, guava, herbal tea, light pine, grassy hops, sweet caramel, and an ever so slight hint of booze.  
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp and very juicy, yet smooth with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Revision Staff Of Life is a complex and bold brew with lots of juicy citrus flavor, which makes it a great beer to throw back to the brutal intensity of the riffs, vocals, and thunderous rhythm section of  the tracks on Votov's "I.X.X.I."!  Check out this band and get a sixer of Revision's Staff Of Life to wash it down!  'Nuff said!

    

Cheers and hails!!