July 2nd, 2021 - Twisted Prayers For A Trolley Ryed

Hello and happy Friday metal maniacs and craft beer freaks!  The Meista here with another kick-ass pairing for ya today to the get the weekend off to the right start: the killer "Twisted Prayers" album by death metal monsters Gruesome and the peppery spice and punchy citrus flavors of Desert Edges Brewery's Trolley Rye India Pale Ale, another tasty offering from my main man Master Chad!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Gruesome
• Title: "Twisted Prayers"
• Recorded: 2018 at New Constellation RMP in Florida
• Release date: June 1st, 2018 (2nd full length album by Gruesome)
• Record company: Relapse Records 
• Production: Jarrett Pritchard
• Album cover art: Ed Repka
• Personnel: Daniel Gonzalez (guitars), Matt Harvey (guitars and vocals), Robin Mazen (bass), and Gus Rios (drums) 
• Guest musician: James Murphy (guitar solos on "Crusade Of Brutality" and "At Death's Door")
• Musical style: Death metal
• Sound: An unapologetic tribute to the late Chuck Schuldiner's band Death, Gruesome's sound on this album is very much in the style of "Spiritual Healing".  It is incredibly fast, incredibly aggressive and complex, and a sheer joy to hear!  Harvey and Gonzalez lay down riff after killer riff whilst Mazen and Rios bring the thunder!  If you love early Death albums and early death metal in general, this album is for you! 
• Major themes: Death, darkness, evil, horror, terror, corruption, deception, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Inhumane"
2. "A Waste Of Life"
3. "Fate"
4. "Lethal Legacy"
5. "Fatal Illusions"
6. "Crusade Of Brutality"
7. "At Death's Door"
8. "Twisted Prayers"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Deseret Edge Brewery at the Pub (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://desertedgebrewery.com/ 
• Brew: Trolley Rye India Pale Ale
• Style: Rye India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.8%
• IBUs: 70
• Ingredients: Rye, Pale, Munich, and Caramunich malts, and Cascade and Citra hops 
• Pour: The Trolley Rye IPA pours a hazy golden amber with a thick and creamy, 1+ finger, off-white head with great retention and lots of intricate sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a wonderful blend of citrusy, spicy, earthy, dank, floral, and malty aromas.  There are aromas of spicy rye bread, grapefruit rind, orange peel, tangerine, wild flowers, barley, crackery biscuit, black tea, and soft caramel.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste of the Trolley Rye IPA is spicy, citrusy, herbal, and malty.  There are notes of zesty grapefruit, tangerine, black tea, crackery biscuit, peppery rye bread, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Trolley Rye IPA is very crisp and spicy, yet smooth with a dry, bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The very crushable, yet wonderfully complex, spicy, and flavorful Desert Edge 
Trolley Rye IPA makes a great companion to the death metal aggression of Gruesome's great "Twisted Prayers" album!  The peppery rye notes really pop when you've got Gruesome blasting from your speakers!  I highly recommend both the album and brew!  'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!!