August 14th, 2021 - To The Very End With The White Salamander

 

Good afternoon my metal and craft beer friends!  Your favorite metal drinking buddy, the Meista here today pairing the wonderful "To The End" by U.K. death metal band Memoriam with a complex and delicious White Salamander Fruited Hazy Double IPA from the Red Feather Small-Batch Series made by the fine folks over at Level Crossing Brewing Company!  Hell yes!!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Memoriam
• Title: "To The End"
• Recorded: 2020 at Parlour Studios in Kettering, England
• Release date: March 26th, 2021 (4th full-length studio album by Memoriam)
• Record company: Reaper Entertainment
• Production: Russ Russell 
• Album cover art: Dan Seagrave 
• Personnel: Scott Fairfax (guitars), Frank Healy (bass), Spikey T. Smith (drums), and Karl Willetts (vocals) 
• Musical style: Death metal with elements of doom metal
• Sound: Dynamic, heavy, and powerful, the sound on "To The End" combines the old school U.K. death metal sensibilities and lyricism of bands like Bolt Thrower and Benediction with a more modern approach.  The musical prowess of these guys is really top notch and Willetts delivers a vocal onslaught like only he can!  All of this is cultivated into a powerfully mesmerizing sonic journey!  This is pure, in-your-face death metal without frills and bullshit.
• Major themes: War, violence, rage, history, death, darkness, loss, rebellion, resistance, justice, insanity, etc.  
• Tracks:  
1. "Onwards Into Battle"
2. "This War Is Won"
3. "No Effect"
4. "Failure To Comply"
5. "Each Step (One Closer To The Grave)"
6. "To The End"
7. "Vacant Stare"
8. "Mass Psychosis"
9. "As My Heart Grows Cold"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Level Crossing Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.levelcrossingbrewing.com/ 
• Brew: White Salamander Fruited Hazy Double IPA
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA (IIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 8.2%
• IBUs: 44 
• Ingredients: Lotus, Zappa, and BRU-1 hops with Thomas Fawcett Pearl Malt, Pure Idaho Pilsner, Solstice Flaked Oats, Oat Malt, White Wheat malts, and Cara Cara Orange, Passion Fruit, and Guava 
• Pour: The White Salamander pours a hazy golden yellow hue with a bright white, frothy, 2-finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by citrusy, tropical, and sweet aromas.  There are notes, grapefruit rind, Cara Cara orange peel and juice, orange gelato, tangerine, passion fruit, guava, mango, light cereal grains, lemon grass, and sweet honeysuckle
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the White Salamander is a blend of citrus, tropical fruit, tangy, slightly tart, and sweet flavors.  There are notes of tangy orange juice, orange marmalade, pink grapefruit juice, passion fruit, guava, herbal tea, lemon juice, sweet biscuit, and a hint of honey.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp and juicy, and slightly tart with a dry, slightly bitter/sharp finish.

Overall pairing: Wonderfully complex and citrusy, the Level Crossing White Salamander is a beast of a brew, yet very drinkable, very crushable... perfect for the aggressive and intricate death metal onslaught that is Memoriam's brilliant "To The End"!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Horns raised!!