October 9th, 2021 - An Armored Saint Marching Across The Iron Age!

 

Good evening evildoers!  The Meista here getting heavy with Armored Saint's classic masterpiece "March Of The Saint" (37 years old today!) and a delicious Iron Age Oatmeal Stout from Talisman Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Armored Saint
• Title: "March Of The Saint"
• Recorded: 1984 Ocean Way Recording Studios and Clover Recordings Studios in Hollywood California 
• Release date: October 9th, 1984 (1st full-length studio album by Armored Saint)
• Record company: Chrysalis
• Production: Michael James Jackson 
• Album cover art: Gareth Williams
• Personnel: John Bush (lead vocals), Dave Prichard (guitars and backing vocals), Gonzo Sandoval (drums, percussion, and backing vocals), Phil Sandoval (guitars), and Joey Vera (bass and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Heavy metal
• Sound: Heavily influenced by the NWOBHM sound and the emerging Southern California thrash movement, Armored Saint's sound reminds me of early Anthrax, Diamond Head, Kiss, and Tygers Of Pan Tang.  Their music is both wonderfully melodic and aggressive.  Marked by driving guitars, thunderous bass, pounding drums, and Bush's powerful vocal range, "March Of The Saint" is a brilliantly powerful and very underrated metal album.  Each song is a perfect gem of metal goodness!
• Major themes: bravery, rebellion, lust, partying, temptation, violence, death, war, etc.
• Notes: Apparently drummer Gonzo Sandoval came up with the band's name after getting stoned with his band mates and viewing the epic King Arthur film Excalibur.
• Tracks: 

1. "March Of The Saint"
2. "Can U Deliver"
3. "Mad House"
4. "Take A Turn"
5. "Seducer"
6. "Mutiny On The World"
7. "Glory Hunter"
8. "Stricken By Fate"
9. "Envy"
10. "False Alarm"

1. 
   

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Talisman Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://www.talismanbrewingco.com/
• Brew: Iron Age Oatmeal Stout
• Style: Oatmeal Stout
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.0%
• IBUs: 35
• Pour: The Iron Age pours a deep mahogany brown (almost black) with a creamy and thick light mocha head with great retention and lots of sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is roasty, chocolatey, earthy, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of roasted coffee beans, fresh cream, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cocoa, oatmeal, and light toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Iron Age is roasty, toasty, sweet, chocolatey, nutty, and rich.  There are notes of creamy oats, dark and milk chocolate, fresh brewed coffee, cream, light marshmallow, walnut, hazelnut, and caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with low carbonation, the mouthfeel is thick, creamy, velvety smooth, and with a dry, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The classic sound of Armored Saint's "March Of The Saint" requires a brew with depth, complexity, and great flavor!  The Iron Age Oatmeal Stout from Talisman Brewing Company definitely fits that bill!  With its rich texture and earthy aromas and flavors, the Iron Age is perfect for the heaviness, musical prowess, and sheer force that is Armored Saint!  Also, the album cover imagery and the label art go great together!

    

Cheers!!  HAILS!!

Make sure to check out my interview with Phil Sandoval as well!  https://youtu.be/g9PW1pMpDcQ