August 12th, 2022 - I'll Shoot Your Eye Out... Because I'm Violent By Nature

 

Greetings thrashers, headbangers, and hop-heads!  And a very happy Friday to you!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here starting the weekend off right and rocking the hell out with a pairing of "Violent By Nature", the killer sophomore album by Arizona thrash metal band Atrophy and a tasty and tart Shoot Your Eye Out Raspberry Gose Ale from Melvin Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Atrophy
• Title: "Violent By Nature" 
• Recorded: 1990 at Track Record in North Hollywood, California
• Release date: March 26th, 1990 (2nd full-length studio album by Atrophy)
• Record company: Roadracer Records
• Production: Bill Metoyer
• Album cover art: Paul Stottler
• Personnel: James Gulotta (bass), Tim Kelly (drums), Chris Lykins (guitars), Rick Skowron (guitars), and Brian Zimmerman (lead vocals)
• Additional musician: Kevin Sparks (guitar on "Too Late To Change")
• Musical style: Thrash metal
• Sound: Fast and fiery, Atrophy's second album is characterized by killer riffs, hooks, solos, and Zimmerman's excellent vocals! 
• Major themes: Society, animal testing, violence, rebellion, change, life, death, pain, euthanasia, etc.
• Interesting note: The kid used as the model for the album cover was then-four-year-old Richie Cavalera, stepson of Max Cavalera. 
• Tracks: 

1. "Puppies And Friends"
2. "Violent By Nature"
3. "In Their Eyes"
4. "Too Late To Change"
5. "Slipped Through The Cracks"
6. "Forgotten But Not Gone"
7. "Process Of Elimination"
8. "Right To Die"
9. "Things Change"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Melvin Brewing Company (Alpine, Wyoming)
• Website: http://www.melvinbrewing.com/ 
• Brew: Shoot Your Eye Out Raspberry Gose Ale
• Style: Gose
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0% 
• Pour: The Shoot Your Eye Out pours a very hazy, light violet hue with a billowy and frothy, 2+ finger, light pink head with great retention and lots of sticky intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by fruity, tart, salty slightly sweet, and light grain elements.  There are aromas of fresh raspberries, lemon, light salt, and .
• Taste: The taste of the Shoot Your Eye Out follows the nose with lots of fruity, tart, and lightly salty flavors.  There are notes of raspberry, lemon, and light salt.
• Mouthfeel: Light-bodied with good carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Shoot Your Eye Out is very crisp, juicy, tart, and a little salty with a dry, lip-puckering finish.

Overall pairing: The Melvin Shoot Your Eye Out Raspberry Gose Ale is a tart and crisp brew with lots of juicy fruit flavor, which makes it a great beer to throw back to the intensity of the riffs, vocals, and thunderous rhythm section of Atrophy's killer "Violent By Nature" album!  'Nuff said! 

Cheers and hails!

And make sure to check out my interview with Brian Zimmerman from last year here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSoaoUzn1EQ