October 13th, 2022 - A White Raven In Metal City

 

Hey there headbangers and craft brew lovers!  The Meista here today rocking the hell out with another great pairing for ya... I'm going with "Metal City" the most recent, kick-ass studio album by the legendary Raven and a tasty and unique White Raven Golden Ale from the fine folks at Proper Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Raven
• Title: "Metal City"
• Recorded: 2020 at Wireworld Studios in Nashville, Tennessee and at Heaven and Heller Studios East
• Release date: September 18th, 2020 (14th full-length studio album by Raven)
• Record company: Steamhammer
• Production: Raven 
• Album cover art: Alan Robinson 
• Personnel: John Gallagher (bass and vocals), Mark Gallagher (guitars), and Mike Heller (drums)
• Musical style: Speed metal, heavy metal
• Sound: The Gallagher boys have been producing outstanding speed metal albums for 4 decades now and their latest offering is no exception.  The sound on "Metal City" is unapologetically fast, aggressive, and steeped in that classic Raven speed metal punch, but with a fresh, modern, and relevant vibe.  Simply put, this album shreds!!
• Major themes: Heavy metal, power, valor, fighting the good fight, speed, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks:  
1. "The Power"
2. "Top Of The Mountain"
3. "Human Race"
4. "Metal City"
5. "Battlescarred"
6. "Cybertron"
7. "Motorheadin'"
8. "Not So Easy"
9. "Break"
10. "When Worlds Collide"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Proper Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.properbrewingco.com/ 
• Brew: White Raven
• Style: Golden Ale aged in Sotol barrels 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.0%
• IBUs: 10 
• Pour: The White Raven pours a clear, golden yellow hue with a very thin, bright white head that dissipates to a thin ring with only traces of lacing.
• Nose: The nose is fruity, sweet, herbal, woody, and slightly boozy.  There are aromas of sweet orange, pear syrup, vanilla bean, baking spices, oak, wild herbs, sotol, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the White Raven is sweet, herbal, slightly boozy, and slightly spicy.  There are notes of pear juice, orange, vanilla, rye spice, umami, cactus, light caramel, and light sotol.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the White Raven crisp and smooth with a slightly bitter and boozy finish.

Overall pairing: Proper's White Raven is a very complex, unique, and flavorful ale that demands your full attention... a perfect companion to the metal onslaught that is the mighty Raven!  Those big, bold, sweeter notes go great with the intricate guitar work and musical prowess of the band, while the oaky and slight booziness go great with the more aggressive passages! 

And if you haven't done so already, check out my interview with Raven vocalist and bassist John Gallagher!  You can access it here: https://youtu.be/H5y0FIs3_VM 

Cheers!!  Rock on!!