November 12th, 2022 - Cousin Jack Is A Heavy Metal[s] Maniac!

 

Hello and happy Saturday headbangers and hopheads!  Today I'm pairing Exciter's killer debut album "Heavy Metal Maniac" with a Cousin Jack India Pale Ale from the fine folks at SaltFire Brewing Company!  Hell yeah! 

Album Info:

• Artist: Exciter
• Title: "Heavy Metal Maniac" 
• Recorded: August 1982 at The Dungeon Studios in Aylmer, Quebec, Canada
• Release date: June 14th, 1983 (1st studio album by Exciter)
• Record company: Shrapnel Records / Megaforce Records (2021 reissue)
• Production: John Belrose
• Album cover art: Andy Brown
• Personnel: Dan Beehler (drums and lead vocals), Allan Johnson (bass and backing vocals), and John Ricci (guitars and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, speed metal, thrash metal
• Sound: 1980s speed metal at its finest, the sound on Exciter's "Heavy Metal Maniac" is fiery fast, furious, and pure, high-octane thrashing metal!  With influence from fellow Canadians Anvil along with Judas Priest, Motorhead, and Raven, this is classic, straight-forward, in-your-face, and raw speed metal perfection!
• Major themes: Death, destruction, violence, power, heavy metal, terror, evil, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "The Holocaust"
2. "Stand Up And Fight"
3. "Heavy Metal Maniac"
4. "Iron Dogs"
5. "Mistress Of Evil"
6. "Under Attack"
7. "Rising Of The Dead"
8. "Black Witch"
9. "Cry Of The Banshee"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: SaltFire Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.saltfirebrewing.com/
• Brew: Cousin Jack India Pale Ale
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.5%
• Pour: The Cousin Jack pours a fairly clear golden yellow hue with a very frothy, bright white, 1-finger head with great retention and lots of layered, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, fruity, floral, and slightly grainy.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, lemon zest, light mango, wildflowers, herbal tea, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Cousin Jack is citrusy, bitter, herbal, fruity, and grainy.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, orange zest, tangerine, light mango, crackery biscuit, herbal and black tea, light pine, and light caramel. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp and juicy, yet smooth with a very dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Cousin Jack is a hop-forward, crushable, flavorful brew... perfect for the aggressive metal onslaught that is the mighty Exciter!  Those punchy citrus flavors go great with the aggressive vocal attack and killer guitar riffs while the sweeter characteristics are perfect for the thunderous rhythmic onslaught of the mighty bass and drums!

Cheers and hails!!