November 2nd, 2022 - The Phantom Runs To The Hills On The Day Of The Dead

 

Buenos noches and happy Día de los Muertos metal maniacs!  How about a double dose of Eddie this weekend?  That's right... the Meista here today with a pairing of the mighty Iron Maiden's amazing "Run To The Hills" / "Phantom Of The Opera" picture disc 12" and 7" single I purchased from my good friends at Lavender Vinyl and a sessionable and crushable Trooper Day Of The Dead from Robinson Brewery!!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Iron Maiden
• Title: "Run To The Hills" / "Phantom Of The Opera" picture disc 12" and 7" single
• Recorded: Live 1984 and 1985
• Release date: 1985 (13th single released by Iron Maiden)
• Record company: EMI / Capitol Records
• Production: Martin Birch
• Album cover art: Derek Riggs
• Personnel: Bruce Dickinson (lead vocals), Steve Harris (bass guitar and backing vocals), Nicko McBrain (drums), Dave Murray (guitars), and Adrian Smith (guitars and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Power metal, heavy metal
• Sound: The definitive Iron Maiden sound and just so wonderfully written, performed, and produced; truly astonishing!  'Nuff said! 
• Major themes: Genocide, violence, power, horror, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Run To The Hills" (Recorded live in March 1985 at Long Beach Arena in California)
2. "Phantom Of The Opera" (Recorded live in October 1984 at Hammersmith Odeon in London, England)
3. "Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)" (Recorded live in October 1984 at Hammersmith Odeon in London, England)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Robinson Brewery (Stockport, England)
• Website: robinsonsbrewery.com 
• Brew: Trooper Day Of The Dead (with the "Run To The Hills" / "Phantom Of The Opera" bottle cap)
• Style: Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB) 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 4.7%
• IBUs: 
• Ingredients: Brewed with roasted malts along with Bobec, Goldings, and Cascade hops
• Pour: Trooper pours a clear, deep copper hue with a 1-finger, frothy off-white head with good retention and lacing.
• Nose: The nose is both malty and hoppy and slightly fruity with notes of freshly baked bread, roasted nuts, apple and a slight hint of lemon zest. 
• Taste: The Trooper Day Of The Dead is definitely a true English ale with a good balance of hops and malts and true "depth of character."  Flavors include bready malts, apple, black tea, lemon zest, and sweet caramel.
• Mouthfeel: It is medium-bodied and moderately carbonated.  It is very smooth and easy drinking with a nice, clean and hoppy finish.

Overall pairing: Visually and theoretically speaking, this pairing is pretty obvious.  And coming in at only 4.7% ABV, you can through back a few of these easy drinking Trooper Day Of The Dead brews whilst pumping your fist and banging your head to the might, brilliance and aggression that is the mighty Iron Maiden!

UP THE IRONS!!!