August 16th, 2023 - The Time Assassin Leaves No Trace

 

Hello and happy Wednesday metal maniacs, and craft beer fanatics!  The Meista here today rocking the hell out with a pairing of the wonderful "Time Assassin", the most recent album by legendary NWOBHM band Cloven Hoof and a tasty and very crushable Leave No Trace Alpine Lager from Great Basin Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Cloven Hoof
• Title: "Time Assassin"
• Recorded: 2021
• Release date: February 2022 (9th studio album by Cloven Hoof)
• Record company: Heavy Metal Records
• Production: Chris Dando and Ben Fitzharris
• Album cover art: Galih Muhammed
• Personnel: Mark Bristow (drums), George Call (lead vocals), Chris Coss (rhythm guitars and backing vocals), Luke Hatton (lead guitars), and Lee Payne (bass and backing vocals) 
• Musical style: Heavy metal
• Sound: Blending power metal and thrash metal with more traditional NWOBHM, the sound on "Time Assassin" is richly textured, emotive, and mesmerizing, yet intensely rocking!
• Major themes: The first side of "Time Assassin" is a sci-fi concept album continuing the story set forth originally on the "Dominator" album, while the second side consists of stand-alone tracks.  Themes on the ablum include good vs. evil, time travel, murder, paradoxes, crime, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Guardians Of The Universe"
2. "Liquidator"
3. "Lords Of Death"
4. "After Forever"
5. "Time Assassin"
6. "Beltaine Fire"
7. "Highway Man"
8. "Tokyo Knights"
9. "Carnival Of Souls"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Great Basin Brewing Company (Sparks, Nevada)
• Website: https://greatbasinbrewingco.com/
• Brew: Leave No Trace Alpine Lager
• Style: German-style Lager / Helles
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 20
• Pour: The Leave No Trace pours a clear, bright golden yellow with a frothy, bright white, 2-finger head with good sustain and lots of sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by grainy, malty, slightly hoppy, and slightly fruity notes.  There are aromas of bready dough, pale malts, crackery grains, lager yeast, lemongrass, grassy hay, lemon zest, light pear, and a hint of caramel. 
• Taste: The taste of the Leave No Trace follows the nose with grainy, grassy, biscuity, and malty flavors.  There are notes of toasted white bread, lemongrass, hints of apple and pear, grassy and light, spicy hops, and soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Light-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Leave No Trace is very crisp and refreshing, and very smooth with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The very crushable bready, malty, and slightly sweet and hoppy flavors and aromas of Great Basin's Leave No Trace Alpine Lager are perfect for the heavy metal sonic attack that is the mighty Cloven Hoof's "Time Assassin"!!  'Nuff said!

And if you haven't done so already, make sure to check out my interview with the very friendly, talented, and amazing Lee Payne, bassist, founding member, and mastermind behind Cloven Hoof here: https://youtu.be/j1xlaNRn-JI 

Cheers and hails!!