August 25th, 2023 - A Shallow Grave Is A Door To Doom

 

God ettermiddag evil-doers and happy Friday!  The Meista here getting the weekend going with a pairing of the wonderful "The Door To Doom" by Swedish epic doom metal band Candlemass and a tasty and bold Shallow Grave from Heretic Brewing Company!  Hell yes!

Album Info:

• Artist: Candlemass
• Title: "The Door To Doom"
• Recorded: 2018 at Deep Well and Hagaton Studio
  Release date: February 22nd, 2019 (12th studio album by Candlemass)
• Record company: Napalm Records
• Production: Marcus Jidell
• Album cover art: Erik Rovanperä
• Personnel: Mappe Björkman (guitars), Leif Edling (bass), Lars Johansson (guitars), Johan Längquist (vocals), and Jan Lindh (drums) 
• Guest musicians: Stefan Berggren (backing vocals), Michael Blair (percussion), Tony Iommi (lead guitar on "Astorolus - The Great Octopus"), Andreas "Habo" Johansson (drums on "The Omega Circle"), Mats Levén (backing vocals), Rickard Nilsson (keyboards), Jennie-Ann Smith (backing vocals), and Carl Westholm (Mellotron on "Bridge Of The Blind") 
• Musical style: Doom metal, heavy metal
• Sound: Incorporating power metal and psychedelic rock into their style of doom metal along with complex songwriting and artistic integrity, "The Door To Doom" stands as another exceptional and profound sonic arrow in the musical quiver of Candlemass. 
• Major themes: Dark fantasy, mythology, doom, death, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Splendor Demon Majesty"
2. "Under The Ocean"
3. "Astorolus - The Great Octopus"
4. "Bridge Of The Blind"
5. "Death's Wheel"
6. "Black Trinity"
7. "House Of Doom"
8. "The Omega Circle"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Heretic Brewing Company (Fairfield, California)
• Website: http://hereticbrewing.com/
• Brew: Shallow Grave
• Style: Porter
• Serving: 16 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.0%
• IBUs: 33
• Pour: The Shallow Grave pours an opaque, ink black with a frothy, light mocha, 2+ finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is full of malty, nutty, roasty, smoky aromas.  There are aromas of rich chocolate and caramel malts, bittersweet baker's chocolate, burnt mesquite, espresso, hints of vanilla bean, and burnt toffee.
• Taste:  The taste of the Shallow Grave follows the nose with lots of malty, smoky, and slightly sweet flavors.  There are notes of dark chocolate, roasted malts, dark toasted bread, cold brewed coffee, liquid smoke, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with lower carbonation, the mouthfeel is creamy, very smooth, and warming with a dry, sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The dark and powerful flavors and aromas of the Shallow Grave from Heretic Brewing is a perfect brew for the dark beauty and musical intensity and integrity of Candlemass!  The bold yet inviting smoky notes of the brew coupled with bittersweet malts make for a great afternoon of sipping artisan brew... especially if the genius of "The Door To Doom" is playing the whole time!!

Skål!!  Hails!!