September 15th, 2023 - The Crest Express Is Faster Than Death

 

Hey there headbangers, thrashers, and hopheads!  Happy Friday!  The Meista here today pairing "Faster Than Death", the fantastic, new and exclusive demo-rehearsal album by the mighty HIRAX and a hoppy and delicious Crest Express Pale Ale from the fine folks at Fisher Brewing Company!!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info: 

• Artist: HIRAX
• Title: "Faster Than Death"
• Recorded: Friday, April 21st, 2023 at MDM Rehearsal Studios
• Release date: July 27th, 2023 (3rd official demo release by Hirax)
• Record company: Destruktion Records / Iron Shield Records
• Production: Hirax and mastered by the legendary Bill Metoyer 
• Album cover art: Aggressor (artwork) and Tom G. Warrior (original band logo) 
• Personnel: Chris Aguirre II (bass), Katon W. De Pena (vocals), Neil Metcalf (guitars), and Danny Walker (drums and percussion) 
• Musical style: Thrash metal, speed metal
• Sound: Contemporaries of Slayer, Exodus, Overkill, and Megadeth, HIRAX hails from the L.A. and Bay Area thrash metal scene of the mid-1980s.  With crossover fierceness, HIRAX blends speed metal, thrash, and punk to create an aggressive and intense sound, which you will definitely find on "Faster Than Death" demo album.  This is an album that will stab you right between the eyes and make your ears bleed and you will beg for more!  It is topical, angry, fast, and above all, honest!  If you love thrash metal (and I know you do!), then you MUST own this album!
• Major themes: Violence, war, evil, death, destruction, insanity, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Armageddon"
   
2. "Psychiatric Ward"
3. "Worlds End"
4. "Faster Than Death"
5. "Revenant"
6. "Relentless"
7. "Warlords Command"
8. "Mammoth"
9. "Drill Into The Brain"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.fisherbeer.com/
• Brew: Crest Express Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 50
• Pour: The Crest Express Pale Ale pours a hazy, deep bronze-amber with a billowy and creamy, off-white, 1+ finger head with great sustain and lots of sudsy, sticky, and layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by citrusy, floral, earthy, and herbal hops, and more subtle sweeter malts.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, lemon zest, herbal tea, pine resin, cedar, wildflowers, doughy bread, toasted malts, a hint of onion, and soft, sweet caramel/toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Crest Express follows the nose with lots of citrusy, earthy, and herbal flavors along with more subtle bready malts.  There are notes of grapefruit juice, tangerine,  crackery biscuit, pine, black tea, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, slightly bitter, yet smooth with a dry, bitter finish

Overall pairing: The Fisher Crest Express Pale Ale is a tasty, punchy, very complex, yet inviting brew... perfect for the complexities, intricacies, and raw brilliance of "Faster Than Death" by the indelible HIRAX!  The flavors and aromas of this tasty brew blend wonderfully well with the powerful vocals, fiery guitars, and thunderous bombast of the bass and drums!

Cheers!!  And hails!!