October 16th, 2023 - I Am The Witchfynde

 

Good evening hellions, rockers, and craft brew lovers!  Your pal the Meista is here tonight with a pairing of I Am The Witch Golden Ale with Pumpkin and Spices from Proper Brewing Company and rocking out to "Divine Victims: The Witchfynde Albums 1980-1983" by the amazing New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) band Witchfynde!  Hell yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Witchfynde
• Title: "Divine Victims: The Witchfynde Albums 1980-1983"
• Recorded: 1979 through 1983 at Fairview Recording Studio in Hull, England, Pineapple Studios in London, England, and the BBC Studios in London, England
  Release date: April 28th, 2017 (compilation box set of the 1st three studio album by Witchfynde: "Give 'Em Hell" originally released February 1980, "Stagefright" originally released October 1980, and "Clock & Dagger" originally released June 20th, 1983)
• Record company: Hear No Evil Recordings 
• Production: Phil Chilton, Roy Neave, and Witchfynde
• Album cover art: Arnott Ashley (artwork on "Stagefright"), Kam Wai Comerford and Lorraine Hoyland (artwork and design on "Give 'Em Hell"), and Rob Jakeway (artwork on "Cloak & Dagger") 
• Personnel: Luther Beltz (vocals), Steve Bridges (vocals), Andro Coulton (bass), Montalo (guitars), Gra Scoresby (drums), Pete "Thud" Surgey (bass)
• Musical style: NWOBHM, heavy metal, hard rock 
• Sound: Consisting of the first three quintessential Witchfynde albums, the songs presented here are wonderfully rich and capture the true essence of the NWOBHM movement... pure English metal!  Tracks like "Give 'Em Hell", "I'd Rather Go Wild", "Crystal Gazing", "Cloak And Dagger", "Ready To Roll", "Stage Fright", "Moon Magic", and "Stay Away" are instant classics and songs that influenced the likes of Jag Panzer, Mercyful Fate, Metallica, etc.
• Major themes: Heavily influenced by the occult and 1970s hard rock bands like Black Sabbath, Budgie, Captain Beyond, and Deep Purple, Witchfynde's lyrics were a bit darker than some of their contemporaries.  Themes include rock and roll, the occult, witchcraft, life and death, darkness, rebellion, Satan, mythology, etc.
• Tracks: 

Disc 1: "Give 'Em Hell" 

1. "Ready To Roll"
2. "The Divine Victim"
3. "Leaving Nadir"
4. "Gettin' Heavy"
5. "Give 'Em Hell"
6. "Unto The Ages Of Ages"
7. "Pay Now - Love Later"
8. "The Devil's Gallop" (bonus track)
9. "Tetelestai" (bonus track)
10. "Wake Up Screaming" (7" EP B-side)

Disc 2: "Stagefright"

1. "Stagefright"
2. "Doing The Right Thing"
3. "Would Not Be Seen Dead In Heaven"
4. "Wake Up Screaming"
5. "Big Deal"
6. "Moon Magic"
7. "In The Stars"
8. "Trick Or Treat"
9. "Madeline"
10. "Give 'Em Hell" (BBC Friday Night Rock Show - Rec. 21/1/1981, Broad. 12/2/1981)
11. "Gettin' Heavy" (BBC Friday Night Rock Show - Rec. 21/1/1981, Broad. 12/2/1981)
12. "Belfast" (BBC Friday Night Rock Show - Rec. 21/1/1981, Broad. 12/2/1981)
13. "Moon Magic" (BBC Friday Night Rock Show - Rec. 21/1/1981, Broad. 12/2/1981)

Disc 3: "Cloak & Dagger"

1. "The Devil's Playground"
2. "Crystal Gazing"
3. "I'd Rather Go Wild"
4. "Somewhere To Hide"
5. "Clock And Dagger"
6. "Cry Wolf"
7. "Start Counting"
8. "Living For Memories"
9. "Rock & Roll"
10. "Stay Away"
11. "Fra Diabolo"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Proper Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.properbrewingco.com/ 
• Brew: I Am The Witch Golden Ale with Pumpkin and Spices
• Style: Golden Ale 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The I Am The Witch pours a fairly clear, golden orange hue with a thin and bubbly, off-white head that dissipates to the thin ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is spicy, earthy, toasty, malty, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of crackery biscuit, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, subtle pumpkin, pumpkin pie, and soft caramel.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste of the Pumpkin Party is spicy, slightly sweet, and malty.  There are notes of toasted malts, fresh pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, subtle black pepper, and caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonation, the mouthfeel of the I Am The Witch is crisp and spicy, yet smooth with a dry, spicy finish.

Overall pairing: The Proper brewing I Am The Witch is a good offering of the style... great to pair during the Halloween season with the NWOBHM intensity and heavy metal punch that is the legendary Witchfynde's original albums!  Those spicy notes go great with the dark vibe, while the crushable maltiness is great for the overall metal attack!  And visually, the boxset artwork goes great with the beer label.

Cheers and hails!!