February 22nd, 2024 - Huldra and Holle's Cause of Death

 

Hello and hails metal maniacs and craft beer freaks!  The Meista here banging his head and getting heavy to the "Cause Of Death: Live Infection" live album by death metal legends Obituary along with a bold, rich, and unique Huldra and Holle Rum Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with Chaga Mushrooms from SaltFire Brewing Company!!  Hell yes!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Obituary
• Title: "Cause Of Death: Live Infection"
• Recorded: Live, October 17th, 2020 at ESI Streaming Studio in Tampa, Florida 
• Release date: July 13th, 2022 (3rd live album by Obituary)
• Record company: Relapse Records
• Production: Burt Dingman and Obituary
• Album cover art: Andreas Marschall (artwork) and Sam Dishington (design)
• Personnel: Kenny Andrews (lead guitar), Terry Butler (bass), Trevor Peres (rhythm guitar), Donald Tardy (drums), and John Tardy (vocals)
• Musical style: Death metal, thrash metal
• Sound: Fast, furious, aggressive, and oh so brutal, the sound on "Cause Of Death: Live Infection" is classic Obituary!  Chainsaw guitars from Andrews and Peres, machine gun fire drums from Donald Tardy, and stampeding bass from Butler along with John Tardy's unique and amazing vocals make for one hell of a good ride!
• Major themes: Death, violence, horror, gore, revenge, evil, destruction, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Infected"
2. "Body Bag"
3. "Chopped In Half"
4. "Circle Of Tyrants" (Celtic Frost cover)
5. "Dying"
6. "Find The Arise"
7. "Cause Of Death"
8. "Memories Remain"
9. "Turned Inside Out"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: SaltFire Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.saltfirebrewing.com/
• Brew: Huldra and Holle Rum Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with Chaga Mushrooms 
• Style: Imperial Stout
• Serving: 16 ounce bottle
• ABV: 10.5%
• Ingredients: Imperial Stout made with Munich, Pilsner, Special B, and Pale Chocolate malts, Hallertau Magnum hops, and Chaga mushrooms and aged in rum barrels. 
• Pour: The Huldra and Holle pours an almost ink black hue a with a thin, off-white head that slowly dissipates to a thin ring with good lacing.
• Nose: The nose is roasty, earthy, rich, and boozy.  There are aromas of dark and milk chocolate, black licorice, dark roasted espresso beans, vanilla beans, damp oak, hints of earthy mushrooms, sweet toffee, and spiced rum.
• Taste: The taste of the Huldra and Holle follows the nose with roasty, toasty, earthy, slightly sweet, and boozy flavors.  There are notes of dark roasted coffee, dark chocolate, light vanilla, light kombucha tea, sticky toffee pudding, and rich spiced rum. 
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with low carbonation, the mouthfeel is smooth, thick, and velvety with a rather dry, boozy, and bittersweet finish.

Overall pairing: So along with the perfect imagery of the album cover art and the beer label, the SaltFire Huldra and Holle is a bold, unique, and intense brew... great for sipping on a rainy evening whilst raising your horns and banging your head to the aggression and fury that is the mighty Obituary!!  'Nuff said!  

Cheers and hails!!