April 25th, 2024 - Following the Reaper Into a Limited Release

 

Hey there hellions and hopheads!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here with another killer pairing for ya!  I'm going with "Follow The Reaper", the wonderful 3rd album by Children Of Bodom and a crisp and hoppy Limited Release India Pale Ale from the fine folks at Kiitos Brewing Company!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Children Of Bodom
• Title: "Follow The Reaper"
• Recorded: August through September 2000 at Abyss Studios in Sweden
• Release date: October 30th, 2000 (3rd full-length studio album by Children Of Bodom)
• Record company: Spinefarm Records 
• Production: Peter Tägtgren and Children Of Bodom
• Album cover art: Sami Saramäki 
• Personnel: Henkka T. Blacksmith (bass), Alexander Kuoppala (rhythm guitars), Alexi Wildchild Laiho (lead guitars and lead vocals), Jaska Raatikainen (drums), and Janne Warman (keyboards) 
• Musical style: Melodic death metal with elements of power metal, progressive metal, and speed metal
• Sound: In the tradition of fellow countrymen Arch Enemy, Children Of Bodom's sound combines soaring power metal elements with Swedish death metal.  The guitar work is immediately grabbing... it combines soaring solos and crunching riffs!  Combine that with the soaring keys, thunderous rhythms, and Laiho's aggressive vocals, well, you've got yourself a kick-ass album!
• Major themes: Death, darkness, Lake Bodom, anger, aggression, hate, sanity, etc.
• Tracks:   
1. "Follow The Reaper"
2. "Bodom After Midnight"
3. "Children Of Decadence"
4. "Everytime I Die"
5. "Mask Of Sanity"
6. "Taste Of My Scythe"
7. "Hate Me!"
8. "Northern Comfort"
9. "Kissing The Shadows"
10. "Hate Me!" (single version bonus track)
11. "Hellion" (W.A.S.P. cover bonus track)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Kiitos Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://kiitosbrewing.com/
• Brew: Limited Release India Pale Ale
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.0% 
• Pour: The Kiitos Limited Release India Pale Ale pours a clear, pale straw yellow hue with a frothy, 1-finger, bright white head with great retention and lots of soapy lacing throughout.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, fruity, herbal, floral, and grainy.  There are aromas of orange juice and zest, tangerine, freshly cut pineapple, grapefruit rind, flowery soap, crackery malt, and light caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Limited Release India Pale Ale is fruity, citrusy, and herbal.  There are notes of orange juice, grapefruit juice, tangerine, pineapple, peach, mango, light melon, light pine, floral and grassy hops, and light caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Limited Release India Pale Ale is very crisp and somewhat sharp, yet smooth with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Kiitos Limited Release India Pale Ale is delightfully crisp and very crushable brew... perfect for the fast-paced, upbeat melodic death/power metal stylings of Children Of Bodom on their killer 3rd album "Follow The Reaper"!  Those sweeter fruit and malt notes go great with the soaring guitars while the slightly bitter hop bite is great for Laiho's more aggressive vocal approach and darker lyrical content!  

Hails!!  Skål... Helan går!