December 15th, 2024 - Rigor Mortis X 2

 

Happy Sunday and hails headbangers and craft brew fiends!  The Meista here with another great pairing for ya... the killer "Rigo Mortis" compilation album by thrash metal band Truce and a tasty Rigor Mortis Amber Ale from Vernal Brewing Company!   Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Truce 
• Title: "Rigor Mortis"
• Recorded: 1988 through 1991 at Ken's World's Best Studio
• Release date: October 27th, 2023 (compilation album by Truce)
• Record company: Metallic Blue Records
• Production: Nyk Fry, Dan Naylor, and Truce 
• Album cover art: Romolo Tavani
• Personnel: Brent Barker (guitars), Steve Busch (guitars), Paul Gilbert (drums), Paul Griffin (drums), Jim Miller (guitars), Dallen Singleton (drums), Tracy "Rooster" Sweetring (bass), and Sean Young (lead vocals)
• Musical style: Thrash metal with elements of death metal
• Sound: Aggressive, high-energy, and brutal as hell, Truce is the definitive Utah thrash metal band!  This no holds bar band has been wrecking necks since 1984 and gets heavier and better with age!  The guitar work is fiery, fierce, and soars like a fucking jet fighter!  Rooster lays down a thunderous rhythm that will split your head open!  And the vocals are wonderfully honest and brutal! 
• Major themes: Violence, aggression, murder, booze, heavy metal, insanity, power, death, etc.
• "Rigor Mortis" collects songs from the "Nictophobic" demo (1988), the "Truce" album (1989), and the "Systematic Slaves" demo (1991).
• Tracks: 

1. "Nightmare"
2. "UGG"
3. "Pyscho Bitch"
4. "A.L.P.F."
5. "Nictophobic"
6. "License To Kill"
7. "Sunshine Of Your Love" (Cream cover)
8. "Innocence Of Wrath"
9. "Everybody Must Get Stoned" (Bob Dylan cover)
10. "Rigor Mortis"
11. "Euthanasia"
12. "UGG" (1989 version)
13. "Systematic Slaves"
14. "Pray To The Porcelain God"
15. "Be All That You Can Be"
16. "Necropolis City"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Vernal Brewing Company (Vernal, Utah)
• Website: http://www.vernalbrewingco.com/home-1.html
• Brew: Rigor Mortis Amber Ale
• Style: Amber Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Rigor Mortis pours an opaque, dark copper-orange with a 2+ finger, frothy and creamy off-white head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is malty, grainy, sweet, and slightly hoppy.  There are aromas of freshly baked multi-grain bread, caramel, dark fruit, honey, summer grass, and hints of pine.
• Taste: An incredibly well-balanced beer, the taste of the Rigor Mortis Amber is a blend of sweet and hearty malts with floral hops.  There are notes of toasty and roasty malts, fresh bread, hearty grains, sweet toffee, clover honey, dank and floral hops, and herbs.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is smooth, slightly chewy, and hearty with a clean, somewhat dry finish.

Overall pairing: The hearty malt flavor of the Rigor Mortis Amber Ale from Vernal Brewing Company is great for the intense metal complexities and aggression of the mighty Truce!  And those sweeter, caramel/toffee notes are perfect for the wonderful guitar solos!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Horns up!!