February 21st, 2026 -Shades of Sorrow & Death

 

Hello and hails metal maniacs and craft beer freaks!  The Meista here with another kick-ass pairing for ya today: "Shades Of Sorrow", the kick-ass sophomore album by Brazilian death metal band Crypta and a bold and delicious Shades of Death German Style Schwarzbier from Heavy Reel Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Crypta
• Title: "Shades Of Sorrow"
• Recorded: February 2023 at Family Mob Studio in São Paulo, Brazil 
• Release date: August 4th, 2023 (2nd full length album by Crypta)
• Record company: Napalm Records 
• Production: Gabriel Bonilha, Leeo Hanna, and Rafael Augusto Lopes 
• Album cover art: Raul Campos 
• Personnel:  Tainá Bergamaschi (guitars), Luana Dametto (drums), Jéssica di Falchi (guitars), and Fernanda Lira (bass and vocals) 
• Guest musician: Pablo Greg (keyboards)
• Musical style: Death metal, thrash metal
• Sound: Aggressive, heavy, and intense, the sound on Crypta combines bone-crushing rhythms with fiery shredding riffs and brutal vocals.  There are elements reminiscent to Possessed, Sodom, and of course Nervosa, but "Shades Of Sorrow" is its own unique and wonderful sonic journey!
• Major themes: Death, darkness, evil, horror, terror, mythology, rage, violence, deception, seeking knowledge, freedom, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "The Aftermath"
2. "Dark Clouds"
3. "Poisonous Apathy"
4. "The Outsider"
5. "Stronghold"
6. "The Other Side Of Anger"
7. "The Limbo"
8. "Trial Of Traitors"
9. "Lullaby For The Forsaken"
10. "Agents Of Chaos"
11. "Lift The Blindfold"
12. "Lord Of Ruins"
13. "The Closure"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Heavy Reel Brewing Company (Seaside Heights, New Jersey)
• Website: https://www.heavyreelbrewing.com/
• Brew: Shades of Death
• Style: German Style Schwarzbier
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Shades of Death pours an opaque, very dark brown (almost black) hue with a light mocha, 1-finger head that slowly dissipates to a thin ring with sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose of the Shades of Death is toasty, roasty, slightly fruity (dark fruits), and malty.  There are aromas of dark toasted bread, roasted malts, roasted coffee beans, hints of dark chocolate, light plum, and hints of burnt toffee.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste is roasty, toasty, grainy, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of bready malts, cacao, dark roasted coffee, hints of dark fruits (plum and raisin), and very light sweet caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Shades of Death is crisp and very smooth with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The very crushable, yet wonderfully complex and flavorful characteristics of the Heavy Reel Shades of Death German Style Schwarzbier makes a great companion to the death/thrash metal aggression of Crypta's excellent sophomore offering!  The dark, roasty, and malty notes really pop when you've got Crypta blasting from your speakers!  I highly recommend both the album and brew!  'Nuff said!

Salud and hails!!