April 17th, 2026 - Spiriting the Earth Aflame at Blarney Castle

 

Hey there evil-doers, metal maniacs, and craft beer lovers!  The Meista here on this lovely Friday starting the weekend the right way with a bold and tasty Blarney Stone Extra Irish Stout from the fine folks at Proper Brewing Company and Primordial's legendary and kick-ass sophomore album "Spirit The Earth Aflame"!  Hell yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Primordial
• Title: "Spirit The Earth Aflame" Reissued Remastered Digipak
• Recorded: The last two weeks of January 1999 at Sun Studios in Dublin, Ireland
• Release date: May 22nd, 2000 / Reissued Remastered Digipak released July 6th, 2010 (2nd full-length album by Primordial)
• Record company: Hammerheart Records / Metal Blade Records
• Production: Mags 
• Album cover art: Simon "Berserker" Turner
• Personnel: P. MacGawlaigh (bass), C. MacUilliam (guitars), A.A. Nemtheanga (vocals), and S. O'Laoghaire (drums)
• Musical style: Celtic folk metal, black metal, gothic metal
• Sound: Masterfully blending multiple styles, Primordial's approach on "Spirit The Earth Aflame" takes the listener on a profound and mesmerizing sonic journey!  
• Major themes: Cultural heritage, life, death, darkness, mythology, Irish history, nature, paganism, the occult, rage, tragedy, sorrow, etc.
• Tracks: 

Disc 1:

1. "Spirit The Earth Aflame"
2. "Gods To The Godless"
3. "The Soul Must Sleep"
4. "The Burning Season"
5. "Glorious Dawn"
6. "The Cruel Sea"
7. "Children Of The Harvest"
8. "To Enter Pagan"

Disc 2:

1. "The Darkest Flame" (rehearsal version from 1992)
2. "In Graciousness" (live in Dublin, Ireland, 1993)
3. "A Blacker Art" (live in Dublin, Ireland, 1993)
4. "Total Destruction" (Bathory cover; live in Dublin, Ireland, 1993) 
5. "Inside the Eye of Algond" (Rotting Christ cover; live in Dublin, Ireland, 1993) 
6. "To Enter Pagan" (from split with Katatonia)
7. "The Calling" (from the "Burning Season" EP)
8. "Among The Lazarae" (from the "Burning Season" EP)
9. "Soul Must Sleep" (live in Vienna, Austria, 2003)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Proper Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.properbrewingco.com/ 
• Brew: Blarney Stone Extra Irish Stout
• Style: Irish Stout
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.0%
• Pour: The Blarney Stone pours an opaque, deep, dark ink black hue with a light mocha, half-finger, creamy head that dissipates slowly to a thin ring with layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is roasty, toasty, and earthy.  There are aromas of roasted barley, dark toasted bread, dark chocolate, dark roasted espresso beans, rich soil, and a hint of burnt toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Blarney Stone follows the nose with earthy, chocolatey, roasty, and toasty flavors.  There are notes of dark roasted malts, hearty barley, dark roasted coffee, light cream, roasted walnuts, light cocoa, and bittersweet dark chocolate.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with low carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Blarney Stone is thick and velvety smooth with a creamy, dry, and slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The bold, robust, and earthy aromas and flavors of Proper's Blarney Stone Extra Irish Stout go great with overall melancholy and emotive vibe of the wonderful "Spirit The Earth Aflame"!  Those dry, bitter notes are perfect for Nemtheanga's amazing vocals, while the rich maltiness is perfect for the intensity of the musicians!  I also thought the album cover art and the beer label looked nice together.  'Nuff said!

Sláinte!!  Hails!!