October 21st, 2019 - Hunted By The Lizard King

Good evening and happy Monday!  The Meista here getting heavy tonight with "Hunted", the sophomore album (which is 3 years old today!) by kickass doom/stoner metal band Khemmis and a Lizard King Mosaic Hopped Pale Ale from Pipeworks Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Khemmis
• Title: "Hunted"
• Recorded: 2016 at Flatline Audio in Westminster, Colorado
• Release date: October 21st, 2016  (2ndfull-length studio album by Khemmis)
• Record company: 20 Buck Spin
• Production: Dave Otero
• Album cover art: Sam Turner
• Personnel: Ben Hutcherson (vocals and guitars), Daniel Beiers (bass), Phil Pendergast (vocals and guitars), and Zach Coleman (drums)
• Additional musicians: Grant Netzorg (additional vocals)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, doom metal, stoner metal/rock
• Sound: With powerful and crushing heaviness in the tradition of Black Sabbath, Pallbearer, and High On Fire, the sound on "Hunted" is profoundly heavy, aggressive, and melodic!  Layered over an intensely thunderous rhythm section, the dual guitar work demands your attention as do the bold and somewhat haunting vocals.  This is the shit my friends!!
• Major themes: Death, loss, isolation, legend, darkness, evil, mythology, fantasy, etc. 
• Tracks:  

1. "Above The Water"
2. "Candlelight"
3. "Three Gates"
4. "Beyond The Door"
5. "Hunted"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Pipeworks Brewing Company (Chicago, Illinois)
• Website: https://pdubs.net/
• Brew: Lizard King Mosaic Hopped Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.0%
• Pour: The Lizard King pours a hazy golden-yellow with a frothy and firm, bright white, 1-finger head with good retention and sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by dank, herbal, fruity, citrusy, floral, and earthy aromas.  There are notes of orange, grapefruit rind, hints of strawberry, lime, light pine resin, wild flowers, and just a hint of honey.
• Taste: The taste follows the nose with lots of citrus, herbal, and flavors.  There are notes of orange peel, orange juice, and orange pith along with tangerine, grapefruit, light lime, bitter herbs and roots, pine, black tea, crackery biscuit, and black pepper in the finish.  
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp, a bit sharp (almost metallic), and a bit bitter with a dry, peppery finish.

Overall pairing: The big, bold, yet crushable hop flavors and aromas of Pipeworks' Lizard King seem to have been specifically brewed for the powerful, punchy heaviness that is "Hunted" by Khemmis!  Those punchy hop notes go great with the aggressive, yet melodic approach this band takes to doom metal!  I'm really, really looking forward to seeing this band take to the stage in early December here in Utah!

Cheers!!  And hails!!