January 21st, 2020 - Darker Than Black... And A Battle Hammer

Good evening and hails evil-doers!  Your drinkin' buddy the Meista here tonight rocking the hell out to a pairing of the kickass "Darker Than Black" by Cage and a Battle Hammer Stout Porter from Woodland Empire Ale Craft!  This pairing goes out to my friends Jason and Sonia... thanks for the beer buddies!!  Cheers!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Cage
• Title: "Darker Than Black"
• Recorded: late 2002 through early 2003
  Release date: April 22nd, 2003 (3rd studio album by Cage)
• Record company: Massacre Records
• Production: Richard Carr and Sean Peck
• Album cover art: Marc Sasso
• Personnel: Dave Garcia (guitars), Michael Giordano (bass), Anthony Wayne McGinnis (guitars), Mikey Niel (drums), Sean Peck (vocals)
• Additional musicians: Roy Z (guitars on "March Of The Cage" and "Wings Of Destruction")
• Musical style: Heavy metal, power metal
• Sound: With influence from Judas Priest (specifically the "Painkiller" era) Iron Maiden, and Jag Panzer, (with a healthy sprinkling of King Diamond), Cage's "Darker Than Black" is a serious sonic juggernaut of metal intensity!  Their sound is big (really big!) and bold, characterized by killer hooks, soaring guitar solos, a stampeding rythm section, and Peck's wonderfully distinct and impressive vocal acrobatics!  This is true American power metal at its finest!
• Major themes: Power, valor, war, violence, destruction, darkenss, evil, magic, mythology, fantasy, horror, sword and sorcery, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Darker Than Black"
2. "Kill The Devil"
3. "Chupacabra"
4. "Blood Of The Innocent"
5. "Eyes Of Obsidian"
6. "Philadelphia Experiment"
7. "March Of The Cage"
8. "White Magic"
9. "Door To The Unknown"
10. "Secrets Of Fatima"
11. "Wings Of Destruction"
12. "Chupacabra" (Spanish verson)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Woodland Empire Ale Craft (Boise, Idaho)
• Website: http://woodlandempire.com/
• Brew: Battle Hammer Stout Porter
• Style: Porter
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.6%
• Pour: The Battle Hammer pours an opaque ink black with a firm and creamy, 1+ finger, mocha head with good retention and soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is malty, chocolately, earthy, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of dark chocolate, dark roasted barley, hearty and toasted bread, toffee, a hint of molasses, and tobacco.
• Taste: The taste of the Battle Hammer follows the nose with roasty, toasty, chocolately, and slightly smokey flavors.  There are notes of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cocoa, dark roasted coffee, dark roasted barley, dark toasted bread, walnuts, creamy toffee, and a hint of cream.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with lower carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Battle Hammer is thick, rich, and very smooth with a dry, malty finish.

Overall pairing: The earthy, rich, and bold aromas and flavors of Woodland Empire's Battle Hammer make for an excellent pairing with Cage's metal onslaught, "Darker Than Black"!  I also think the colors on the can go great with Marc Sasso's amazing album cover art!

I'm super stoked to see Mr. Sean Peck in action on March 27th with The Three Tremors at Liquid Joe's in Salt Lake City!  If you live in Utah (or thereabouts), you definitely don't want to miss this one!!

Cheers!!  Rock the hell on!!