February 11th, 2021 - Returning To Reality After Being Confused And Conquered

 

Good evening friends and beer fiends!  The Meista here tonight pairing Poison Idea's killer 2015 album, "Confuse And Conquer" and a very crisp, very light, and very crushable Return To Reality All American Lager from the fine folks at Ogden River Brewing Company!  

Album Info: 

• Artist: Poison Idea
• Title: "Confuse And Conquer"
• Recorded: 2014 at City of Roses
  Release date: April 7th, 2015 (7th studio album by Poison Idea)
• Record company: Southern Lord Records
• Production: Poison Idea 
• Album cover art: James Smith (artwork) and Samantha Muljat (design and layout) 
• Personnel: Jerry A. (vocals), Natalie Lucio (bass and backing vocals), Eric "Vegetable" Olson (guitars), and Gordon Scholl (drums) 
• Additional musicians: May May Del Castro (backing vocals)
• Musical style: Punk rock, hardcore punk with elements of thrash metal
• Sound: Fast and furious, "Confuse And Conquer" proves that Poison Idea are a viable and important band!  This is not an album about older punks trying to regain their glory days.  This is the in-your-face, aggressive, intense Poison Idea they've always been!  I would argue this is some of their best work.  There's also a bit of a thrash vibe.  Some of the guitar work actually is commensurable to the likes of Exodus and Nuclear Assault, but with more of an old-school punk sensibility. 
• Major themes: Blending humor with socio-political lyrics, themes on the album include rebellion, life, angst, punk rock, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Bog"
2. "Me + JD"
3. "Psychic Wedlock"
4. "Hypnotic"
5. "Trip Wire"
6. "I Don't Know You"
7. "Cold Black Afternoon"
8. "The Rhythms Of Insanity"
9. "Dead Cowboy"
10. "Beautiful Disaster"
11. "Reprise"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ogden River Brewing (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://ogdenriverbrewing.com/
• Brew: Return To Reality All American Lager
• Style: American Lager
• Serving: 32 ounce crowler can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Return To Reality pours a clear, bright golden yellow hue with a thin finger, bright-white head that dissipates fairly quickly, leaving a thin ring and minimal lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a light blend of light malts, light fruits, and grassy hops.  There are aromas of pale malts, crackery biscuit, cracked wheat, a hint of apple, light corn, and light grassy hops.
• Taste: The taste of the Return To Reality follows the nose and is characterized by lightly malty, grassy, fruity, and sweet flavors.  There are notes of crackers, grassy hops, light biscuit, a hint of apple, light corn, and a very subtle hint of honey.
• Mouthfeel: Light in body and well carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp and smooth with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The light, crisp, and very crushable flavors of the Return To Reality from Ogden River Brewing make it the perfect brew to slam back while raising a fist and thrashing about to the killer riffs and hooks of Poison Idea's wonderful "Confuse And Conquer"!  'Nuff said!!

Cheers!!