June 12th, 2021 - Tū And A Pilsnah For The Koala Express

 

Ahiahi pai!  The Meista here today pairing the brilliant debut album "Tu" by kickass New Zealand metal band Alien Weaponry and a crisp and delicious Koala Express New Zealand Pilsner from Ogden River Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Alien Weaponry
• Title: "Tū"
• Recorded: 2016 through 2018
• Release date: June 1st, 2018 (debut full-length studio album by Alien Weaponry)
• Record company: Napalm Records
• Production: Michael Cotterman, Robin de Jong, Kieran Gilsenan, Simon Gooding, Lokky Kamp, Tom Larkin, Troy Rawhiti-Forbes, Bradley Walker, and Slomp Whanau
• Album cover art: Alien Weaponry (concept), Barny Bewick (design), and Hammerhead (tattoo design)
• Personnel: Henry de Jong (drums, conch shell, backing vocals), Lewis de Jong (guitars, wood flute, lead and backing vocals), and Ethan Trembath (bass, conch shell, backing vocals)
• Musical style: Thrash metal, groove metal, heavy metal, Māori folk music
• Sound: With influence from Sepultura, Soulfly, and the Māori culture, Alien Weaponry's sound combines powerful groove metal with thrash and tribal intensity!  I really love this album... fist-pumping, head-banging metal goodness!!
• Major themes: With songs about the Boyd Massacre, the Bay of Islands, English colonialism, the battle at Pukehinahina/Gate Pa, etc., themes on the album include Māori culture, lore, and history, life and death, violence, oppression, rebellion, power, aggression, anger, reality, racism, loss, courage, social media manipulation, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Whaikōrero"
2. "Rū Ana Te Whenua"
3. "Holding My Breath"
4. "Raupatu"
5. "Kai Tangata"
6. "Rage - It Takes Over Again"
7. "The Things That You Know"
8. "Whispers"
9. "PC Bro"
10. "Urutaa"
11. "Nobody Here"
12. "Te Ara"
13. "Hypocrite"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ogden Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://ogdenriverbrewing.com/ 
• Brew: Koala Express New Zealand Pilsner
• Style: German Pilsner with New Zealand hops
• Serving: 32 ounce crawler can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 38
• Pour: The Koala Express pours a clear pale gold yellow hue with a billowy, 2-finger, bright white head with great retention and lots of sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is grainy, grassy, and fruity.  There are aromas of German Pilsner malt, cracked wheat, light barley, hints of gooseberry and lime peel, June grass, and a light hint of honey.
• Taste: The taste of the Koala Express follows the nose with cracker like malt flavors along with hints of fruit and  and moderate bitterness.  There are notes of crackery biscuit, grassy hops, light lime juice, and light gooseberry. 
• Mouthfeel: Light-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Koala Express is very crisp and very refreshing with a rather dry, slightly bitter, yet clean finish.

Overall pairing: The lyrical power, crunch of guitars, and thunder of the tribal rhythm section on "Tū" is even more intense when accompanied by the crisp, easy-drinking flavors of the Koala Express New Zealand Pilsner!  Throw a few of these tasty brews back and rock the hell out!  'Nuff said!!

    

Cheers, Kia Ora, and hails!!