July 1st, 2021 - The Grind Bastard's One Man Mosh Pit

 

Good evening hellions and hop-lovers!  The Meista here with another great pairing for ya...  Benediction's underrated, kick-ass "Grind Bastard" album and a tasty One Man Mosh Pit Hazy IPA from Surly Brewing Company! 


Album Info:

• Artist: Benediction
• Title: "Grind Bastard"
• Release date: May 30th, 1998 (5th studio album released by Benediction)
• Recorded: early 1998
• Record company: Nuclear Blast
• Production: Paul Johnston, Al King, and Andy Sneap
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Darren Brookes (guitars), Frank Healy (bass), Neil Hutton (drums), David Ingram (vocals), and Peter Rew (guitars)
• Additional musicians: Barry Thomson (backing vocals)
• Musical style: Death metal with elements of groove metal, thrash metal, and hardcore punk
• Sound: Raw and heavy as hell, with "Grind Bastard", Benediction laid down another killer death metal album, but with a touch of groove/thrash metal and punk this go-round!  The riffs are wonderfully catchy and Ingram is as brutal as ever!
• Major themes/lyrical content: Death, agony, darkness, evil, fear, rage, aggression, vengeance, etc.
• Tracks:

1. "Deadfall"
2. "Agonised"
3. "West Of Hell"
4. "Magnificat"
5. "Nervebomb"
6. "Electric Eye" (Judas Priest cover)
7. "Grind Bastard"
8. "Shadow World"
9. "The Bodiless"
10. "Carcinoma Angel"
11. "We The Freed"
12. "Destroyer" (Twisted Sister cover)
13. "I"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Surly Brewing Company (Brooklyn Center, Minnesota)
• Website: https://surlybrewing.com/
• Brew: One Man Mosh Pit Hazy IPA
• Style: New England India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.2%
• Ingredients: Amarillo, Citra, and Mosaic hops with Golden Promise, Carafoam malts, Unmalted Wheat, and Flaked Oats
• Pour: The One Man Mosh Pit pours a hazy golden-yellow with a .
• Nose: The nose is tropical, citrusy, grassy, and herbal with lighter sweet malt notes.  There are aromas of pineapple, mango, orange, grapefruit, tangerine, dried tea leaves, and light caramel.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the One Man Mosh Pit is punchy blend of tropical fruit and citrus flavors along with malty and more subtle sweet characteristics.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, lime, orange juice and peel, pineapple, mango, apricot, melon, herbal tea, crackery biscuit, and soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, with a creamy, dry finish.

Overall pairing: One Man Mosh Pit IPA is a very drinkable, yet very punchy IPA with a hearty backbone and intense flavors that go great with the aggressive power and honesty of all that is the mighty Benediction!!  Those sweeter fruit flavors go great with the guitar riffs while the bitter hop bite is right in line with the intense machine gun fire drumming and Ingram's brutal vocals!

Cheers!!  Horns raised!!