October 15th, 2021 - The Cult Of Whispers From Beyond The Primordial Sea

 

Good evening metal maniacs and craft brew freaks!  The Meista here tonight pairing "The Cult", the wonderful 8th album by Polish metal band Crystal Viper and a unique and crushable Whispers Of The Primordial Sea Smoked Helles Lager with Pineapple from Proper Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Crystal Viper
• Title: "The Cult"
• Recorded: late 2020 
• Release date: January 29th, 2021 (8th studio album by Crystal Viper)
• Record company: Listenable Records 
• Production: Bart Gabriel 
• Album cover art: Mario López 
• Personnel: Cederick "Ced" Forsberg (drums), Marta Gabriel (guitars and vocals), Błażej Grygiel (bass), Eric Juris (guitars), and Andy Wave (guitars) 
• Guest musician: Andy LaRocque (guitars on "Welcome Home")
• Musical style: Heavy metal, power metal
• Sound: With influence from NWOBHM, '80s heavy metal, and '90s power metal, Crystal Viper's sound on "The Cult" blends classic metal with modern production quality.  The songwriting is very strong, the band is tight, and the delivery is excellent!
• Major themes: With lyrics steeped in fantasy and horror, themes on the album include the supernatural, death, terror, insanity, monsters, evil, darkness, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Providence"
2. "The Cult"
3. "Whispers From Beyond"
4. "Down In The Crypt"
5. "Sleeping Giants"
6. "Forgotten Land"
7. "Asenath Waite"
8. "The Calling"
9. "Flaring Madness"
10. "Lost In The Dark"
11. "Welcome Home" (King Diamond cover)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Proper Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.properbrewingco.com/ 
• Brew: Whispers Of The Primordial Sea Smoked Helles Lager with Pineapple
• Style: Smoked Helles Lager
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 15
• Ingredients: Mountain malt, Plumwood smoked malt, Vienna malt, barley flakes, Hallertau hops, and pineapple juice 
• Pour: The Whispers Of The Primordial Sea pours a clear, bright yellow hue with a bright white, frothy,  half finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, soapy, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is fruity, slightly smoky, slightly grassy, slightly spicy, and grainy.  There are aromas of smoked grains, freshly cut pineapple, doughy bread, freshly cut hay and light spices.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Whispers Of The Primordial Sea is characterized by fruity, smoky, grassy, and grainy flavors. There are notes of pineapple juice, crackery biscuit, a hint of liquid smoke, and spicy German hop flavor with  light bitterness.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, yet smoky and smooth with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: Those fruity, smoky, and uniquely complex, yet very drinkable flavors of Proper's Whispers Of The Primordial Sea Smoked Helles Lager with Pineapple go great with the straightforward metal attack of Crystal Viper's rockin' "The Cult"!

Hails and cheers!!