June 20th, 2023 - The Singular Ahhhroma Of Raging Violence

 

Hey there headbangers, thrashers, and hopheads!  The Meista here today pairing A Series of Singularities: Ahhhroma, a delicious single hop IPA from SaltFire Brewing Company and "Raging Violence", the fantastic debut album by the mighty Hirax!!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info: 

• Artist: 
• Title: "Raging Violence"
• Recorded: 1985
• Release date: October 15th, 1985 (1st full-length studio album by Hirax)
• Record company: Metal Blade Records
• Production: Hirax and Bill Metoyer 
• Album cover art: Brian "Pushead" Schroeder (artwork) and Tom G. Warrior (band logo) 
• Personnel: Katon De Pena (vocals), Gary Mondardo (bass), Scott Owen (guitars), and Johnny Tabares (drums)
• Musical style: Thrash metal, speed metal
• Sound: Contemporaries of Slayer, Exodus, Overkill, and Megadeth, HIRAX hails from the L.A. and Bay Area thrash metal scene of the mid-1980s.  With crossover fierceness, HIRAX blends speed metal, thrash, and punk to create an aggressive and intense sound, which you will definitely find on "Raging Violence".  This is an album that will stab you right between the eyes and make your ears bleed and you will beg for more!  Singer and front man, Katon De Pena's voice is distinctive, powerful, and even soulful.  From Sam Cooke to Rob Halford to Phil Lynott to Ian Gillan, De Pena's influences stretch far and wide and help create something very unique in terms of vocal range and approach for a thrash metal band.  And all this is coupled with blisteringly fast guitar work by Scott Owen and machine gun attack drumming from Johnny Tabares and the thunderous bass of Gary Mondardo!  "Raging Violence" opens with the classic, "Demons - Evil Force" and relentlessly blasts you until the very last note of the finale, "Bloodbath."   Songs like "Bombs Of Death," "Defeat Of Amalek," "Raging Violence," "The Gauntlet," and "Destruction And Terror," are all textbook foundations in how thrash is supposed to sound and feel - political and explosive.  "Raging Violence" is a thrash musician's bible!  It is topical, angry, fast, and above all, honest!  If you love thrash metal (and I know you do!), then you MUST own this album!
• Major themes: Violence, war, evil, death, murder, suicide, mythology, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Demons - Evil Forces"
2. "Blitzkrieg Air Attack"
3. "Guardian Protector"
4. "Bombs Of Death"
5. "Defeat Of Amalek"
6. "Raging Violence"
7. "Call Of The Gods"
8. "Warlords Command"
9. "Suicide"
10. "Executed"
11. "The Gauntlet"
12. "Destruction And Terror"
13. "Destroy"
14. "Bloodbath"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: SaltFire Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.saltfirebrewing.com/
• Brew: A Series of Singularities: Ahhhroma
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.3%
• Ingredients: Ahhhroma hops from Glacier Hops Ranch
• Pour: The A Series of Singularities pours a very cloudy golden-orange hue with a frothy, 2-finger, bright white head that dissipates to a thin ring that leaves behind thick, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, grassy, floral, herbal, and sweet.  There are aromas of orange juice and zest, tangerine, lemon zest, light mango, toasted malts, sweet biscuit, soft caramel, light pine resin, and wildflowers.
• Taste: The taste of the A Series of Singularities is characterized by flavors of orange juice, grapefruit juice and rind, tangerine, mango, toasted malts, earthy herbs, lemongrass, sweet biscuit, burnt toffee, and very light pine.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the is with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The A Series of Singularities: Ahhhroma from SaltFire Brewing is a tasty, punchy, very complex, yet inviting brew... perfect for the complexities, intricacies, and beauty of the brilliant "Raging Violence" by the indelible Hirax!  The flavors and aromas of this tasty brew blend wonderfully well with the powerful vocals, fiery guitars, and thunderous bombast of the bass and drums!

Cheers!!  And hails!!