June 22nd, 2023 - Hellfire Blasting From The Hellgate

 

Hey there evil-doers, metal maniacs, and craft brew freaks!  The Meista is here today rocking the hell out with a pairing of the Hellgate Honey Hefeweizen from KettleHouse Brewing Company and "Hellfire", the latest, kick-ass album by Belgian metallers Killer!  HELL. YES.  

Album Info:

• Artist: Killer
• Title: "Hellfire"
• Recorded: Disc 1 recorded 2022 at Dig-It Studios in Belgium; Disc 2 recorded from 1984 to 2022 at various studios
• Release date: January 27th, 2023 (8th full-length studio album by Killer)
• Record company: Hear No Evil Recordings 
• Production: Ivan "Vanne" Opdebeeck and Paul "Shorty" Van Camp 
• Album cover art: Gilmour Design (artwork) and Eric Philippe (band logo)
• Personnel: Jan Anthonis (bass and vocals), Ivan "Vanne" Opdebeeck (drums and backing vocals), and Paul "Shorty" Van Camp (guitars and vocals),
• Musical style: Heavy metal, speed metal, hard rock
• Sound: With influence from bands like Judas Priest, Motörhead, Saxon, and UFO, the sound on Killer's "Hellfire" album is heavy hitting, no bullshit, hard rockin' metal!  
• Major themes: Rebellion, violence, trouble, heavy metal, betrayal, murder, death, lust, wildness, etc.
• Tracks: 

Disc 1: "Hellfire"

1. "Argus Eyes"
2. "Money"
3. "Cuts Me Like A Knife"
4. "Rat Race"
5. "Different Worlds"
6. "Hellfire"
7. "Nightmare"
8. "From Bad To Worse"
9. "Trouble"
10. "War At Home"
11. "Medicine Man"
12. "House Of Glass"
13. "In A Dream Within A Dream"
14. "Tonight"
15. "Same Old Story"

Disc 2: "The Best Of Killer"

1. "Ready For Hell"
2. "Backshooter" (2023 version)
3. "Laws Are Made To Break"
4. "Secret Love" (2023 version)
5. "Wall Of Sound"
6. "Blinded" (2023 version)
7. "Bodies And Bones"
8. "No Future"
9. "Kleptomania"
10. "Shock Waves"
11. "Steel Meets Steel"
12. "Broken Silence"
13. "Immortal"
14. "Touch Of Evil"
15. "Monsters Of Rock"
16. "Back To The Roots"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: KettleHouse Brewing Company (Missoula, Montana)
• Website: https://kettlehouse.com/
• Brew: Hellgate Honey Hefeweizen 
• Style: Hefeweizen
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 4.8%
• IBUs: 16
• Pour: The Hellgate pours a very hazy golden yellow hue with a bright white, billowy, 2+ finger head with great retention and lots of intricate spider web lacing. 
• Nose: The nose is bready, fruity, earthy, and floral.  There are notes of earthy and sweet honey, fresh wheat malt, baked bread, light hops, orange zest, elderflower, and banana and clove esters.
• Taste: As with the nose, the flavor is yeasty, fruity, earthy, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of raw honey, orange zest, light cloves, soft banana, earthy yeast, cracked wheat, and white tea. 
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Hellgate is crisp and smooth with a clean finish.

Overall pairing: The KettleHouse Hellgate Honey Hefeweizen is a very smooth and drinkable brew... a great beer to down whilst banging your head and pumping your fists to the heavy metal onslaught that is the mighty Killer and their wonderful "Hellfire" album!  The earthy and yeasty flavors go great with the darker elements of the album, while the sweetness resonates with the soaring guitars and the malty backbone is right in line with the heavy-duty rhythm section! 

Cheers!!  Hails!!