March 12th, 2024 - A Little TLC From W.A.S.P.

 

Good evening rivet-heads and hopheads!  The Meista here tonight pairing W.A.S.P.'s killer sophomore album "The Last Command" and a wonderfully hoppy TLC: Tastes Like Citrus Hazy, Juicy style India Pale Ale from the fine folks at 2 Row Brewing!!  HELL. YES.

Album Info:

• Artist: W.A.S.P.
• Title: "The Last Command"
• Recorded: October 1984 through mid 1985 at Pasha Music House in Hollywood, California
• Release date: November 9th, 1985 (2nd album by W.A.S.P.)
• Record company: Capitol Records
• Production: Spencer Proffer
• Album cover art: Mark "WEISSGUY" Weiss
• Personnel: Chris Holmes (lead and rhythm guitar), Blackie Lawless (lead vocals and bass), Randy Piper (lead and rhythm guitars, and backing vocals), and Steve Riley (drums and backing vocals)
• Additional musicians: Carlos Cavazo (additional vocals) and Chuck Wright (additional vocals)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, shock rock, glam metal
• Sound: "The Last Command" is one of W.A.S.P.'s best in my humble opinion. This is pure '80s L.A. metal with no apology and an unquenched hunger for fame!  Blackie and the boys' sophomore album is a no-holds-barred juggernaut of an album!  This album is pure adrenaline and testosterone.  Songs like "Ball Crusher," "Jack Action," "The Last Command," and "Sex Drive" blast you with power, aggression, and bold flavour. 
• Major themes: Desire, lust, sex, excessive drinking, partying, rebellion, greed, violence, revenge, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Wild Child"
2. "Ball Crusher"
3. "Fistful Of Diamonds"
4. "Jack Action"
5. "Widowmaker"
6. "Blind In Texas"
7. "Cries In The Night"
8. "The Last Command"
9. "Running Wild In The Streets"
10. "Sex Drive"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: 2 Row Brewing (Midvale, Utah)
• Website: http://2rowbrewing.com/
• Brew: TLC: Tastes Like Citrus Hazy, Juicy style India Pale Ale
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.0% 
• Pour: The TLC IPA pours a hazy and bright orange amber with a frothy 2-finger off-white head with great sustain and lots of intricate and sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by a blast of citrus along with lighter malt aromas.  There are notes of orange juice, pith, and zest, grapefruit juice and rind, lemon zest, lime, mango, and light caramel.
• Taste: The taste is like the name denotes... lots and lots of wonderful citrus flavors along with light malt.  There are notes of orange juice, orange pith and peel, tangerine, grapefruit juice, mango, pineapple, and lemon zest, light caramel, and crackery maltiness.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the TLC IPA is crisp, snappy, and very refreshing with a dry, slightly bitter, but clean finish.

Overall pairing: The bold, bitter, punchy hop blast of 2 Row's TLC IPA is perfect for the fast-paced sonic metal attack of W.A.S.P.'s classic and definitive "The Last Command"!  After drinking a can or two of TLC, the songs "Wild Child," "Blind in Texas," and "Running Wild in the Streets" become your battle anthems!  So get on over to your favorite LOCAL heavy metal record store, pick up a copy of "The Last Command," and grab a can of 2 Row's TLC: Tastes Like Citrus Hazy, Juicy style India Pale Ale... and prepare yourself for an evening of intensity, big flavour, big guitars, big hair, and unadulterated fun!  And if you down a few cans all by yourself in the time it takes "The Last Command" to play through, you can relive Chris Holms' appearance in the movie "The Decline of Western Civilization!"  Ha! 

Cheers!!  Hails!!