January 19th, 2025 - My Eternal Pursuit of Hell, Fire and Damnation!

 

Good morning my metal and craft beer brethren!  Reverend Meista here today on this gloriously cold Sunday preachin' about "Hell, Fire And Damnation" (1 year old today!) by the mighty Saxon and partaking of the unholy sacrament with a complex and delicious Eternal Pursuit Volume 2: Belgian Style Saison from the Red Feather Small-Batch Series made by the fine folks over at Level Crossing Brewing Company!  Hell yes!!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Saxon
• Title: "Hell, Fire And Damnation"
• Recorded: 2023 at Big Silver Barn in York, UK, and Lampes Posthotel in Delligsen, Germany
• Release date: January 19th, 2024 (24th studio album by Saxon) 
• Record company: Silver Lining Music
• Production: Bill Byford and Andy Sneap
• Album cover art: Péter Sallai
• Personnel: Biff Byford (lead vocals), Nibbs Carter (bass), Nigel Glockler (drums), Doug Scarratt (guitars), and Brian Tatler (guitars)
• Additional musicians: Brian Blessed (narration on "The Prophecy") and Paul Quinn (guitars on "Fire And Steel" and "Super Charger")
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock
• Sound: Heavy, hard-hitting, yet very melodic and compelling, veteran NWOBHM bad-asses Saxon have released yet another amazing album with "Hell, Fire And Damnation"!  I'm not sure if I can put into words how much I adore this album!  The dual guitar work of Tatler and Scarratt soars, slays, and just roars!  Carter is a thunderous juggernaut of solid, energetic bass work!  Mr. Glockler is a powerhouse of crashing symbols, stampeding bass drum, and machine gun fire toms and snare!  And Mr. Byford may sound better than he did even in the early albums... seriously, this man's voice IS heavy metal!  
• Major themes: Good vs. evil, darkness, hell, salvation, history, the French Revolution, violence, bloodshed, rebellion, aliens, Kubla Khan, witchcraft, etc.
• .
• Tracks:  
1. "The Prophecy"
2. "Hell, Fire And Damnation"
3. "Madam Guillotine"
4. "Fire And Steel"
5. "There's Something In Roswell"
6. "Kubla Khan And The Merchant of Venice"
   
7. "Pirates Of The Airwaves"
8. "1066"
9. "Witches Of Salem"
10. "Super Charger"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Level Crossing Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.levelcrossingbrewing.com/ 
• Brew: Eternal Pursuit Volume 2: Belgian Style Saison
• Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.7%
• IBUs: 22 
• Ingredients: Great Western Pure Idaho Pilsner, and White Wheat malts with Magnum, Azacca, Amarillo, and Hallertau Blanc hops, and Orange Blossom Honey
• Pour: The Eternal Pursuit pours a hazy, bright golden yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, 2+ finger head with great retention and lots of soapy, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by fruity esters, sweet honey, and earthy aromas.  There are notes aromas of soft banana, white grape juice, pear, orange zest, pink bubble gum, and sweet honey.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Eternal Pursuit is a blend of citrusy and sweet fruits, sweet malts, a slight hint of barnyard funk, and a hint of booze.  There are notes of Sauvignon Blanc, pear juice/syrup, orange zest and pith, Bazooka Bubble Gum, sweet honey, and soft banana.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is tart, yet rich, crisp, yet substantial with a dry, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: Wonderfully complex, fruity and rich, the Level Crossing Eternal Pursuit is a beast of a brew, yet very drinkable... perfect for the hard rockin', complex, heavy metal onslaught that is the mighty Saxon!!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Horns raised!!