August 8th, 2025 - Return of the Emperor Maximus

 

Gueten Oobe!  Happy Friday!  The Meista here getting heavy and aggressive with the wonderful Celtic Frost classic EP "Emperor's Return" and a delicious and bold Maximus Colossal IPA from Lagunitas Brewing Company!  Hell YEAH!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Celtic Frost
• Title: "Emperor's Return"
• Recorded: April 8th-12th, 1985 at Line In Recording Studio in Zurich, Switzerland
• Release date: August 15th, 1985 (2nd EP released by Celtic Frost)
• Record company: Noise Records
• Production: Martin E. Ain, Horst Müller, Rick "Lights", Tom G. Warrior, and Karl Walterbach
• Album cover art: Phil Lawvere
• Personnel: Martin E. Ain (bass and effects), Reed St. Mark (drums and percussion), and Tom G. Warrior (guitars, vocals, and effects)
• Guest musician: Stephen Priestly (drums on "Morbid Tales" and "Dethroned Emperor")
• Musical style: Extreme metal (early black metal and early death metal), experimental metal with elements of thrash metal, doom metal, and gothic metal
• Sound: Heavily influential in both the black metal and death metal circles, "Emperor's Return" is one of those pivotal, landmark EPs that grabs a hold of you and never lets go!  It is fast-paced, aggressive, dark, and completely original!  This is one of those works that demands your utmost attention from the opening chord to final symbol crash!
• Major themes: Darkness, the occult, evil, death, horror, aggression, power, violence, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Circle Of The Tyrants" 
2. "Morbid Tales"
3. "Dethroned Emperor"
4. "Visual Aggression" 
5. "Suicidal Winds" 

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California)
• Website: http://www.lagunitas.com/
• Brew: Maximus Colossal IPA
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA (IIPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 9.0%
• IBUs: 65
• Ingredients:
• Pour: The Maximus Colossal IPA pours a fairly clear, golden-orange amber hue with an off-white, frothy, 1-finger head with great retention and lots of sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is nice blend of citrusy, herbal, and dank aromas.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, wet pine, black tea, light onion, and burnt toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Maximus Colossal IPA follows the nose with bold hop and malt flavors.  There are notes of pine, pink grapefruit, toasted biscuit, black tea, and soft caramel/toffee. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp and slightly oily with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The bold hop and malt flavors of Maximus Colossal IPA are the perfect for the groundbreaking brutality of Celtic Frost's earth-shattering "Emperor's Return" EP!  'Nuff said!

Proscht!!  HAILS!!