February 13th, 2026 - The Pyscho Killer Has a Taste For the Kill

 

Hey there metal maniacs, rockers, rollers, and hop freaks!  Happy Friday the 13th!  The Meista here today pairing "A Taste For The Kill", the killer debut album by Ohio metallers Rip Ryde and a Pyscho Killer Juicy Pale Ale from the folks at SaltFire Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Rip Ryde
• Title: "A Taste For The Kill"
• Recorded: June 2020 at Mercinary Studios in Cleveland, Ohio
• Release date: March 30th, 2022 (1st studio album by Rip Ryde)
• Record company: King Of Sting Records
• Production: Rip Ryde and Noah Buchanan
• Album cover art: HF (layout) and Barbara Merritt (photography), and ModBlackMoon (band logo)
• Personnel: Wayne Richards (guitars), Brad Skinner (vocals), Matt Sorg (guitars), Ryan Steigerwald (drums), and Ed Stephens (bass)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock
• Sound: Blending '80s metal with influence from bands like Dokken, Kiss, and the Scorpions with hard rock sensibility, the sound on "A Taste For The Kill" is a straightforward, high-octane sonic attack!  I'm always impressed by Sorg's guitar work, but it really shines here... some of his most emotive and melodic solos!  And the band as a whole is incredibly tight!  This album is an absolute joy to spin!
• Major themes: Life, death, darkness, rock and roll, desire, sex, power, violence, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "Stop, Rip And Roll"
2. "My Oh My"
3. "Legends For The End"
4. "Sweet Rocket Girl"
5. "Into The Darkness Again"
6. "Meat's Meat"
7. "Codex Gigas"
8. "Dance For The Massacre"
9. "Jack Of Spades"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: SaltFire Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.saltfirebrewing.com/
• Brew: Psycho Killer Juicy Pale Ale
• Style: New England Pale Ale / Hazy Pale Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Psycho Killer pours a hazy, pale, straw-yellow hue with a thin, bright white, head that dissipates to a thin ring, but with sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, floral, lightly bready, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, orange peel, fresh berries, wildflowers, honey, and sweet caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Psycho Killer is bold, citrusy, somewhat bitter and hoppy, yet very drinkable.  There are notes of orange and lemon zest, grapefruit juice, strawberry, soft caramel, freshly baked wheat bread, and light pine.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Psycho Killer is crisp with a slightly bitter and dry finish.

Overall pairing: The punchy, citrusy, bittersweet and hoppy flavors and aromas of the SaltFire Psycho Killer is perfect for the heavy-duty metal punch of Rip Ryde!  Those crisp, juicy flavors enhance the precision and depth of melodic and fiery guitars of Richards and Sorg, while the maltier notes are perfect for the powerful rhythms and grooves of Steigerwald and Stephens!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with Rip Ryde guitarist Matt Sorg from a few years back right here: https://youtu.be/bMYjlAMwDoc

Cheers!  Rock on!