June 28th, 2026 - Spiritual Gangster Healing

 

Hello and happy Sunday, metal brethren!  The Right Reverend Meista here today getting some religion with a pairing of Death's classic and essential "Spiritual Healing" and a bright and juicy Spiritual Gangster Hazy IPA from the fine folks at Revision Brewing Company!  Hell yeah... I mean, can't I get an amen?!

Album Info:

• Artist: Death
• Title: "Spiritual Healing"
• Recorded: 1989 at Morrisound Recording in Tampa Bay, Florida
• Release date: February 16th, 1990 (3rd studio album by Death)
• Record company: Combat Records / Relapse Records
• Production: Chuck Schuldiner and Eric Greif
• Album cover art: Ed Repka
• Personnel: Bill Andrews (drums), Terry Butler (bass), James Murphy (guitars), and Chuck Schuldiner (guitars and vocals)
• Additional musicians: Eric Greif (Kawai K1 keyboards on "Spiritual Healing")
• Musical style: Death metal
• Sound: A bit more melodic and progressive than their previous work, yet still heavy and aggressive as hell, the sound on "Spiritual Healing" is the next evolutionary step in the brilliant sound of the mighty Death!  Just look at that lineup... you know it is going to kill!  Everything about this album is pure early death metal magic!
• Major themes: Taking a more socio-political approach, the lyrics on "Spiritual Healing" deal with corruption, televangelism, abortion, genetics, addiction, rage, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "Living Monstrosity"
2. "Altering The Future"
3. "Defensive Personalities"
4. "Within The Mind"
5. "Spiritual Healing"
6. "Low Life"
7. "Genetic Reconstruction"
8. "Killing Spree"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Revision Brewing Company (Sparks, Nevada) 
• Website: https://revisionbrewing.com/
• Brew: Spiritual Gangster Hazy IPA
• Style: New England-style Hazy India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.5%
• IBUs: 35
• Pour: The Spiritual Gangster Hazy IPA pours a very hazy golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, half-finger head with good retention and sudsy, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very citrusy ant tropical with more subtle floral and malt elements.  There are aromas of bright tangerine, mandarin oranges, lemon zest, lime juice and peel, grapefruit rind, bright mango, freshly cut melon, wildflowers, light pine resin, freshly cut hay, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Hop-forward and very juicy, the taste of the Spiritual Gangster Hazy IPA is citrusy, fruity, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of bright tangerine, mandarin orange juice, cantaloupe, lime, mango, light pineapple, guava, resiny pine, and light toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp and very juicy, yet smooth and creamy with a dry, slightly sweet, and mildly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: One of the most important death metal albums in the history of metal deserves a brew of complex and bold character... and today that beer is Revision's Spiritual Gangster Hazy IPA!  Those punchy hops are great for the aggression and power that is the mighty Death!!

Cheers and hails to the memory of Chuck!!