October 18th, 2026 - I Am the Witch and This is My Heathen Cross

 

Hey there hellions, rockers, and craft brew lovers!  Your pal the Meista is here today with a pairing of I Am The Witch Golden Ale with Pumpkin and Spices from Proper Brewing Company and rocking out to "Heathen Cross", the 10th album by the amazing New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) band Cloven Hoof!  Hell yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Cloven Hoof
• Title: "Heathen Cross"
• Recorded: 2023 at Temple of Disharmony in Bamberg, Germany
• Release date: May 31st, 2024 (10th studio album by Cloven Hoof)
• Record company: High Roller Records
• Production: Chris Dando and Ben Fitzharris
• Album cover art: Alexander von Wieding
• Personnel: Ash Baker (drums and backing vocals), Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin (lead vocals), Chris Coss (guitars), Chris Dando (keyboards and backing vocals), Luke Hatton (lead guitars), and Lee Payne (bass and backing vocals) 
• Musical style: Heavy metal
• Sound: Blending power metal and thrash metal with more traditional NWOBHM, the sound on "Heathen Cross" is richly textured, emotive, and mesmerizing, yet intensely rocking!  As with everything Payne produces, "Heathen Cross" is an absolute stellar sonic journey!
• Major themes: Themes on the ablum include good vs. evil, the occult, magic, darkness, revenge, ritual, etc.
• Tracks: 
• Tracks: 

1. "Benediction"
2. "Redeemer"
3. "Do What Thou Wilt"
4. "Last Man Standing"
5. "Darkest Before Dawn"
6. "Vendetta"
7. "Curse Of The Gypsy"
8. "Frost And Fire"
9. "Sabbat Stone"
10. "The Summoning"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Proper Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.properbrewingco.com/ 
• Brew: I Am The Witch Golden Ale with Pumpkin and Spices
• Style: Golden Ale 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The I Am The Witch pours a fairly clear, golden orange hue with a thin and bubbly, off-white head that dissipates to the thin ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is spicy, earthy, toasty, malty, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of crackery biscuit, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, subtle pumpkin, pumpkin pie, and soft caramel.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste of the Pumpkin Party is spicy, slightly sweet, and malty.  There are notes of toasted malts, fresh pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, subtle black pepper, and caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonation, the mouthfeel of the I Am The Witch is crisp and spicy, yet smooth with a dry, spicy finish.

Overall pairing: The Proper Brewing I Am The Witch is a good offering of the style... great to pair during the Halloween season with the NWOBHM intensity and heavy metal punch that is the legendary Cloven Hoof!  Those spicy notes go great with the dark vibe, while the crushable maltiness is great for the overall metal attack and Conklin's amazing vocals!  And visually, the album artwork goes great with the beer label in my humble opinion.

And if you haven't done so already, make sure to check out my interview with the very friendly, talented, and amazing Lee Payne, bassist, founding member, and mastermind behind Cloven Hoof here: https://youtu.be/j1xlaNRn-JI 

And check out my interview with the also the very friendly, talented, and amazing vocalist Harry Conklin here: https://youtu.be/Jy3QZDJhLac

Cheers and hails!!