Brews and Tunes... Beer and Music Pairing: October 30th, 2026

Hey there rebels, rockers, thrashers, and craft brew freaks! Happy Friday! Your drinkin' buddy the Meista here today with another great pairing for ya... the mighty Forbidden's triumphant return with the killer, brand new, self-titled album and a juicy and flavorful Electric Honey Juicy Pale Ale from SaltFire Brewing Company! Hell yeah!

Album Info:

Artist: Forbidden
Title: "Forbidden"
Recorded: 2026 at Shark Bite Studios in Oakland, California
Release date: October 23rd, 2026 (6th full-length studio album by Forbidden)
Record company: BLKIIBLK Records
Production: Chris Kontos, Craig Locicero, and Zack Ohren
Album cover art: Beto Ferris
Personnel: Matt Camacho (bass), Chris Kontos (drums), Craig Locicero (guitars), Norman Skinner (lead vocals), and Jeremy Von Epp (guitars)
Guest musicians: Brann Dailor (vocals on "Sycophantasy") and Kayla Dixon (vocals on "The Burden" and "Flower Of Life (Chaos By Design)")
Musical style: Thrash metal with elements of progressive metal, groove metal, and a touch of alternative metal
Sound: The sound on "Forbidden" can be characterized as blistering thrash metal intertwined with wonderfully melodic metal and tight grooves. It is fast, fiery, melodic, harmonious, full of adrenaline, and oh, so well balanced! The album opens with the very powerful "Single Point Failure" that sets the stage for the intensity, fury, and depth of the entire album. The individual musicians are really at the top of their game here... The fiery guitars and Skinner's acrobatic vocals soar over a wonderful tapestry of thunderous rhythms on each and every song!
Major themes: Destruction, violence, politics, the end of everything, division, deception, corruption, greed, life and death, etc.
Tracks:

"Single Point Failure"
"Burning The Lungs Of Earth"
"Divided By Zero"
"DCLXVI"
"Psyclops"
"Jisei"
"Sirens" (bonus track)
"Mutually Assured Dysfunction"
"Sycophantasy"
"The Burden"
"Sol Grave"
"Flower Of Life (Chaos By Design)"

Brew Info:

Brewery: SaltFire Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Website: https://www.saltfirebrewing.com/
Brew: Electric Honey Juicy Pale Ale
Style: New England Pale Ale / Hazy Pale Ale
Serving: 16 ounce can
ABV: 5.0%
Pour: The Electric Honey Juicy Pale Ale pours a hazy, pale, straw-yellow hue with a with sticky lacing.
Nose: The nose is citrusy, fruity, 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 Electric Honey Juicy Pale Ale 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 Electric Honey Juicy Pale Ale is crisp with a slightly bitter and dry finish.

Overall pairing: The SaltFire Electric Honey Juicy Pale Ale is a very crushable and good offering of the style... great to pair with the intensity and heavy metal punch that is the mighty Forbidden! Those hoppier notes go great with the darker lyrics and aggressive vibe, while the crushable juiciness is great for the overall metal attack! 'Nuff said!

And make sure to check out my interview from several years ago with Forbidden guitarist and founder Craig Locicero here: https://youtu.be/cVGnHZtPtAk . And my interview from several years ago with Forbidden vocalist Normand Skinner here: https://youtu.be/KkM9mmlAxRk.

Forbidden is out touring right now with Heathen and Void! Definitely catch this show if you can... absolutely fantastic performances!!!