Thursday, March 28, 2024

March 28th, 2024 - Duvel Tripel Hop Cashmere from the Unknown

 




Hello rockers, rollers, headbangers and hopheads!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here rockin' out to "The Unknown", the great album by hard rock / metal band Edge Of Paradise and a tasty and bold Duvel Tripel Hop Cashmere Belgian IPA from Duvel Moortgat Brewery!  Rock!!


Album Info:
  • Artist: Edge Of Paradise
  • Title: "The Unknown"
  • Recorded: 2023 at Howard Benson's West Valley Studios in Woodland, California
  • Release date: July 14th, 2023 (5th studio album by Edge Of Paradise) 
  • Record company: Frontiers Music SRL 
  • Production: Mike Plotnikoff, Howard Benson, and Neil Sanderson
  • Album cover art: Alex Ruiz
  • Personnel: Ricky Bonazza (bass), Dave Bates (guitars), Margarita Monet (lead vocals and keyboards), and Jamie Moreno (drums)
  • Musical style: Hard rock / heavy metal with elements of symphonic metal, power pop, and industrial
  • Sound: Blending symphonic and power pop elements with heavier rock and metal, the sound on "The Uknown" provides a unique and engaging sonic journey!  The fiery and soaring guitars really play well off of Monet's beautiful vocal range! 
  • Major themes: A sci-fi themed concept album of sorts, subject matter and themes include power, might, perseverance, reality, the future, technology, knowledge, etc.
  • Tracks: 
  1. "Digital Paradise"
  2. "My Method Your Madness"
  3. "Tidal Wave"
  4. "The Unknown"
  5. "Believe"
  6. "False Idols"
  7. "You Touch You Die"
  8. "One Last Time"
  9. "Leaving Earth"
  10. "Bound To The Rhythm"
  11. "My Method Your Madness" (Industrial Mix) (bonus track)

Brew Info:
  • Brewery: Duvel Moortgat Brewery (Breendonk, Belgium)
  • Website: https://www.duvelmoortgat.com/
  • Brew: Duvel Tripel Hop Cashmere Belgian IPA
  • Style: Belgian Blonde India Pale Ale (IPA) 
  • Serving: 12 ounce bottle
  • ABV: 9.5%
  • IBUs: 40
  • Ingredients: Saaz-Saaz, Styrian Golding, and Cashmere hops
  • Pour: The Duvel Tripel Hop Cashmere pours a somewhat cloudy golden yellow hue with a very frothy, bright white, soft and fluffy 2+ finger head with good retention and lacing.
  • Nose: The nose is characterized by citrusy, fruity, yeasty, floral, grainy, and slightly boozy notes.  There are aromas of Belgian yeast, orange peel and pith, grapefruit rind, lemon zest, lime, light pear or apple juice, a hint of cloves, wildflowers, sourdough bread, bright grains, and a hint of honey.
  • Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Duvel Tripel Hop Cashmere is citrusy, fruity, slightly spicy, and malty.  There are notes of tangerine, lemon zest, orange zest, grapefruit juice, Belgian spices, Belgian yeast, light apple, pear, a hint of booze, and light clover honey. 
  • Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, hoppy, and exceptionally smooth with a dry, slightly bitter and boozy finish.

Overall pairing: The Duvel Tripel Hop Cashmere is a complex, hoppy, bold, and aggressive brew... the perfect mate to the beautifully crafted heavy punch that is "The Unknown"!  The sweeter flavors go great with the soaring guitars, Margarita's wonderful vocals, and the lyrics and themes, while the hoppy punch goes great with the more aggressive guitar elements of the album.

And make sure to check out my interview with Margarita Monet, lead vocalist of Edge Of Paradise here: https://youtu.be/7rUwjNM4G4s 

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

March 26th, 2024 - A Midnight Especial Undercover of the Night

 




Hey there rockers, rollers, headbangers, and artisan beer lovers!  Your rockin' drinkin' buddy the Meista here today pairing a tasty Midnight Especial Mexican-Style Dark Lager from the fine folks at Proper Brewing Company and "Undercover Of The Night", the only compilation album by English hard rock/metal band Phantasm!  Hell yeah!


Album Info:
  • Artist: Phantasm
  • Title: "Undercover Of The Night"
  • Recorded: 1986 through 1988
  • Release date: July 2023 (Compilation studio album by Phantasm)
  • Record company: Cult Metal Classics Records 
  • Production: Guy Bidmead and Phantasm
  • Album cover art: ?
  • Personnel: Dave Dufort (drums), Gary Jones (guitars), Tom Prince (bass), and Jan Stevens (vocals)
  • Additional musician: Mark Wilde (additional guitars)
  • Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock
  • Sound: With big, bold, juicy riffs and melodies, the sound on "Undercover Of The Night" is heavy duty, NWOBHM-style goodness!  It's really too bad this band didn't go anywhere.  This is killer stuff!  The guitars are meaty and crunchy, the bass and drums are thunderous, and Stevens' vocals are fantastic!  All in all, a wonderful gem of a time past.
  • Major themes: The future, fear, pain, loss, danger, love, etc.
  • Tracks: 
  1. "Cry For The Future"
  2. "Nightmare Of Chimaera"
  3. "Battle Of The Broken Hearts"
  4. "Dangerous Game"
  5. "Undercover Of The Night"
  6. "Easy Ride"
  7. "This Time"
  8. "All For Love"

Brew Info:
  • Brewery: Proper Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
  • Website: http://www.properbrewingco.com/ 
  • Brew: Midnight Especial Mexican-Style Dark Lager 
  • Style: Mexican Dark Lager
  • Serving: 16 ounce can
  • ABV: 5.0%
  • IBUs: 15
  • Ingredients: Chinook and Mt. Hood hops, and Proximity Vienna malt, flaked corn, and rice hulls
  • Pour: The Midnight Especial pours a fairly clear, deep mahogany color with a thin and bubbly, off-white head that dissipates to the thin ring with light lacing.
  • Nose: The nose is malty, grainy, and slightly fruity.  There are aromas of corn chips, doughy bread, light grassy hops, cracked wheat, a hint of lime, soft caramel, and light honey.
  • Taste: The taste is malty, grainy, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of crackery biscuit, bready malt, light corn, lemon zest, and light honey.
  • Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Midnight Especial is very crisp and very smooth with a clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Proper Midnight Especial Mexican-Style Dark Lager is a very tasty, easy-drinking, crushable brew... perfect for banging your head to the hard-rockin' metal punch of Phantasm's amazing "Undercover Of The Night" album!  'Nuff said!

Monday, March 25, 2024

March 25th, 2024 - "I've Always Had an Interest... Especially in Rock and Metal": An Interview with Carlos Alvarez of Shadowdance

 

Hey there metal maniacs!  Your heavy metal beer drinking pal the Meista here today with another killer interview for you!  This one is with the very friendly and very talented Carlos Alvarez, guitarist and mastermind of progressive metal project Shadowdance!  We chatted about the re-recording of the "Ageless" album, future plans, Carlos' history as a musician, and much more!  Here's a link to that video interview: https://youtu.be/rqLvs00ZbLE

Enjoy!!


Make sure to check out Shadowdance here:

Cheers and hails!!

*Photo of Carlos by Marissa Ann of Scryer Photo
**Special thanks to Benjamin Niebla II of Online Metal Promo PR for setting up this interview, to Jamie Winters for designing the Brews and Tunes logoJerry Howard for creating the Brews and Tunes intro video and to DiseNgaged for the use of their song "The Real Me" (copyright 2020)

Sunday, March 24, 2024

March 24th, 2024 - Abs Of Thundersteel

 


Hey there rebels, rockers, metal maniacs, and craft brew freaks!  Happy Sunday!  Your drinkin' buddy the Meista here today with another great pairing for ya...  the venerable Riot's classic "Thundersteel" (on its 36th birthday) and a wonderfully flavorful Abs of Steel - 7th Anniversary Ale from my friends and family at Fisher Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!


Album Info:
  • Artist: Riot
  • Title: "Thundersteel"
  • Recorded: January 1988 at Greene Street Recording in New York City, New York
  • Release date: March 24th, 1988 (6th studio album by Riot)
  • Record company: CBS Records
  • Production: Steve Loeb, Rod Hui, and Mark Reale
  • Album cover art: Kevin Kall
  • Personnel: Bobby Jarzombek (drums), Tony Moore (vocals), Mark Reale (guitars), and Don Van Stavern (bass)
  • Additional musician: Mark Edwards (drums on tracks 2, 3, 5, and 7)
  • Musical style: Heavy metal, power metal, hard rock
  • Sound: Blending European style power metal with elements of thrash and hair metal, "ThunderSteel" is just so very, very solid... wonderfully straight-forward hard rockin' metal goodness!  Moore's amazing vocals on the album perfectly matched to a tapestry of the killer tunes!  The dual guitar work of Reale is a thing of beauty... intricate, yet unobtrusive playing, rich tones, and killer hooks!  And Jarzombek and Van Stavern bring the rhythm hammer down!
  • Major themes: Rebellion, violence, power, passion, life and death, rock and roll, fear, self-reliance, horror, etc.
  • Tracks:
  1. "Thundersteel"
  2. "Fight Or Fall"
  3. "Sign Of The Crimson Storm"
  4. "Flight Of The Warrior"
  5. "On Wings Of Eagles"
  6. "Johnny's Back"
  7. "Bloodstreets"
  8. "Run For Your Life"
  9. "Buried Alive (Tell Tale Heart)"

Brew Info:
  • Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
  • Website: http://www.fisherbeer.com/
  • Brew: Abs of Steel - 7th Anniversary Ale 
  • Style: Belgian-style Abbey Ale
  • Serving: 16 ounce can
  • ABV: 7.3%
  • Pour: The Abs of Steel pours a clear, deep ruby red lacing.
  • Nose: The nose is bready, herbal, nutty, and spicy.  There are aromas of doughy and hearty bread, cloves, nutmeg, spiced apple, fresh wild herbs, roasted hazelnut, and sweet toffee/caramel.
  • Taste: The taste is like the nose: malty, nutty, slightly fruity, and spicy.  There are notes of nutty malts, freshly baked bread, nutmeg and cloves, spiced apple, a hint of spiced rum, and burnt toffee.
  • Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with good carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Abs of Steel is very smooth, with a dry, slightly spicy and boozy finish.

Overall pairing: The Abs of Streel - 7th Anniversary Ale from the fine folks at Fisher Brewing celebrates their 7 years in business and is a very flavorful and complex brew... great to pair with the intensity and heavy metal punch that is the mighty Riot!  'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!! 

Saturday, March 23, 2024

March 23rd, 2024 - A Quick Review of Carl Canedy's Excellent New Book: Tales Of A Wild Dog

 


Good evening rockers, rollers, and headbangers!  Your heavy metal beer drinking pal the Meista here today with something new for you!  I was fortunate enough to have received an advanced copy from Online Metal Promo of Carl Canedy's new autobiography, "Tales Of A Wild Dog: Memoir Of A Rock Warrior".  In a word… FANTASTIC!!!  This book is totally engaging and edifying!  I couldn’t put it down… it's a real page turner.  I finished it in 3 days and plan on re-reading it again soon!   Anway, check out my video review of the book.  Here's a link to that video reviewhttps://youtu.be/CwgAmn8el0w

Pre-order the book at this link

Check out The Rods here:

And check out my recent interview with Carl here: https://youtu.be/wI4JP53p8Ws

Cheers and hails!!  Go buy Carl's great new book!!

*Special thanks to Jamie Winters for designing the Brews and Tunes logoJerry Howard for creating the Brews and Tunes intro video and to DiseNgaged for the use of their song "The Real Me" (copyright 2020)

March 23rd, 2024 - "Electric Attack": An Interview with Christian Devore and Eduardo Batista of Wild Charge

 

Hey there metal maniacs!  Your heavy metal beer drinking pal the Meista here today with another killer interview for you!  This one is with Chris Devore, guitarist and vocalist, and Eddy Batista, bassist of California metal band Wild Charge!  We chatted about the band's history, their new released single "City Hunter", their upcoming album "TM93", and much more!  Here's a link to that video interview: https://youtu.be/j9v6ZNJoz3g

Enjoy!!



Make sure to check out Wild Charge here:

Cheers and hails!!

*Special thanks to Benjamin Niebla II of Online Metal Promo PR for setting up this interview, to Jamie Winters for designing the Brews and Tunes logoJerry Howard for creating the Brews and Tunes intro video and to DiseNgaged for the use of their song "The Real Me" (copyright 2020)

Friday, March 22, 2024

March 22nd, 2024 - It's Hazer Tag Hysteria!

 




Hey there rockers, rollers, and hopheads!  Happy Friday!  The Meista here today pairing a Hazer Tag Hazy IPA from Odell Brewing Company and Def Leppard's explosive best-selling album, "Hysteria"!  Oh, yeah!  And this pairing goes out to my buddy Wayne Noon... cheers brother!!



Album Info:

  • Artist: Def Leppard
  • Title: "Hysteria"
  • Recorded: 1986 through 1987 at Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, Holland 
  • Release date: August 3rd, 1987 (4th studio album by Def Leppard)
  • Record company: Mercury Records
  • Production: Robert "Mutt" Lange and Def Leppard
  • Album cover art: Andie Airfix
  • Personnel: Rick Allen (drums and percussion), Steve Clark (guitars and backing vocals), Phil Collen (guitars and backing vocals), Joe Elliott (lead vocals), and Rick Savage (bass and backing vocals)
  • Additional musicians: Robert "Mutt" Lange (backing vocals) and Philip Nicholas (keyboards and programming)
  • Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal, hair metal, power pop
  • Sound:  Okay, so I will admit that this album is completely over-produced... it is at times fluffy, poppy, and very un-metal, and was what took this band from being a pretty cool metal band to becoming pretty-boy MTV darlings.  However, I must admit, I love this album!  It is fun as hell to listen to!  Although somewhat hidden by the latest sonic technology effects of the late '80s, the late Steve Clark's guitar work is still wonderfully textured, thoughtfully delivered, and what keeps the "metal" element alive in each track.  (Just listen to that tone at the beginning of "Animal" and the solo work of "Love Bites" or the power of "Gods Of War.")  There are elements that seem dated by today's standards (Casio-like synth effects), but overall, there is a timelessness to the tracks of "Hysteria."  Songs like the title track, "Animal", "Women," super-hit "Pour Some Sugar On Me," "Run Riot," and "Love And Affection" have all become part of rock and roll vernacular and recognized by kids to this day.  Say what you will of integrity, but that speaks volumes in terms of staying power and good songwriting. 
  • Major themes: Love, loss, heartbreak, lust, desire, sex, life, relationships, war, violence, etc.
  • Notes: "Hysteria" is Def Leppard best-selling album to date, selling over 20 million copies worldwide.  The album took over three years to record, produce, and release and was plagued by multiple delays, including the car accident where drummer Rick Allen lost his arm. 
  • Tracks: 
  1. "Women"
  2. "Rocket"
  3. "Animal"
  4. "Love Bites"
  5. "Pour Some Sugar On Me"
  6. "Armageddon It"
  7. "Gods Of War"
  8. "Don't Shoot Shotgun"
  9. "Run Riot"
  10. "Hysteria"
  11. "Excitable"
  12. "Love And Affection"


Brew Info:

  • Brewery: Odell Brewing Company
  • Website: https://www.odellbrewing.com/
  • Brew: Hazer Tag Hazy IPA
  • Style: India Pale Ale (IPA
  • Serving: 12 ounce can
  • ABV: 7.0% 
  • IBUs: 38
  • Pour: The Hazer Tag pours a very hazy, golden-yellow hue with a huge billowy and foamy 2+ finger, bright white head with great retention and lots of sticky, spider web lacing.
  • Nose: The nose is citrusy, tropical, floral, and malty.  There are aromas of freshly squeezed orange juice, tangerine, lime zest, passion fruit, guava, fresh mango, soft peach, wildflowers, light cereal grains, and a hint of honey.
  • Taste: The taste of the Hazer Tag follows the nose with lots of fruity, citrusy, and malty flavors.  There are notes of passion fruit, guava, mango, orange juice, tangerine, pineapple, light pink grapefruit juice, and soft caramel.
  • Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with good carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp, juicy with a fairly clean, dry, and slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The very juicy, yet drinkable and crushable characteristics of Odell's Hazer Tag Hazy IPA is great for kicking back whilst bobbing your head to the big, bold poppy grooves of Def Leppard's "Hysteria"!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!