Bootleg Brewery - Peanut Butter Amber Ale

The nose on this beer is really bad.  It taste like a Peanut Butter Beer which I was hoping would be good but really isn't.  The flavour is good but I couldn't get past the smell.

1/10

Bootleg Brewery - Raging Bull

This is a massive beer.  It is dark and bitter. It feels like you are being hit around the head by it.  Not for me.

3/10

Thirsty Crow Brewery - Dark Alley IPA

A rich and fragrant IPA with a full body.  A beautifully wweet and fruity beer.  Another amazing beer from Thirsty Crow.

9/10

Thirsty Crow Brewery - Robust Porter

This is a lighter version of the Vanilla Milk Stout.  It is quite clean and Malty.  It doesn't have the omph if its big brother.

8/10

Thirsty Crow Brewery - Vanilla Milk Stout

Number 10 of the Local Taphouses Top 100 Australian Craft Beers.

I'll start this off by saying this is a fantastic beer.  It is a sweet and creamy beer with a coffee note.  Worth a trip to Wagga Wagga for.

10/10

Thirsty Crow Brewery - 26 Fifty Summer Ale

This is a very fruity beer.  I really didn't like at the start but it grew on me.  Was a very big beer up front with notes of nectarine.  Give it a chance.

6/10

Thirsty Crow Brewery - Sporting Ale

This is a fresh crisp Ale.  A fairly light and pleasant drop.  Would be great with seafood. 

6/10

8 Wired Brewing - India Red Ale

This us a down right delicious beer.  It is a big beer with red fruit notes.  Kind of like a light raspberry with a hint of caramel.   I'm a big fan.

9/10

Doctor's Orders - Vaccine

This is a really unusual beer.  The first thing you notice is that is has almost an ash note to it.  It didn't make sense until I found out it was wasabi.  This is a big and rough beer.  It's pretty aggressive and makes no bones about what it is.  But the more I drank it the more I enjoyed it.

6/10

Badlands Brewing - Bitter Pils

This was a nice and light bitter beer.   It was clean with a strong bitter note to start with.

7/10

Young Henry - Real Ale

Number 90 of the Local Taphouses Top 100 Australian Craft Beers.

Light and crisp.  Round on the mouth.  This is a really great drinking beer.

9/10

Cavalier Brewing - Brown

Number 100 of the Local Taphouses Top 100 Australian Craft Beers.

This is a sharp and bitter Brown Ale.  It's got great body and a malty base.  This beer deserves better than 100 on the list.

8/10

Balmain Brewing Company - Pale Ale

Number 54 of the Local Taphouses Top 100 Australian Craft Beers.

This is a fresh summery Ale.  It begins with a pleasant citrus note with a creamy finish.  This is a very drinkable beer that could be a good bbq beer.

7/10

Killer Be Killed - S/T

Killer Be Killed – Killer Be Killed (2014)

Produced by Josh Wilbur

Greg Puciato – vocals, guitar
Max Cavalera – vocals, guitar
Troy Sanders – vocals, bass guitar
Dave Elitch – drums

Track listing:
01. Wings of Feather and Wax (3:40)
02. Face Down (4:35)
03. Melting of My Marrow (4:38)
04. Snakes of Jehova (4:01)
05. Curb Crusher (3:31)
06. Save The Robots (4:11)
07. Fire To Your Flag (2:31)
08. I.E.D. (4:35)
09. Dust Into Darkness (3:57)
10. Twelve Labors (4:29)
11. Forbidden Fire (5.38)

Released in 2014 “Killer Be Billed” is the Debut album by American Metal Supergroup Killer Be Killed.  Killer Be Killed we formed by Max Cavalera of Sepultura and Soulfly and Greg Pucuiato of the Dillinger Escape Plan.  The project was to be a similar to Max Cavalera's Nailbomb project in the early 90's.  Troy Sanders of Mastodon and Dave Elitch of the Mars Volta were added later.

The album opens with "Wings of Feather and Wax" and what a way to open an album.  This song is massive and shows off every members strengths.  From Dave's mind blowing drums, Tory and Greg's Melodic Vocal line and Max's own unique vocals.  The chorus is infectious and got stuck in my head immediately.  This song is ridiculously good.
The thing that is immediately apparent is that KBK's does not sound like any of the bands they members but is unique a mixture of all of them.
"Face Down" follows on straight on and picks the pace up.  This song drives and rumbles.  This song along with "Curb Crusher", "Fire to Your Flag" & "Dust into Darkness" will really get a crowd moving live and here's hoping that the band can get together and do some live dates.
"Melting of My Marrow",  "Snakes of Jehovah" & "Twelve Labors" are slower tracks that layer on some really interesting guitar lines.  These are songs thick with layers of music and melody but are aggressive and driving.  I love the mixture of vocal's on these tracks.  Each of the vocalists add a different texture and fee to these songs.  
"Save the Robots" is another stand out.  The riff on this one is big and sludgy.  This is the song that is most like Mastodon on the record.  Think the Blood Mountain era of that band.
"Forbidden Fire" closes the album.  The verses are swampy and kind of like Black Sabbath's slower moments then Max comes in and breaks the calm on the courses.  The songs is restrained and compelling closer to a very strong debut album by this group.

I've only given this album a few listens but every song get's my moving.  There is a really great energy to this tunes and a sense of texture.  For the most part the music shy's away from convention and is a showcase for modern heavy metal.

8/10

A Quest for Prog 29: King Crimson – In The Court Of The Crimson King

I found this as a draft from 2012.  Didn't publish it because I didn't finish the Review of Leftoverture  by Kansas Which Iis 28.  Seeing as I am restarting this blog here it is.

"A Quest for Prog" is a series of 50 Progressive Rock reviews to be written over a year.  The band selection is taken from the book in the first post on this blog.  And the albums I am reviewing is based on the highest user ratings for each band on Progarchives.com.

King Crimson – In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969)

Produced by King Crimson

Robert Fripp – Guitar

Ian McDonald – Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Keyboards & Mellotron

Greg Lake – Bass & Vocals

Michael Giles – Drums & Percussion

Track listing:

Side One:

01. 21st Century Schizoid Man (7:21)

Including "Mirrors"

02. I Talk to the Wind (6:05)

03. Epitaph (8:47)

Including "March for No Reason" & "Tomorrow and Tomorrow"

Side Two:

01. Moonchild (12:13)

Including “The Dream" & “The Illusion"

05. The Court of the Crimson King (9:25)

Released in 1969 “In The Court Of The Crimson King” is the debut album by British band King Crimson.  King Crimson has suffered many line-up changes in their long career and this has resulted in a diverse catalogue.   From their English Prog early works To Lizards Jazz fusion and Larks Tongue In Aspics Avant-garde Art Rock.  The only constant during all of these line up’s has been Guitarist Robert Fripp.  Than band has released 13 Studio Albums between 1969 and 2003.

The album begins with “21st Century Schizoid Man”.  Of the songs on this album this is definitely the most direct and up tempo song here.  The riff is strong and the song has a serious groove to it.  Mixing elements of Jazz, Funk and Rock into quite a muscular track.  There have been a number of bands or songs that have been links with the creation of Heavy Metal and this song have never been included.  An oversight if you ask me.  The band is really together on this song with Greg Lake's bass and Ian McDonald’s Saxophone driving the riff along.  The song feels very live, which is quite a different feel to the rest of the album which is very layered and produced.  The vocals are very interesting for the time in that they are slightly distorted which I haven’t heard on any other album from the late 60’s.  Greg’s vocals are strong and set a really nice counterpoint to the instrumental passages.  Awesome track.

The album slows considerably on the albums second track “I Talk To The Wind”.  This track is very English sounding and is similar to the songs Pentangle, Fairport Convention and band of that ilk were producing.  The track is quite restrained and reminds me of a slowed down version of “Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite” by The Beatles.  Robert Fripp’s guitars are really nice on this track but Michael Giles’ drums are a bit much.  For me the song dragged a bit because the backing is so slight.  There is an early “Duo Version” of the track on a recent re-release which features more interesting Instrumentation and an idea of what this track could have been.

The side ends with “Epitaph”.  This a very grand sounding track with the first appearance of Mellotron.  The song has touches of Latin guitars and space rocks atmospherics.  Like the title track to this record "Epitaph" is a very dense and grand track that goes from quiet verses to chorus’s and instrumental passages.  The instrumental passages on this track are sublime and really build and grow as the song progresses.  The climax of the song is similar to “A Day In The Life” but less ramshackle.  This is a great tune and a display of the best of this version of the band.

Side two begins with the 12 minute long “Moonchild”.  This track is very melancholic and lush.  The vocals on this song are strong and are processed in a similar way to “21^st Century Schizoid Man” but less aggressively.  The start of the track has a prettiness to it, then it moves into more jazzy space.  "The Passage" at the 3 minute mark, which I gather is “The Dream”, is a meditative landscape with mixture of Harp and Guitars.  As the section progresses Marimbas’ are added to the section making it sound like a mellow version of Pink Floyd “Set Controls For The Heart Of The Sun”.  The remainder of the track once the rest of the band comes back in has a jazz freak out vibe.  Similar to Frank Zappa with Jazz Guitars and Xylophone.

The record ends with “In The Court Of The Crimson King”.  The only way to describe this song is epic.  This track is very dynamic and travels from a verse of Guitar and Vocals, then explodes onto the chorus with Mellotron and a huge chorus singing “King!!!!!!”.  The breakdown in the piece is very interesting and has an almost electronic feel to it.  Similar to  the French band Air.  The verses build every time they return and bring the song to its conclusion.  This might just be one of the most important Progressive Rock songs of all time in that it is so pure and never falters in its approach. 

This album is extremely good but does lag in places.  If you are looking at getting into progressive music or King Crimson you would be hard pressed to find a better starting point.  With “21st Century Schizoid Man” & “The Court of the Crimson King” being absolute classics. 

9/10

Two Birds Brewing - Sunset Ale

Number 17 of the Local Taphouses Top 100 Australian Craft Beers.

The Sunset Ale is a bitter Ale.  Again like the Golden Ale it has a really odd mouth feel.  The favour is like sweet burnt caramel with over ripe stone fruits.  The flavour profile is too much and in all honesty isn't that pleasant to drink.

4/10

Two Birds Brewing - Golden Ale

Number 36 of the Local Taphouses Top 100 Australian Craft Beers.

This is an odd beer and it's really hard to describe.  The mouth feel is almost vapid and wine with lots of tannins.  I kind of get a fake banana note to it with like a slight oat flavour.  I'm not a fan of this one at all.

2/10

Two Birds Brewing - Taco Beer

Number 25 of the Local Taphouses Top 100 Australian Craft Beers.

This beer opens with a slight hint of citrus at and ends with a bit of rose water.  But the middle of the pallet is lacking.  This is definitely not a bad beer but it seems kind of half baked.  With the story behind the beer I was expecting a journey not just a beginning and an end.

5/10

Flat Rock Brew Cafe - Vanilla Stout

Tastes like a good short black coffee.  Not a big thick stout but like a lighter black ale.  This is a great nightcap beer.

7/10

Holgate Brewhouse - Hopinator

Number 46 of the Local Taphouses Top 100 Australian Craft Beers.

This is a big beer.  Very bitter with a large mouth feel.  Cherry tartness mixed with creamy and smooth vanilla.  Didn't like it when I first tried it liked it the more I drank it.  Enjoyed the second even more.

8/10

Hargreaves Hill Brewing Company - ESB

Number 35 of the Local Taphouses Top 100 Australian Craft Beers.

This had a sharp apricot note at the start.  It is quite fresh and summery.  Not my favourite but on a hot day it would go down a treat. 

6/10

Riverside Brewing Co - 55 Pale Ale

Sour beer with a big mouth feel.  Not sure about the flavour.   Slightly unpleasant but interesting.  Kind of confusing. The more I drank it the more I liked it.

6/10

2 Brothers Brewery - Growler American Brown Ale

Number 78 of the Local Taphouses Top 100 Australian Craft Beers.

This is quite a light American Brown Ale.  It's a bit fruity which is odd because I was expecting a creamy malty beer like other Brown Ales I've had.  This seems more like an IPA to me.  I enjoy drinking it but it's not what I was hoping for.

6/10

2 Brothers Brewery - Grizz American Amber

Number 79 of the Local Taphouses Top 100 Australian Craft Beers.

I didn't get much from this beer.  The front end is quite tart and then it ends on a slightly sour note.  But the beer isn't fruity.  Drinkable but not to exciting.

5/10

Kooinda Boutique Brewery - Black IPA

Number 15 of the Local Taphouses Top 100 Australian Craft Beers.

This a big beer.  A bitter beer with hints of Licorice and Chocolate.   A pleasant drop like a good dessert.

7/10

Riverside Brewing Co - 77 India Pale Ale

Number 12 of the Local Taphouses Top 100 Australian Craft Beers.

This is really interesting like the 44.  It starts off with a full round Pineapple flavour which is very quick before it gets to a nice bitter flavour.  I really liked this beer.  I need to try more beers by Riverside I think.

9/10

Riverside Brewing Co - 44 American Amber

Number 37 of the Local Taphouses Top 100 Australian Craft Beers.

This is a seriously great beer.  It starts off fruity but has a great malty finish like a Brown Ale.  It's a really complex drop.  That being said I think you only have a few of these before they overwhelm.

9/10