Nine Circles

Receiving the Evcharist is our weekly feature where we pair choice albums with our favorite libations.  Drink from the cup of heresy.  This week’s offering: Tomb Mold’s Manor of Infinite Forms and Founders Brewing Company’s Solid Gold Lager

The Metal: Tomb Mold’s Manor of Infinite Forms

It seems like only yesterday that I was penning my review of Tomb Mold’s debut album, Primordial Malignancy, and even then, it was only last year.  Since then the band expanded from a duo to a four-piece, released yet another two song demo, and oversaw a CD and LP compilation of their first two releases, in addition to writing and recording a new full-length.  It is astonishing to see the band’s commitment to constant output, and even more astonishing is the fact that the quality of their music keeps up with such a relentless pace; Tomb Mold are a band that continually one-ups themselves with every release, and Manor of Infinite Forms is no exception to this rule.  Featuring re-recordings of “Blood Mirror” and “Chamber of Sacred Ootheca” from the previously mentioned Cryptic Transmissions demo alongside five new songs, Manor of Infinite Forms manages to take the Tomb Mold formula of musty, old-school death metal and fleshes it out with a lot more variance in the songwriting choices.  The trademark roiling riffs and angular melodies that recall the best of Finnish death metal are still present, but compositions here feel bigger and bolder than the straight-ahead bludgeoning of Primordial Malignancy.  So much has been said about Manor of Infinite Forms already that it seems my take is but one drop in an ocean of praise, so I’ll be concise, and convey my praise in the way I do for most bands these days: this album fuckin’ slaps and if you don’t listen to it you’re a coward and a fool.

The Booze: Founders Brewing Company’s Solid Gold Lager

We’re back on our usual grind this time after last week’s foray into the world of whiskey.  Founders Brewing Company has done an exceptional job with their Solid Gold lager, injecting a ton of character into a style that I normally find too bland to venture into very often.  The nose and initial flavor are as grassy as a freshly mowed lawn, which might sound unappealing, but is a pretty exciting departure from your standard lager, and gives it a nice summer-y taste.  While not an “IPL” by any means, there is a noticeable amount of hops here, and they lend a distinctly lemony character to the finish that reinforces those sunny vibes.  It’s not what you might get in a traditional lager, but it’s certainly a cut above the rest.  I’m glad I took a chance on this one.

That wraps this one up.  Keep it real and check back next week for more of the good stuff.  Until then,

Cheers, and be good to each other,

– Vincent