From what could be the greatest heavy rock band of all time comes
S&M, a live album by Metallica, with the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Michael Kamen. It was recorded in 1999, This is the final Metallica album to feature bassist Jason Newsted. Jason went off to start Echobrain or whatever. They let him go follow his dreams. *Mustaine heavy breathing*
This music was perfectly made, Kamen crafted a cinematic soundtrack to the songs that augmented and enhanced the music with whirling violin and flutes passages between riffs, and martial horn and string parts to accompany some of Metallica’s heaviest and most well-known rhythms. It's hard to pick a highlight, as Metalica fans, I know you are too! many of these tracks are enhanced by the thickness of the symphony and new compositions with almost a new tempos. The songs have a new feel and emotion to them. What stands out to me is Hetfield's stage presence and dialogue between tracks, he holds the set together by being the ultimate frontman of a rock band. No Leaf Clover track was written especially for this event and soon became a fan favourite. A somewhat tamed metal band on the night with wide spread appeal to a broad audience and creativity stretched out as far as the imagination goes. This is a must listen. An ear bender start to finish!

Calling a beer G.O.A.T. is a ballsy move, yet the Black Hops brewers clearly knew they were onto a good thing with their hazy IPA. Unsurprisingly, it quickly became a fan favourite too.
It's a hazy IPA that, like a growing number of local examples, hits the bullseye. The haze might be at the lower end of the spectrum but the impact is high: there's the intensity of the syrup left in the bottom of a tin of fruit pieces layered with candied oranges and ripe rockmelon aromas courtesy of the Mosaic, Amarillo and El Dorado hops. Flavour wise, you've got sweet hops-meet-malt enhanced by a palate-tweaking, fruity bitterness that wraps things up just so. Two greatest of all time in one night!

Album: Symphony and Metallica S&M Live Album
Highlight: Bleeding Me
Gem: Wherever I May Roam
Beer Pairing: @blackhopsbeer G.O.A.T. Hazy IPA.

Image Courtesy of @trooper.beers.tunes

@trooper.beers.tunes

Two guys from Melbourne
° Review Music New, classic or nostalgic
° Pair it with local or Indy Craft Beer
° Live & real experiences in the Craft World