Beats, Beards & Brews

In another very special episode of Beats, Beards & Brews, the gang reunites to discuss the 40th anniversary remaster version of KISS' 10th studio album Creatures of the Night. Released in 1982, the album is one of KISS' heaviest and a fan favorite. But how do Eric, Evan and Dan feel about it? Tune in to find out!

KISS songs previewed during this episode include:

1. "Creatures of the Night"
2. "I Love It Loud"
3. "War Machine"

Later in the episode, Eric shares his thoughts on Beardbrand's updated Utility Oil product line and its Temple Smoke scent. Then the boys review two intriguing ales. Dan rates Raspberry Jam Bam by Inbound Brewco. Meanwhile, Evan and Eric review Strawberry Biscuit Ale by Southern Grist Brewing Co. brewed in collaboration with Hardee's.

Welcome to Beats, Beards & Brews' 2022 celebration of everything fall. OK, so we swapped out Weezer's SZNZ: Autumn for Sumerlands Dreamkiller ... but Dreamkiller brings to mind A Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors so that still fits the fall episode theme, right? Absolutely. Good. Great.

Sumerlands' songs previewed during this episode include:

1. "Dreamkiller"
2. "Edge of the Knife"
3. "Night Ride"

Next up, Eric shares his favorite fall beard oils. These include:

• Smoked Pumpkin (new fall scent from T3 Beard Co.)
• Hitchhiker & Traveler (fall scents from Iowa Beard Co.)
• Live Deliciously (year-round scent from Last Looks Grooming)

Finally the boys— or boys and men — drink and review The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale by Elysian Brewing and CaramelCrisp Caramel Popcorn Ale by Revolution Brewing, which are both flavor experiences.

Happy fall. Happy autumn. Happy Halloween. Happy all of it. Cheers!

Eric, Evan and Dan are back to discuss the debut album Days of the Lost from The Halo Effect, a Swedish melodic death metal supergroup featuring former members of In Flames. Unsure if this album is your cup of tea? If you like hard rock or heavy metal with melody this is probably worth a listen.

The Halo Effect songs previewed during this episode include:

• "Gateways"
• "A Truth Worth Lying For"
• "The Needless End"

Next up, Eric rates a trio of liquid beard butters from T3 Beard Co. Scents reviewed during this episode include Hop Head, Chill Out and Comatoze. Finally the boys sip on some Royal Eddy and Surly Furious. Cheers!

Summer is chuggin' right along ... so fast that it took the boys a while to get this episode posted. But if you're a fan of Coheed, it's worth the wait. Maybe. We're not making any promises. Outside of the fact that we do indeed review Coheed & Cambria's Vaxis — Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind.

Songs previewed during this episode include:

1. "Shoulders"
2. "Comatose"
3. "Ladders of Supremacy"

Next up, Eric drops a review of Boardwalk Mack, an ICEE inspired blue raspberry and cherry limited edition summer beard oil from The Bearded Mack Grooming Co. featuring notes of bergamot, lemon, jasmine, amber and musk. *Note: Boardwalk Mack is currently sold out on the website. But keep an eye out for this limited edition annual scent next summer or stay tuned for a restock ... not sure if that'll happen, though!

Finally, the boys ride off into space and rate two beers from Boulevard Brewing Company's Space Camper IPA series — Alpha Vapor Nebulous IPA and Gigahop Dual Hemisphere IPA. Grab a brew or two, sit back, hit play and enjoy. We appreciate you all.

The full Beats, Beards & Brews crew is back to talk about some of the local and national albums we missed so far in 2022. Featured albums include:

• Harry's House by Harry Styles (London/Los Angeles)
• Drawing Little Pictures by American Scarecrows (Minneapolis)
• Born in Fog by The Envy Corps (Des Moines)
• Judas Curse of the Iron Sabbath by Traffic Death (Des Moines)
• Paid in Full by Skull Fist (Toronto)

Tracks previewed during the episode include:

• "Broken Bones & Mountains" by American Scarecrows
• "The Breadline" by The Envy Corps
• "Too Late, Fuck You" by Traffic Death
• "Long Live the Fist" by Skull Fist

Dan delivers a review of The Soap Guy's Natural Soap — he purchased the "Masculine Scent" collection on the site — in the latest edition of Sudsin' It Up. He also delivers a special investigative report looking into claims about another soap company we have positively reviewed on the podcast.

Finally, the boys drink some local IPAs and Eric continues to try Warheads flavored things ... this time, beer! Beers reviewed during the episode include:

• Deadringer by Lua Brewing & Bricksworth Beer Co.
• Finally We Got Our IPA by Blacklist Brewing Co.
• Warheads Blue Raspberry Sour Ale by Artisanal Brew Works

Thanks for listening, as always!

What's that off in the distance? Is that the super-heavy Swedish extreme metal band Meshuggah? Cue the THICC riffs. Meshuggah is back baby! Eric couldn't be happier as the boys drop their reviews of Immutable. Dan and Evan aren't as sure of their feelings.

Meshuggah songs previewed in this episode include:

1. "The Abysmal Eye"
2. "The Faultless"
3. "Ligature Marks"

In another edition of "Sudsin' It Up" (with Eric), the biggest beard on the pod drops a review of the Greenhorn Unscented Solid Beard Wash Bar by Whiskey 'N Hardtack.

Meanwhile, Dan wishes it actually felt like spring in Minnesota while sipping on Springbier from Indeed Brewing Co. And Eric drops his review of the Chonk Spumoni Sundae Sour from Drekker Brewing Co. Evan gives a shout-out to Blonde Fatale from Peace Tree Brewing Co. If ya know, ya know.

The gang reunites once more to review Ghost's fifth studio album Impera. The boys unravel the mystery of Papa Emeritus to emerge with a new theory that involves Weird Al secretly fronting the band. Is there any merit to this claim? Hard to say!

Ghost tracks previewed on this episode include:

• "Spillways"
• "Twenties"
• "Call Me Little Sunshine"

Next up Eric reviews War Zone Sour Watermelon Beard Oil from T3 Beard Co. which may or may not be a wholesome Christian beard company. "Whatever your religion is ... who cares. We're here to talk about sour watermelon beard oil." Eric also shares some fun facts about Warheads.

Evan and Eric celebrate Equalitea as they drink Big Grove Brewery's latest sour ale with lemon peel, honey, and white tea. Dan gets green beer catfished by a misleading St. Patrick's Day social media post from Dangerous Man Brewing Co., but ends up reviewing a Blackberry Lime Popsicle IPA from the brewery instead. All's well that ends well.

Thanks for listening and stay tuned for our next episode featuring MESHUGGAH!

Eric, Evan and Dan return to review the self-titled, third studio album from Zeal & Ardor. What does the band sound like? Grab a fistful of blues and sprinkle in some gospel. Then add in a healthy portion of black metal. Now you've got yourself a musical stew unlike anything you've ever heard before.

Zeal & Ardor tracks previewed on this episode include:

1. "Death to the Holy"
2. "Golden Liar"
3. "Götterdämmerung"

Next up, Eric reviews the Neutral Full Spectrum CBD Beard Oil from Beard Octane. He also rates their Neutral Full Spectrum CBD Lathering Conditioning Wash. These products come at a premium price. But are they worth it? You'll have to tune on in to find out!

Finally, the boys briefly discuss the difference between West Coast IPAs and Hazy IPAs. Eric proceeds to review Sparkle Wolf by Modern Times Beer and Dan rates Moon Howler by Fulton Beer. Oh, and Evan drinks Easy Eddy by Big Grove Brewery. It was in his fridge.

What will the boys review next? Give us a follow and find out. In the meantime, enjoy this episode and take care of yourself!

Dan and Eric break out their cowboy hats for a special two-man episode where they review Dispatch to 16th Ave. the second studio album from the "proudly independent and unapolegetically southern" Nashville-based country duo Muscadine Bloodline.

Muscadine Bloodline songs previewed on this episode include:

1. "Dispatch to 16th Ave."
2. "Dead on Arrival"
3. "No, Pedal Steel"

For the beard portion of the episode, Eric shares his thoughts on Genesis, a coffee, tobacco and vanilla scented beard oil from Bay Area Beard Co.'s Biblical Beard Oil series.

Finally, Eric rates On the Button Blonde Stout from Confluence Brewing Co. and Dan revisits an old favorite — Choco Milk Stout from Dangerous Man Brewing Co. Cheers!

Just when you thought it was safe! The boys are back and this time they're sharing some albums they are looking forward to in 2022.

2022 Anticipated Album Picks Include:

• Get Well Soon by King Iso (January 21)
• 11:11 by Pinegrove (January 28)
• Erebos by Venom Prison (January 28)
• Let There Be Witchery by Midnight (March 4)
• Impera by Ghost (March 11)
• Spring by Weezer (March 20)
• Immutable by Meshuggah (April 1)
• Fear of the Dawn by Jack White (April 8)
• It's Time...To Rise From the Grave by Undeath (April 22)
• Alpha Games by Bloc Party (April 29)
• Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind by Coheed & Cambria (May 27)
• Summer by Weezer (June 20)
• Entering Heaven Alive by Jack White (July 22)
• Fall by Weezer (September 22)
• Winter by Weezer (December 21)

Albums With TBD 2022 Release Dates:

• The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead by Megadeth (Summer 2022)
• TBD [Debut Album] by The Halo Effect
• TBD [Debut Album] by The Smile

Whew! That's a lotta albums. And here's the Spotify playlist we made!

Eric also drops a quick review of Bloody Knuckles Hand Repair Balm from Duke Cannon. And the boys rate the 2022 HopSlam Ale from Bell's Brewery.