The return of Psycho Las Vegas this weekend will be marked with a signature beer by the influential heavy music label Metal Blade Records. The brew--Metal Blade’s first foray into branded beverages--is a 5.5 percent ABV blonde ale made by Nevada’s own Beer Zombies brewery. Dubbed the Steel Blade Beer, the creation is an ode to Metal Blade’s logo, which features a skull and two razor sharp swords.
For 31 years, the well regarded metal label has helped artists across the scene blaze their own trails. Los Angeles record store clerk Brian Slagel founded the company to help local talent gain a platform. Since 1982, Metal Blade has opened offices worldwide, with the likes of King Diamond, Gwar, Amon Amarth, Behemoth, and Bolt Thrower joining their current roster. The label’s likeness has since become synonymous with the metal subculture, making it ideal for a branded venture.
Psycho Las Vegas, aka “America’s Rock n’ Roll Bacchanal,” will be the first opportunity for fans to try Steel Blade Beer. With over 80 bands on the lineup, there could not be a more appropriate backdrop to taste its balance of hops and malt. While the COVID-19 pandemic killed 2020’s iteration of the festival, its original lineup has stayed largely intact for 2021. Danzig, Mastodon, and Down have all been confirmed headliners, with Metal Blade’s own Cannibal Corpse and Goatwhore also set to take the stage.
Single day and weekend passes are still available: https://www.axs.com/psycho