November 14th, 2015 - Nocturnum Birds

Goedenavond!  Your pal the Meista here tonight pairing "Nighttime Birds" (2007 Reissue) by Dutch band The Gathering with a Delirium Nocturnum from Brouwerij Huyghe!

Album Info:

• Artist: The Gathering
• Title: "Nighttime Birds"  (2007 Reissue)
• Recorded: February 17th to March 15th, 1997 at the Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany
  Release date: June 6th, 1997 (4th studio album by The Gathering)
• Record company: Century Media Records
• Production: Siggi Bemm and The Gathering
• Album cover art: Flying Camera
• Personnel: Frank Boeijen (keyboards), Hugo Prinsen Geerligs (bass), Hans Rutten (drums), René Rutten (guitars and flute), Anneke van Giersbergen (lead vocals and guitars), and Jelmer Wiersma (guitars)
• Musical style: Progressive metal/rock, gothic metal, hints of doom metal, and alternative rock 
• Sound: With a sound that fluctuates between metal and alternative rock, the dominate vocal delivery of van Giersbergen blends wonderfully with the sometimes sludgy and driving and sometimes ethereal guitars.
• Major themes: States of being, love, loss, confusion, life, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks: 

Disc 1

1. "On Most Surfaces (Inuit)"
2. "Confusion"
3. "The May Song"
4. "The Earth Is My Witness"
5. "New Moon, Different Day"
6. "Third Chance"
7. "Kevin's Telescope"
8. "Nighttime Birds"
9. "Shrink"
10. "The May Song (Radio Edit)"  
11. "The Earth Is My Witness (Edit)"  
12. "Confusion (Live In Krakow)"
13. "The May Song (Live In Krakow)" 
14. "New Moon, Different Day (Live In Krakow)"
15. "Adrenaline (Live In Krakow)"

Disc 2

1. "New Moon, Different Day (Demo/EROC Session)"
2. "Kevin's Telescope (Demo/EROC Session)"  
3. "Shrink (Demo/EROC Session)"
4. "The Earth Is My Witness (Demo/EROC Session)"  
5. "Diamond Box (Demo/EROC Session)"
6. "Nighttime Birds (Demo/EROC Session)"
7. "On Most Surfaces (Demo/EROC Session)"
8. "Hjelmar's (Demo/EROC Session)"  
9. "In Power We Entrust The Love Advocated"  
10. "When The Sun Hits"  
11. "Confusion (Demo/EROC Session)"
12. "Shrink (Alternate Version)"  
13. "Adrenaline"  
14. "Third Chance (Alternate Version)"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Brouwerij Huyghe (Melle, Belgium)
• Website: http://www.delirium.be/
• Brew: Delirium Nocturnum
• Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 8.5%
• Pour: Deep, opaque mahogany with a yellowish and frothy head that dissipates quickly.
• Nose: The nose is loaded with rich and exotic scents of dark fruit, spices, Belgian yeast, and sweet malts.  There are notes of spiced raisins, black cherries, figs, dates, coriander, caramel, coffee cake, and soft banana.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste is characterized by lots of dark fruit, sweet malt, spices, and some booziness.  There are notes of spiced raisins, fig, cloves, nutmeg, banana, caramel/toffee, brown sugar, plum, cherry, Tootsie Rolls, and bourbon. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is fizzy, frothy, and smooth with a dry and slightly boozy finish.

Overall pairing: The lush and complex tone on The Gathering's "Nighttime Birds" is enhanced even more by the rich and spicy flavors of the Delirium Nocturnum from Brouwerij Huyghe!  The sludgy, droning guitars work wonderfully well with the darker notes of the brew, while the beautifully passionate vocals of van Giersbergen blend well with the sweeter and spicier notes!

Proost!!  Gezondheid!!