January 3rd, 2016 - Blood Orange Belief

Good evening rockers, rollers, and craft brew lovers!  The Meista here tonight pairing "Blood & Belief" by Blaze with a Blood Orange Saison from Upslope Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Blaze
• Title: "Blood & Belief"
• Recorded: Late 2003 through early 2004 at Backstage Studios
• Release date: April 26th, 2004 (3rd studio album by Blaze)
• Record company: SPV/Steamhammer
• Production: Andy Sneap
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Wayne Banks (bass), Blaze Bayley (vocals), Jason Bowld (drums), John Slater (guitars), and Steve Wary (guitars)
• Musical style: Heavy metal/hard rock, power metal
• Sound: Dark, heavy, and aggressive, the sound on "Blood & Belief" is more akin to the two Iron Maiden albums Blaze sang on in the 1990s.  It is a very guitar forward album coupled by the amazing and very underrated vocals of Bayley!
• Major themes: Themes on the album are more personal than on previous Blaze albums, which were more in line with science fiction themes.  Themes on "Blood & Belief" include life and death, pain, sorrow, suffering, aggression, self-reliance, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Alive"
2. "Ten Seconds"
3. "Blood And Belief"
4. "Life And Death"
5. "Tearing Yourself To Pieces"
6. "Hollow Head"
7. "Regret"
8. "Will To Win"
9. "The Path And The Way"
10. "Soundtrack Of My Life"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Upslope Brewing Company (Boulder, Colorado)
• Website: http://www.upslopebrewing.com/
• Brew: Blood Orange Saison
• Style: Saison/Farmhouse Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.0
• IBUs: 25
• Ingredients: Blood oranges, pink peppercorns, and Mandarina Bavaria hops
• Pour: It pours a deep brass color with a thick and frothy 2+ finger off-white head that leaves lots of sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose of the Blood Orange Saison is citrusy, grainy, vinous, and slightly astringent.  There are aromas of orange zest, lemon juice, grapes, spices, and light grains and herbs.
• Taste: The flavor is earthy, citrusy, fruity, and spicy.  There are notes of Belgian yeast, orange zest, orange marmalade, lemon juice, tangerine, Chardonnay, some barnyard funk, and peppercorns and white pepper.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp and frothy with a dry and peppery finish.

Overall pairing: The powerful vocals of Blaze Bayley along with the aggressive guitar work are what really drive the tracks on "Blood & Belief"... and as such, I thought a crisp, yet very punchy Saison would make for an interesting and well-blended pairing.  And I was right!  Those delicious citrus flavors along with the spicier peppercorn notes really amplify those killer guitar riffs and the brilliance that is Blaze!!

Cheers!!