December 28th, 2019 - Meteor Shower: Target Earth

Hello and hails rock and rollers and craft brew lovers!  Your drinkin' buddy the Meista here today rocking out to "Target Earth" by Voivod and a Meteor Shower New England Style India Pale Ale from the Utah Brewers Cooperative (Squatters Brewery)!

Album Info:

• Artist: Voivod
• Title: "Target Earth"
• Recorded: February 2012 at Wild Studio and June 2012 at Studio Plateau
• Release date: January 22nd, 2013 (13th studio album by Voivod)
• Record company: Century Media Records
• Production: Voivod
• Album cover art: Away
• Personnel: Michel Langevin aka Away (drums and interludes), Jean-Yves Thériault aka Blacky (bass and interludes), Daniel Mongrain aka Chewy (guitars), and Denis Bélanger aka Snake (vocals)
• Guest musicians: Katajjaq Inuit (throat singing on "Kluskap O'Kom") and Periklis Tsoukalas (Oud on "Empathy For The Enemy"
• Musical style: Progressive thrash metal with elements of hardcore punk
• Sound: Inspired by the dissonant chord progression used by King Crimson, the sound on "Target Earth" is very progressive, challenging, manic, and above all, kick ass!  This album rocks as hard as any early Voivod album and is brilliantly crafted as well!
• Major themes: Science fiction, war, invasion, space, rebellion, robotics, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Target Earth"
2. "Kluskap O'Kom"
3. "Empathy For The Enemy"
4. "Mechanical Mind"
5. "Warchaic"
6. "Resistance"
7. "Kaleidos"
8. "Corps étranger"
9. "Artefact"
10. "Defiance"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Utah Brewers Cooperative (Squatters Brewery) (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: www.squatters.com/         
• Brew: Meteor Shower New England Style India Pale Ale
• Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.0%
• Pour: The Meteor Shower pours a very hazy, golden yellow hue with a 1-finger, frothy and firm, bright white head.  As the head recedes, sustained spider web lacing is left behind. 
• Nose: The nose is very citrusy, tropical, slightly malty, slightly bitter, and sweet.  There are strong notes of orange juice, orange peel, tangerine, pineapple, grapefruit rind, mango, guava, and lime with more subtle aromas of herbal tea, hints of baked bread, a hint of pine resin, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The flavor is marked by lots of juicy tropical and citrus fruits along with herbs and caramel sweetness.  There are notes of orange juice, tangerine, pineapple, pink grapefruit, orange pith, lime, mango, tangerine, tea, and soft, sweet caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Meteor Shower is very crisp, effervescent, sharp, and ever so slightly tart with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Squatters Meteor Shower New England Style India Pale Ale is a punchy, hop-forward, yet bright and tasty brew... great for the intense and progressive grooves and chord changes of Voivod's inventinve and intense "Target Earth"!  'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!!