March 21st, 2020 - Apocalypse, Chill, & Party Tartly In Bel Air

Goedemiddag and happy Saturday!  Today I'm pairing "Apocalypse & Chill", the latest album by Dutch symphonic metal band Delain and a delightfully sour Bel Air Sour from Brooklyn Brewery!

Album Info:

• Artist: Delain
• Title: "Apocalypse & Chill"
• Recorded: 2018 through 2019 
• Release date: February 7th, 2020 (6th full-length studio album released by Delain)
• Record company: Napalm Records
• Production: Martijn Westerholt
• Album cover art: Maxim Getman
• Personnel: Joey Marin de Boer (drums), Timo Somers (guitars, lead vocals on "One Second", and backing vocals), Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (bass and backing vocals), Charlotte Wessels (lead vocals), and Martijn Westerholt (keyboards, orchestration, and backing vocals)
• Additional musicians: Merel Bechtold (rhythm guitar on "Masters Of Destiny", Guus Eikens (backing vocals), Mikko P. Mustonen (orchestration), Yannis Papadopoulos (vocals on "Vengeance"), and Shir-Ran Yinon (violin)
• Musical style: Symphonic metal, melodic metal, progressive metal, Gothic metal, power pop
• Sound: Upbeat, highly energetic, and rather poppy, Delain's latest, "Apocalypse & Chill" furthers the sound they've been developing over the past few years... guitar and keyboard driven melodic metal with synth-pop influence.  As always, Wessels' vocals soar!  And those incredibly upbeat bass, guitars, and drum rhythms make you want to bounce!
• Major themes: Relationships, life, death, loss, pain, sorrow, yearning, love, lust, hope, truth, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "One Second"
2. "We Had Everything"
3. "Chemical Redemption"
4. "Burning Bridges"
5. "Vengeance"
6. "To Live Is To Die"
7. "Let's Dance"
8. "Creatures"
9. "Ghost House Heart"
10. "Masters Of Destiny"
11. "Legions Of The Lost"
12. "The Greatest Escape"
13. "Combustion"
14. "Masters Of Destiny" (orchestral version)
15. "Burning Bridges" (orchestral version)
16. "Vengeance" (orchestral version)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery (Brooklyn, New York)
• Website: https://brooklynbrewery.com/
• Brew: Bel Air Sour 
• Style: Sour Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 4.5%
• Pour: The Bel Air Sour pours a hazy golden yellow with a frothy 1+ finger head that dissipates to a thin ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by tropical fruit, tart citrus, light grain, and a hint of sweet honey.  There are aromas of pineapple, mango, apricot, lemon, tart cherry, light vinegar, crackery biscuit, and a hint of honey.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste of the Bel Air Sour is very fruity, bright, tart, and refreshing.  There are flavors of .
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, tart, and sharp, yet smooth and very drinkable with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Brooklyn Brewery Bel Air Sour is a very tart, inviting, drinkable, and flavorful brew... perfect for the depth, honesty, and beauty of Delain's wonderful "!  

Proost!!  Gezondheid!!