April 21st, 2020 - The Titans Of Creation Are Sending You A Stimulus Check

Good evening!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here tonight with the brand new Testament album, "Titans Of Creation" and a brand new brew from 2 Row Brewing Company, the Stimulus Check, Limited Release Beer #4!  Hells yes!!


Album Info:

• Artist: Testament
• Title: "Titans Of Creation"
• Recorded: 2019 at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California
• Release date: April 3rd, 2020 (13th studio album by Testament)
• Record company: Nuclear Blast
• Production: Chuck Billy, Eric Peterson, and Juan Urteaga
• Album cover art: Eliran Kantor
• Personnel: Chuck Billy (vocals), Steve DiGiorgio (bass), Gene Hoglan (drums), Eric Peterson (guitars and backing vocals), and Alex Skolnick (guitars)
• Additional musicians: Greg Goss (gang vocals), Del James (additional vocals), Lyle Livingston (keyboards on "Catacombs"), Rigo Martin (gang vocals), Steve "Zetro" Souza (additional vocals)
• Musical style: Thrash metal
• Sound: The sound on "Titans Of Creation" is pure, classic Testament: powerful, in-your-face, riff-driven, thunderous, fast-paced California thrash!  These metal veterans prove they still tear it up and write compelling, relevant, and complex rippers!  'Nuff said!!
• Major themes: War, deception, socio-political criticism, evil, mythology, anger, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Children Of The Next Level"
2. "WWIII"
3. "Dream Deceiver"
4. "Night Of The Witch"
5. "City Of Angels"
6. "Ishtar's Gate"
7. "Symptoms"
8. "False Prophet"
9. "The Healers"
10. "Code Of Hammurabi"
11. "Curse Of Osiris"
12. "Catacombs"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: 2 Row Brewing Company (Murray, Utah)
• Website: https://2rowbrewing.com/
• Brew: Stimulus Check, Limited Release Beer #4
• Style: Triple India Pale Ale (TIPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 11.0%
• Ingredients: Mosaic, Citra, and Idaho 7 hops
• Pour: The Stimulus Check pours a hazy golden-orange amber with a creamy, bright white 2-finger head with great retention and intricate spider web lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very fruity (tropical and citrus), floral, malty, and sweet.  There are aromas of pineapple juice, orange juice, orange jelly candies, grapefruit rind, tangerine, mango, guava, stone fruits (peach and apricot), wild flowers, sweet caramel and just a hint of pine.
• Taste: The taste follows the nose... very fruity, sweet, slightly boozy, and malty with low bitterness.  There are big flavors of pineapple, orange, tangerine, and mango along with sweet caramel, herbal tea, and sweet liqueur.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the is sticky, thick, sweet, and hoppy with a dry and slightly boozy finish.

Overall pairing: The bold, sweet, and fruity well-balanced flavors of  2 Row's Stimulus Check are great for the complex power, richly textured guitars, and overall depth of Testament's latest metal masterpiece, "Titans Of Creation", while the biting hop flavors are great for the aggressive drumming, bass, and Chuck Billy's profound vocals!

Cheers!!  Hails!!