November 20th, 2021 - Journey Into The Lunar Transitus

 

Hello and happy Saturday!  The Meista here today pairing a delicious Lunar Transit Juicy & Hazy IPA from Epic Brewing Company and the wonderfully amazing "Transitus" from the latest Ayreon rock opera from the brilliant mind of Arjen Anthony Lucassen!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Ayreon
• Title: "Transitus"
• Recorded: 2020 at the Electric Castle in the Netherlands and Sandlane Recording Facilities, Audio Sorcery, Bardo Studios, and E-Sound
• Release date: September 25th, 2020 (10th studio album by Ayreon)
• Record company: Mascot Label Group / Music Theories Recordings
• Production: Arjen Anthony Lucassen
• Album cover art: Roy Koch
• Personnel: Arjen Anthony Lucassen (guitars, bass, keyboards, glockenspiel, dulcimer, toy piano) with Tom Baker (narration), Marcela Bovio (Fury, Servant, Villager vocals), Thomas Cochrane (trumpet and trombone), Marty Friedman (guitar solo on "Message From Beyond"), Cammie Gilbert (Abby vocals), Jeroen Goossens (flutes and woodwinds), Patty Gurdy (Hurdy Gurdy), Johanne James (Abraham vocals), Tommy Karevik (Daniel vocals), Paul Manzi (Henry vocals), Ben Mathot (violin), Michael Mills (The Statue vocals), Joe Satriani (guitar solo on "Get Out! Now!"), Simone Simons (Angel of Death vocals), Dee Snider (Father vocals), Amanda Sommerville (Lavinia vocals), Alex Thyssen (French horn), Joost van den Broek (Hammond organ, piano, and Fender Rhodes), Juan van Emmerloot (drums), Dianne van Giersbergen (Soprano vocals), Caroline Westendorp (Fury, Servant, Villager vocals), and Jurriaan Westerveld (cello)
• Additional vocalists: Hellscore Choir, Jan Willem Ketelaers, Dan J. Pierson, Will Shaw, Lisette van den Berg, Wilmer Waarbroek, and Marjan Welman 
• Musical style: Progressive metal/rock, power metal, symphonic metal, hard rock with elements of folk, electronica, experimental and classical music
• Sound: Incredibly powerful, complex, and mesmerizing, the sound on Ayreon's "Transitus" is hard to describe... in a word BRILLIANT!  There are so many amazing elements, voices, musicians! 
• Major themes: "Transitus" is a fantasy/gothic horror rock opera concept album that describes the doomed relationship of two lovers betrayed due to jealousy and racial prejudice.  Themes on the album include love, loss, death, the after life, ghosts, phantoms, mythology, deception, vengeance, inner strength, hope, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Fatum Horrificum"

• I. "Graveyard"
• II. "1884"
• III. "Daniel And Abby"
• IV. "Fatum"
• V. "Why?!"
• VI. "Guilty"

2. "Daniel's Descent Into Transitus"
3. "Listen To My Story"
4. "Two Worlds Now One"
5. "Talk Of The Town"
6. "Old Friend"
7. "Dumb Piece Of Rock"
8. "Get Out! Now!"
9. "Seven Days, Seven Nights"
10. "Condemned Without A Trial"
11. "Daniel's Funeral"
12. "Hopelessly Slipping Away"
13. "This Human Equation"
14. "Henry's Plot"
15. "Message From Beyond"
16. "Daniel's Vision"
17. "She Is Innocent"
18. "Lavinia's Confession"
19. "Inferno"
20. "Your Story Is Over!"
21. "Abby In Transitus"
22. "The Great Beyond"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Epic Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.epicbrewing.com/
• Brew: Lunar Transit Juicy & Hazy IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 5.0% 
• Ingredients: 2-Row, White Wheat, and Pilsner malts, and Citra, Amarillo, and Simcoe hops
• Pour: The Lunar Transit pours a hazy bright yellow hue with an egg shell white, billowy, 2-finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by fruity, hoppy, and slightly sweet elements.  There are aromas of tangerine juice and zest, pink grapefruit, orange peel, apricot, peach, mango, lemon zest, and very soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste follows the nose with lots of citrusy, fruity, hoppy, and malty flavors.  There are notes of tangerine, grapefruit, orange tea, pineapple, mango, dried apricot, sweet biscuit, caramel, and a hint of pine as well.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the is crisp and juicy with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The crisp, fruity, and punchy flavors of Epic's Lunar Transit IPA is a great foil for the bombast and fantasy brilliance of "Transitus"!  The bright and juicy flavors of the brew are great for all the mind-blowingly awesome guest singers and musicians and how well attuned they are to one another, the songwriting, and storyline! 

HAILS!!  PROST!!