April 24th, 2022 - Apocalypse & Chillax

 

Goedemiddag and happy Sunday!  Today I'm chilling out with a pairing of "Apocalypse & Chill", the most recent studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Delain and a delightfully fruity Chillax Pineapple Gold Ale from Bootstrap Brewing Company!

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.
• Notes: Sadly this would be the last album with this line-up.  
• 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: Bootstrap Brewing Company (Longmont, Colorado)
• Website: https://bootstrapbrewing.com/
• Brew: Chillax Pineapple Gold Ale
• Style: Fruited Golden Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 4.5%
• IBUs: 10
• Pour: The Chillax pours a clear golden yellow hue with a thin, but bubbly head that dissipates quickly to a thin ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by tropical fruit, light cereal grain, and a hint of sweet honey.  There are aromas of fresh pineapple, pineapple juice, Corn Pops, crackery biscuit, and a hint of honey.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste of the Chillax is very fruity, bright, tangy, slightly grainy, and refreshing.  There are flavors of pineapple juice, light corn, sweet biscuit, and light toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, slightly tart and sharp, yet very smooth and very drinkable with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Chillax Pineapple Gold Ale is a bright, fruity, inviting, drinkable, and flavorful brew... perfect for the depth, honesty, and beauty of Delain's wonderful "Apocalypse & Chill"!  Those sweeter flavors go great with Wessels' amazing vocals, while the tarter and more malty flavors go great with the soaring music.  

Proost!!  Gezondheid!!