April 2nd, 2022 - The Voodoo Ranger's Chronicles Of Resistance

 

Guten tag and hails thrashers and hop heads!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here this evening rocking the hell out to "Chronicles Of Resistance", a killer compilation of the first two albums of the very underrated German thrash metal band Assassin and a hoppy and delicious Voodoo Ranger IPA from the fine folks at New Belgium Brewing Company!  Hells yeah!! 

Album Info:

• Artist: Assassin
• Title: "Chronicles Of Resistance"
• Recorded: "The Upcoming Terror" was recorded in November 1986 at Karo Music Studios in Münster, West Germany; "Interstellar Experience" was recorded in January 1988 at Music Lab Studios in Berlin, Germany; the live tracks were recorded live in 2010 in Osaka, Japan and the bonus tracks on disc 2 were recorded January 2011 with Casbah
  Release date: June 17th, 2011 (compilation of the first two studio albums with live bonus tracks by Assassin)
• Record company: Steamhammer / Icarus Music / Pacheco Records
• Production: Kalle Trapp, Harris Johns, and Assassin
• Album cover art: Christian "Trosi" Trosdorff; original album covers by Paul R. Alexander and Agentur T. Schluck
• Personnel: Robert Gonnella (vocals), Michael Hoffmann (guitars), Markus "Lulle" Ludwig (bass), Frank Nellen (drums), Jürgen "Scholli" Scholz (guitars), Andreas "Psycho Danger" Süther (drums), and Dinko Vekić (guitars)
• Musical style: Thrash metal, speed metal
• Sound: Fast, aggressive, and raw, this is true, classic Teutonic thrash at its best! 
• Major themes: Violence, war, death, politics, rebellion, humor, etc.
• Tracks: 

Disc 1: "The Upcoming Terror"

1. "Forbidden Reality"
2. "Nemesis"
3. "Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)"
4. "The Last Man"
5. "Assassin"
6. "Holy Terror"
7. "Bullets"
8. "Speed Of Light"
9. "Assassin" (bonus track recorded 2010 live in Osaka, Japan)
10. "Baka" (bonus track recorded 2010 live in Osaka, Japan)

Disc 2: "Interstellar Experience"

1. "Abstract War"
2. "AGD"
3. "A Message To Survive"
4. "Pipeline" (The Chantays cover)
5. "Resolution 588"
6. "Junk Food"
7. "Interstellar Experience"
8. "Baka"
9. "Strange World" (bonus track recorded January 2011 with Casbah)
10. "Low Intensity Warfare" (bonus track recorded January 2011 with Casbah)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Website: http://www.newbelgium.com/
• Brew: Voodoo Ranger IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)  
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 7.0%
• IBUs: 50
• Ingredients: Amarillo, Cascade, Mosaic, Chinook, HBC 522, Mosaic, Strata, Citra hops with Pale, Honey, and Pilsner malts 
• Pour: The Voodoo Ranger IPA pours a hazy bright orange-gold with a frothy and creamy, 1+ finger, bright white head that displays lots of intricate and layered lacing throughout.
• Nose: The nose is tropical, citrusy, juicy, and slightly bready.  There are aromas of pineapple, orange juice, mango, papaya, grapefruit rind, and tangerine along with more subtle notes of doughy bread, summer wild grass, light pine resin, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste, like the nose is characterized by tropical, citrusy, and light malty flavors.  There are notes of mango, guava, pineapple, light melon, fresh pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, orange juice, hints of pine, light herbal tea, and caramel/toffee. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the Voodoo Ranger IPA's mouthfeel is very crisp and very juicy with a dry, slightly bitter, yet clean finish.

Overall pairing: The punchy and aggressive, yet fruity and complex flavors and aromas of New Belgium's great Voodoo Ranger IPA are perfect for the thrash metal punch and high energy of Assassin!  Those big, hoppy citrus notes are great for the straightforward rocking depth, while the sweeter tropical and malt notes are great for the fast, melodic rhythms and vocal prowess!

Prost!!

Make sure to check out with my interview with ex-Assassin vocalist Robert Gonnella: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfX-gk0ONX4&t=1s