December 22nd, 2022 - A Midnight Rendezvous In The Afterlife

 

Hello and hails metal heads!  The Meista here with something slightly different for you today.  Rather than my usual beer, I'm pairing a canned Yomi Saké The Afterlife from SakéOne with Tokyo Blade's amazing "Midnight Rendezvous" compilation album!  This one is dedicated to my hard rockin' children... cheers!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Tokyo Blade
• Title: "Midnight Rendezvous"
• Recorded: 1983 at Stable Studios, Wickham Studios, Rooster Studios, and Cave Studios in Bristol, UK
• Release date: 1984 (compilation album by Tokyo Blade)
• Record company: Combat Records
• Production: Kevin D. Nixon and Andy Allen
• Album cover art: Hugh Gilmour
• Personnel: Andy Boulton (guitars), Alan Marsh (lead vocals), Steve Pierce (drums), Andy Robbins (bass guitar), and John Wiggins (guitars)
• Additional musicians: Ray Dismore (guitar on "If Heaven Is Hell")
• Musical style: Heavy metal
• Sound: In the vein of early Iron Maiden and Tygers of Pan Tang, Tokyo Blade is a crucial piece of the NWOBHM history!  The music is fast-paced, electrifying, passionate, and raw!  Marsh's vocals are reminiscent of Di'Anno as well as Brian Ross.  The sonic dual guitar attack of Boulton and Wiggins will peel the paint!  And Pierce and Robbins are a thunderous stampeded of heavy metal power and might! 
• Major themes: Rock and roll, power, deception, rebellion, danger, lust, murder, aggression, etc.
• Notes: This album is a mix of the 1983 debut album and the 1984 "Midnight Rendezvous" EP.
• Tracks: 

1. "Midnight Rendezvous
2. "Break The Chains"
3. "If Heaven Is Hell"
4. "Mean Streak"
5. "Power Game"
6. "Highway Passion"
7. "Killer City"
8. "Sunrise In Tokyo"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: SakéOne (Forest Grove, Oregon)
• Website: https://www.yomisake.com/
• Brew: Yomi Saké The Afterlife
• Style: Junmai Ginjo sake 
• Serving: 8.5 ounce can
• ABV: 13.0%
• Pour: The Yomi Saké The Afterlife pours a clear slightly yellowish hue.
• Nose: The nose is sweet, fruity, herbal, and slightly boozy.  There are aromas of melon, cherry juice, hints of fresh cream, rice, subtle mochi, and a hint of booze.
• Taste: The taste of the Yomi Saké The Afterlife is fruity, sweet, grainy, and boozy.  There are notes of juicy cantaloupe, light cherry juice, strawberry, light mango, hints of mochi, herbal tea, and rice wine.
• Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and rather smooth with a sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The Yomi Saké The Afterlife is a very crisp, fruity, punchy, and crushable drink... perfect for the fast-paced, straight-forward heavy metal juggernaut that is Tokyo Blade!  And of course, the can label art and the album cover art look great together!  'Nuff said! 

Cheers and hails!!