June 24th, 2023 - Awakening To Shake A Day

 

Hey there music metal maniacs and hoppy craft beer freaks!  Happy Saturday!  The Meista is here today with another great pairing for you... the most recent kick-ass album by Trauma and a Shake A Day Double Juicy IPA from Big Sky Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Trauma
• Title: "Awakening"
• Recorded: 2022 at Trident Studio in Pacheco, California
• Release date: September 9th, 2022 (4th full-length studio album by Trauma)
• Record company: Massacre Records 
• Production: Juan Urteaga 
• Album cover art: Ioannis
• Personnel: Brian Allen (vocals), Greg Christian (bass), Joe Fraulob (guitars), Kris Gustofson (drums), and Steve Robello (guitars)
• Musical style: Speed metal, traditional heavy metal with elements of power metal and thrash metal
• Sound: Blending traditional metal elements with speed metal, thrash, and power metal, the sound on "Awakening" is steeped in that early '80s California metal sound, yet fresh and original.  This is heavy-duty, kick-ass metal!
• Major themes: Death, destruction, violence, murder, evil, voodoo, rage, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Walk Away"
2. "Ted Talks"
3. "Death Of The Angel"
4. "Meat"
5. "The River Red"
6. "Burn"
7. "Falling Down"
8. "Voodoo"
9. "End Of Everything"
10. "Blind"
11. "Death Machine"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Big Sky Brewing Company (Montana)
• Website: https://bigskybrew.com/
• Brew: Shake A Day Double Juicy IPA
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) 
• Serving: 19.2 ounce can
• ABV: 8.2%
• IBUs: 62
• Pour: The Shake A Day pours a slightly hazy, straw yellow hue with a eggshell white, 1+ finger, frothy and billowy head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, dank, resinous, malty, and slightly herbal.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, orange peel, tangerine, pineapple, mango, pine resin, bitter herbs, crackery biscuit, and caramel/toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Shake A Day follows the nose with lots of aggressive citrusy, resinous malty, and herbal flavors.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, light pineapple, mango, pine, herbal tea, and sweet caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp and juicy, yet smooth and hearty with dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The bold, hoppy, and sweet flavors of Big Sky Brewing's Shake A Day Double Juicy IPA make for a great companion to the heavy-duty metal crunch of Trauma's killer "Awakening" album!  'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails headbangers!!