June 28th, 2023 - Wandering At 87 Knots

 

Guten abend!  The Meista here for tonight pairing "Wanderers", the 7th album by the wonderful Austrian symphonic metal band Visions Of Atlantis and a tasty 87 Knots NE-Style Hazy India Pale Ale from Revision Brewing Company!


Album Info:

• Artist: Visions Of Atlantis
• Title: "Wanderers"
• Recorded: 2019 at Silverlinemusic and Studio and The Scratching Tree Studio in Linz, Austria
• Release date: August 30th, 2019 (7th studio album by Visions Of Atlantis)
• Record company: Napalm Records
• Production: Frank Pitters
• Album cover art: Péter Sallai
• Personnel: Thomas Caser (drums), Clémentine Delauney (lead and backing vocals), Christian "Dushi" Douscha (guitars), Herbert Glos (bass), and Michele Guaitoli (lead and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Symphonic power metal, progressive metal
• Sound: Characterized by complex and bombastic compositions, soaring and fiery guitars, soaring vocals, a thunderous rhythm section, and intricate keys, the sound on "Wanderers" is a tour de symphonic metal force!  Delauney's vocals are wonderfully angelic and beautifully haunting while Guaitoli's are powerful and melodic; they perfectly complement one another!  And the band is oh so very tight! 
• Major themes: As with all Visions Of Atlantis compositions, the songs are steeped in nautical and fantasy themes including the sea, love, journeys, relationships, mythology, quests, good vs. evil, death, loss, triumph, temptation, self-doubt, hope, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Release My Symphony"
2. "Heroes Of The Dawn"
3. "Nothing Lasts Forever"
4. "A Journey To Remember"
5. "A Life Of Our Own"
6. "To The Universe"
7. "Into The Light"
8. "The Silent Scream"
9. "The Siren & The Sailor"
10. "Wanderers"
11. "At The End Of The World"
12. "Bring The Storm"
13. "In And Out Of Love" (Armin van Buuren cover)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Revision Brewing Company (Sparks, Nevada)
• Website: https://revisionbrewing.com/
• Brew: 87 Knots NE-Style Hazy India Pale Ale
• Style: New England-Style Hazy India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.7%
• IBUs: 42
• Ingredients: CRYO® Mosaic®, Motueka®, and Cashmere® hops 
• Pour: The 87 Knots pours a very cloudy golden-yellow with a frothy, bright white, half-finger head with good retention and lots of sudsy, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very tropical, citrusy, dank, and floral.  There are aromas of mango, tangerine, passion fruit, lime, lemon zest, light pineapple, herbal tea, wildflowers, pine resin, light cannabis, and sweet caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Hop-forward, the taste of the 87 Knots is citrusy, fruity, bright, and malty.  There are notes of tangerine, passion fruit, orange juice, lime, pink grapefruit juice, mango, pineapple, guava, a hint of pine, sweet tea, and sweet caramel/toffee. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp and very juicy, yet creamy and smooth with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: With all the complexity, beautiful harmonies and melodies, nautical themes, and overall bombast, VOA's "Wanderers" is the perfect album to pair with the tropical and citrusy flavors of Revision's 87 Knots NE-Style Hazy India Pale Ale!

PROST!!