February 28th, 2024 - Hoping for Some Illuminating Serenity Because Life is Killing Me

 

Hello and happy Wednesday!  Your metal drinkin' buddy the Meista here today pairing a hoppy and bold Illuminating Serenity Double India Pale Ale from Fidens Brewing Company and Type O Negative's wonderful "Life Is Killing Me"!  Oh yeah!  This pairing goes out to my buddy Josh Sparrow... thanks very much for the beers my friend!!  Cheers brother!! 

Album Info:

• Artist: Type O Negative
• Title: "Life Is Killing Me"
• Recorded: 2003 at Systems Two in Brooklyn, New York
• Release date: June 17th, 2003 (6th full-length studio album by Type O Negative)
• Record company: Roadrunner Records 
• Production: Josh Silver and Peter Steele
• Album cover art: 
• Personnel: Kenny Hickey (guitars and vocals), Johnny Kelly (drums, percussion, and backing vocals), Josh Silver (keyboards, sound effects, drum programming, and backing vocals), and Peter Steele (lead vocals, bass, and additional guitars and keyboards)
• Guest musicians: Sal Abruscato (backing vocals on "I Like Goils"), Bensonhoist Lesbian Choir (choir vocals), Paul Bento (sitar, tambura, guitar, and drum machine), and Pandit Kinnar K. Seen (tabla on "Less Than Zero (<0)") 
• Musical style: Gothic metal / rock, doom metal
• Sound: Blending elements of doom metal and classic metal with gothic rock and post punk, the sound on "Life Is Killing Me" is pure Type O Negative!  As with earlier albums, there are huge sludgy riffs, yet there are many more powerful and beautiful melodies coupled with Bauhaus era Peter Murphy-esque vocals. 
• Major themes: Death, darkness, dismay, loss, misery, dissatisfaction with life, illness, sex, romance, relationship problems, depression, nature, etc.  When asked about the album, Steele stated: "I guess I am going through some sort of midlife crisis being 41 years old now. And all the things I took for granted, my health, my life, people I love dying, people I loved walking away. I was with a girlfriend for 10 years, but she left. It is like my dreams are dead."
• Tracks: 

1. "Thir13teen"
2. "I Don't Wanna Be Me"
3. "Less Than Zero (<0)"
4. "Todd's Ship Gods (Above All Things)"
5. "I Like Goils"
6. "...A Dish Best Served Coldly"
7. "How Could She?"
8. "Life Is Killing Me"
9. "Nettie"
10. "(We Were) Electrocute"
11. "IYDKMIGTHTKY (Gimme That)"
12. "Angry Ich"
13. "Anesthesia"
14. "Drunk In Paris"
15. "The Dream Is Dead"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fidens Brewing Company (Albany, New York)
• Website: https://www.fidensbrewing.com/
• Brew: Illuminating Serenity Double India Pale Ale 
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA (IIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 8.2%
• Ingredients: Galaxy, Citra, and Strata hops
• Pour: The Illuminating Serenity pours a hazy, bright golden-yellow hue with a billowy, eggshell white, 2+ finger head with great sustain and lots of sticky lacing. 
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, resiny, and malty.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, light mango, pineapple, earthy pine resin and cedar, herbal tea, crackery biscuit, bitter herbs, and soft sweet toffee.
• Taste: The taste is like the nose: citrusy, hoppy, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, orange pith, tangerine, light peach, dried apricots, mango, pineapple, pine, earthy herbs, and a hint of toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Illuminating Serenity is crisp with moderate bitterness, yet smooth and somewhat thick with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Illuminating Serenity is a big, bold, and very flavorful and complex brew... perfect for the gothic metal depth, angst, complexity, and honesty that is Type O Negative's amazing "Life Is Killing Me"!  'Nuff said!

Raise your horns and glasses!!  Cheers rockers!!