June 26th, 2024 - Skyward... Above the Clouds

 

Hey there headbangers and hop freaks!  Happy Wednesday!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here with another killer pairing for ya!  Today, I'm pairing "Skyward", the kickass, brand new, sophomore album by progressive / power metal band Severed Angel with a delicious and bold Above The Clouds Double IPA from Red Rock Brewery!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Severed Angel
• Title: "Skyward"
• Recorded: 2023 in New York and Pennsylvania
• Release date: May 3rd, 2024 (2nd full-length studio album by Severed Angel)
• Record company: Independent
• Production: Alex Repetti and Severed Angel
• Album cover art: Aleh Zielankievič 
• Personnel: George Dimitri (bass), Lou Mavs (lead and rhythm guitars, and vocals), Marc Muchnik (keyboards), Wayne Noon (drums), and Alex Repetti (rhythm and lead guitars, and lead vocals)
• Guest musician: Gail Bourque (vocals on "Citipati")
• Musical style: Heavy metal with elements of progressive metal, symphonic metal, and hard rock
• Sound: Blending power metal and traditional metal elements with progressive metal and rock, the sound on the album is aggressive, fast-paced, and complex, yet very melodic and emotive.  There are wonderfully epic and bombastic tracks along with straight-forward rockers.  
• Major themes: Introspection, knowledge, life, death, imagination, sorrow, hope, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "From The Inside"
2. "Live Your Imagination"
3. "A Perfect Disaster"
4. "Skyward"
5. "Life Is Here And Now"
6. "Move Through The Dark"
7. "Tyrant On The Throne"
8. "Never Look Back"
9. "Tranquility In Conflict"
10. "Citipati"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Red Rock Brewery (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: www.redrockbrewery.com
• Brew: Above The Clouds Double IPA
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA (IIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 8.4%
• Pour: The Above The Clouds pours a fairly clear, golden yellow hue with a very thin, bright white head that dissipates fairly quickly, leaving light lacing.
• Nose: The nose really grabs you with a blend of citrus and floral and pine notes.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, orange zest, tangerine, mango, pineapple, pine resin, barley, cracked wheat, and soft caramel.
• Taste: Those same citrus notes in the nose are what really grab you with its flavor.  Notes of bitter grapefruit, orange peel, tangerine, pine, and softer, more subtle sweet malts intertwine for a well-balanced and flavorful brew. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with good carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, yet very smooth with a dry, somewhat bittersweet finish.

Overall pairing: The Red Rock Above The Clouds Double IPA is a bold, complex, and hoppy, yet very inviting brew... a great brew for the progressive, intricate, and heavy stylings of Severed Angel on their excellent "Skyward" album!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with Severed Angel here:  https://youtu.be/5_OkWCt1FxE

Cheers and hails!!