August 30th, 2024 - Where Our Secrets Go... Into the Dark Corners of the Mind

 

Hey there metal maniacs and craft beer fans!  Happy Friday!  The Meista here today pairing the wonderful "The Dark Corners Of The Mind" by Question Of Madness and a bold and tasty Where Our Secrets Go Imperial Stout from Voodoo Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Question Of Madness
• Title: "The Dark Corners Of The Mind"
• Recorded: 2010 at Lux Inframundis Studios and Ensomberoom Studios
• Release date: December 2010 (1st full length studio album by Question Of Madness)
• Record company: Lux Inframundis Productions
• Production: Alfonso Polo
• Album cover art: Corchado
• Personnel: Corchado (synthesizers), Antonio León (drums), Alfonso Polo (guitars and bass), Albert Rybka (vocals), and Julio Viterbo (guitars)
• Musical style: Doom metal with elements of progressive metal and traditional heavy metal
• Sound: Heavy, complex, and engrossing, the sound on "The Dark Corners Of The Mind" is a rich tapestry of heavy doom metal with more ethereal and soaring elements of progressive/power metal.  Along with Rybka's emotive and wonderful vocals, the musical prowess of Question Of Madness makes for a powerful sonic journey!
• Major themes: Introspection, states of mind, insanity, solitude, darkness, sorrow, etc. 
• Tracks:  

1. "Introductorium"
2. "Hollow Caves"
3. "Rhymes Of Madness"
4. "Falling..."
5. "Waves Of Desperation"
6. "The Uninvited"
   
7. "Memories Of No One"
8. "When Light Turns Into Darkness"
9. "(False) Hope"
10. "The Waters Of Unreality"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Voodoo Brewing Company (Meadville, Pennsylvania)
• Website: https://www.voodoobrewery.com/
• Brew: Where Our Secrets Go Imperial Stout
• Style: Imperial Stout
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV:  9.0%
• Ingredients: Caramel and crystal malts with American hops
• Pour: The Where Our Secrets Go Imperial Stout pours a deep, dark brown (almost ink black) with a very thin, light mocha head that dissipates quickly, leaving only trace lacing. 
• Nose: The nose is roasty, toasty, malty, and boozy.  There are aromas of dark roasted coffee, dark chocolate, roasted walnuts, roasted malts, dark toasted bread, oak, hints of anise, bitter roots, burnt toffee, and rich bourbon.
• Taste: The taste is like the nose: malty, roasty, earthy, and bold.  There are notes of dark chocolate, hearty toasted bread, espresso, burnt toffee, and boozy bourbon.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with low carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Where Our Secrets Go Imperial Stout is thick, velvety, with a dry, boozy finish.

Overall pairing: With the intense heaviness of Question Of Madness, you need a brew that has complexity and big flavor!  Thus, the Where Our Secrets Go Imperial Stout from Voodoo Brewing Company!  The bold and earthy flavors of the brew are a great compliment to the doom style of the wonderful tracks on "The Dark Corners Of The Mind", while the sweeter, chocolaty and bourbon note go great with the soaring vocals and guitars!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with vocalist Albert Rybka here: https://youtu.be/TKEe9YjeB_w

Cheers!!  Hails!!