October 19th, 2024 - Who's Whoo in the Yesterwynde

 

Hyvää iltaa my friends!  Happy Saturday!  The Meister here pairing "Yesterwynde", the latest from the amazing Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish and a tasty and bold Who's Whoo Hazy IPA from Mother Earth Brew Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Nightwish
• Title: "Yesterwynde" 
• Recorded: August through November 2023 at Röskö Campsite in Kitee, Finland, Paha Pajari in Kitee, Finland, Petrax Studios in Hollola, Finland, Studio Dahl in Brastad, Sweden, Troykington Castle in North Yorkshire, England, and Abbey Road in London, England
• Release date: September 20th, 2024 (10th studio album by Nightwish)
• Record company: Nuclear Blast
• Production: Tuomas Holopainen and Tero Kinnunen
• Album cover art: Pete Voutilainen
• Personnel: Troy Donockley (Uilleann pipes, low whistle, guitars, bouzouki, bodhrán, aerophone, and vocals), Kai Hahto (drums and percussion), Tuomas Holopainen (keyboards), Floor Jansen (lead vocals), Jukka Koskinen (bass), and Emppu Vuorinen (guitars)
• Additional guest musicians: The Children of 'Ata Choir, Children's Choir, the Sepian Voices, and the Sepian Orchestra
• Musical style: Symphonic metal, power metal, folk metal, gothic metal, progressive metal
• Sound: Bombastic, melodic, cinematic, poetic, orchestral, symphonic, pastoral - just a few of the terms used to describe the complex sound of Nightwish on the wonderful "Yesterwynde".  Jansen's huge vocal range is both beautiful and mesmerizing and the band is as tight as ever, bringing a wonderful depth and originality to their presentation along with the incorporation of the ... stunning! 
• Major themes: Humanity, history, inspiration, empathy, love, altruism, passion, mystery, etc.  Holopainen described that album's themes as dealing with the feeling of time, history, memory, and being connected to past generations, who have "all had their lives, their ups and downs, and they don't exist anymore, except as atoms scattered all over the universe. And we're going to be in that state pretty soon as well. So that should give you something to think about."
• Tracks: 

1. "Yesterwynde"
2. "An Ocean Of Strange Islands"
3. "The Antikythera Mechanism"
4. "The Day Of..."
5. "Perfume Of The Timeless"
6. "Sway"
7. "The Children Of 'Ata"
8. "Something Whispered Follow Me"
9. "Spider Silk"
10. "Hiraeth"
11. "The Weave"
12. "Lanternlight"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Mother Earth Brew Company (Vista, California)
• Website: http://motherearthbrewco.com/
• Brew: Who's Whoo Hazy IPA
• Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.2%
• IBUs: 50
• Ingredients: Idaho 7, Citra, and Mosaic hops
• Pour: The Who's Whoo Hazy IPA pours a very hazy, opaque, bright golden orange/yellow hue with a thin, off-white head with and light lacing.
• Nose: Fruit forward, the nose is tropical, citrusy, floral, dank, slightly nutty, and malty.  It is chalk full of notes of grapefruit rind, tangerine, orange zest, stone fruit (peach and apricot), passionfruit, pineapple, mango, guava, blueberry, light pine resin, cracked wheat, soft caramel malt, and a hint of booze.
• Taste: The taste of the Who's Whoo Hazy IPA follows the nose with floral and dank hops, citrus, tropical fruit, and sweet malt flavors.  There are big notes of mango, passionfruit, grapefruit juice, orange juice and zest, tangerine, pineapple, peach, guava, blueberry, pine, and a little booze with a strong, malty backbone.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Who's Whoo Hazy IPA is crisp and juicy, yet somewhat thick, with a soft, creamy, and smooth finish

Overall pairing: The bold and complex flavors of the Mother Earth's Who's Whoo Hazy IPA are the perfect listening companion to the bombastic and beautiful symphonic metal stylings of Nightwish's "Yesterwynde"!  'Nuff said!

Maljanne!!