January 25th, 2026 - Is it My Outer Space Death? At Least I Have an Original Schlüssel Altbier!

 

Guten tag and hails thrashers and hop heads!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here just back from Europe and rocking the hell out today to "Outer Space Death", a killer compilation album of live and studio recordings from the "Interstellar Experience" sessions from the very underrated German thrash metal band Assassin and a delicious Original Schlüssel Altbier from Hausbrauerei Zum Schlüssel!  Hells yeah!!  And a HUGE thank you to Robert Gonnella for both the beer and the CD, and for hanging out with me and my wife in Düsseldorf!!  PROST brother!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Assassin
• Title: "Outer Space Death"
• Recorded: 1987 in Germany
  Release date: August 8th, 2025 (3rd official compilation album by Assassin)
• Record company: High Roller Records
• Production: Assassin (original album recordings produced by Harris Johns)
• Album cover art: Alexander Von Weiding
• Personnel: Robert Gonnella (vocals), Michael Hoffmann (guitars), Markus "Lulle" Ludwig (bass), Frank Nellen (drums), and Dinko Vekić (guitars)
• Musical style: Thrash metal, speed metal
• Sound: Fast, aggressive, and raw, this is true, classic Teutonic thrash at its best! 
• Major themes: Space travel, science fiction, violence, war, death, survival, politics, rebellion, food, humor, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Junk Food"
2. "Abstract War"
3. "Damned World"
4. "A Message To Survive"
5. "Resolution 588"
6. "A.G.D."
7. "Pipeline"
8. "Interstellar Experience"
9. "Strange World" (Rehearsal 1987)
10. "A Message To Survive" (Rehearsal 1987)
11. "Junk Food" (Rehearsal 1987)
12. "Interstellar Experience" (Rehearsal 1987)
13. "Resolution 588" (Rehearsal 1987)
14. "Abstract War" (Instrumental Version Rehearsal 1987)
15. "Junk Food" (Live Lambsheim 1987)
16. "Abstract War" (Live Lambsheim 1987)
17. "A Message To Survive" (Live Lambsheim 1987)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Hausbrauerei Zum Schlüssel (Düsseldorf, Germany)
• Website: https://www.zumschluessel.de/en/
• Brew: Original Schlüssel Altbier 
• Style: German Altbier 
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Original Schlüssel Altbier pours a clear chestnut-mahogany amber with a very frothy, 2+ finger, eggshell white, head with great retention and lots of sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is toasty, nutty, and malty.  There are aromas of toasted multi-grain bread, roasted hazelnuts, roasted walnuts, herbal tea, German hops, dark chocolate, and sweet toffee/caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Original Schlüssel Altbier presents a wonderfully balanced blend of bready, nutty, and malty flavors.  There are notes of roasted malts, dark toasted bread, roasted walnuts, black tea, burnt toffee, bitter herbs, and a hint of cocoa. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, yet very smooth with a dry, nutty, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The complex, yet very inviting flavors and aromas of the Original Schlüssel Altbier are perfect for the thrash metal punch and high energy of Assassin!  Those darker aromas and flavors are great for the straightforward rocking depth, while the sweeter malt notes are great for the fast, melodic rhythms and vocal prowess!

Make sure to check out with my interview with ex-Assassin vocalist Robert Gonnella from a couple of years ago here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfX-gk0ONX4&t=1s

Prost and hails!!