October 31st, 2026 - An Impera Slasher

 

Hello, hails, and Happy Halloween my friends... the Meista here pairing another great craft brew with another great album!  I'm going with Ghost's wonderful "Impera" along with a bold, hoppy, and very tasty Voodoo Ranger Slasher IPA from the fine folks at New Belgium Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Ghost
• Title: "Impera"
• Recorded: April 2020 through July 2021 at Atlantis Metronome and Apmamman Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, and Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California
• Release date: March 11th, 2022 (5th studio album by Ghost)
• Record company: Loma Vista
• Production: Klas Åhlund
• Album cover art: Zbigniew Bielak
• Personnel: Tobias Forge aka Papa Emeritus IV (vocals, guitars, bass, and drums) and A Group of Nameless Ghouls (guitars, bass, drums, keyboards)
• Additional musicians: Fredrik Åkesson (guitars), Martin Hederos (piano and organ), and Hux Nettermalm (drums)
• Choir: Lita Åhlund, Alva Åkesson, Olivia Boman, Jade Ell, Estherlivia, Minou Forge, Ida Gratte, Ida Johansson, Inez Johansson, Anna Mosten, Elvira Nettermalm, and Johanna Eriksson Sanmark
• Musical style: Hard rock with elements of heavy metal, glam metal, progressive rock/metal, and pop
• Sound: Dark and dramatic, yet catchy and upbeat, "Impera" is a wonderfully rocking and melodic album with lots of influence from Blue Öyster Cult, Queen, Boston, Dio, Def Leppard, and even a little ABBA!  The music is complex, guitar driven, very 1970s! 
• Major themes: With songs about the rise and ultimate collapse of empires, themes on the album include death, war, destruction, corruption, doom, the occult, Satan, carpe diem, mortality, etc.
• Tracks:

1. "Imperium"
2. "Kaisarion"
3. "Spillways"
4. "Call Me Little Sunshine"
5. "Hunter's Moon"
6. "Watcher In The Sky"
7. "Dominion"
8. "Twenties"
9. "Darkness At The Heart Of My Love"
10. "Griftwood"
11. "Bite Of Passage"
12. "Respite On The Spitalfields"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Website: https://www.newbelgium.com/ 
• Brew: Voodoo Ranger Slasher IPA
• Style: Imperial India Pale Ale (IIPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 7.5%
• Ingredients: House Ale yeast, Pale and Caramel malts, and Centennial, Pahto, and Citra Incognito hops
• Pour: The Voodoo Ranger Slasher IPA pours a slightly cloudy, deep copper-amber hue with a frothy, off-white, 2+ finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate, and layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very citrusy, floral, herbal and malty.  There are aromas of tangerine, pink grapefruit, a hint of mango, wildflowers, roasted barley, bitter herbs, herbal tea, caramel, and a hint of booze.
• Taste: The taste of the Voodoo Ranger Slasher IPA follows the nose with lots of citrusy, punchy, hop-forward, fruit flavors.  There are big notes of grapefruit juice and tangerine along with more subtle notes of mango, light pineapple, black tea, white pepper, and caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the Voodoo Ranger Slasher IPA's mouthfeel is very crisp and juicy with a dry, slightly boozy, and slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The complex and bold, yet very crushable, very drinkable tastiness of the Voodoo Ranger Slasher IPA is perfect for an evening of rocking to the unique and fun music of Ghost!  The brighter citrus aromas and flavors go great with Papa's vocals, while the more herbal and biting hop notes go great with the richly textured musical passages and themes.  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

October 30th, 2026 - That Forbidden Electric Honey!

 

Hey there rebels, rockers, thrashers, and craft brew freaks!  Happy Friday!  Your drinkin' buddy the Meista here today with another great pairing for ya... the mighty Forbidden's triumphant return with the killer, brand new, self-titled album and a juicy and flavorful Electric Honey Juicy Pale Ale from SaltFire Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Forbidden
• Title: "Forbidden"
• Recorded: 2026 at Shark Bite Studios in Oakland, California 
• Release date: October 23rd, 2026 (6th full-length studio album by Forbidden)
• Record company: BLKIIBLK Records
• Production: Chris Kontos, Craig Locicero, and Zack Ohren
• Album cover art: Beto Ferris 
• Personnel: Matt Camacho (bass), Chris Kontos (drums), Craig Locicero (guitars), Norman Skinner (lead vocals), and Jeremy Von Epp (guitars)
• Guest musicians: Brann Dailor (vocals on "Sycophantasy") and Kayla Dixon (vocals on "The Burden" and "Flower Of Life (Chaos By Design)")
• Musical style: Thrash metal with elements of progressive metal, groove metal, and a touch of alternative metal
• Sound: The sound on "Forbidden" can be characterized as blistering thrash metal intertwined with wonderfully melodic metal and tight grooves.  It is fast, fiery, melodic, harmonious, full of adrenaline, and oh, so well balanced!  The album opens with the very powerful "Single Point Failure" that sets the stage for the intensity, fury, and depth of the entire album.  The individual musicians are really at the top of their game here... The fiery guitars and Skinner's acrobatic vocals soar over a wonderful tapestry of thunderous rhythms on each and every song!
• Major themes: Destruction, violence, politics, the end of everything, division, deception, corruption, greed, life and death, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Single Point Failure"
2. "Burning The Lungs Of Earth"
3. "Divided By Zero"
4. "DCLXVI"
5. "Psyclops"
6. "Jisei"
7. "Sirens" (bonus track)
8. "Mutually Assured Dysfunction"
   
9. "Sycophantasy"
10. "The Burden"
11. "Sol Grave"
12. "Flower Of Life (Chaos By Design)"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: SaltFire Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.saltfirebrewing.com/
• Brew: Electric Honey Juicy Pale Ale
• Style: New England Pale Ale / Hazy Pale Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Electric Honey Juicy Pale Ale pours a hazy, pale, straw-yellow hue with a with sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, fruity, floral, lightly bready, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, orange peel, fresh berries, wildflowers, honey, and sweet caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Electric Honey Juicy Pale Ale is bold, citrusy, somewhat bitter and hoppy, yet very drinkable.  There are notes of orange and lemon zest, grapefruit juice, strawberry, soft caramel, freshly baked wheat bread, and light pine.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Electric Honey Juicy Pale Ale is crisp with a slightly bitter and dry finish.

Overall pairing: The SaltFire Electric Honey Juicy Pale Ale is a very crushable and good offering of the style... great to pair with the intensity and heavy metal punch that is the mighty Forbidden!  Those hoppier notes go great with the darker lyrics and aggressive vibe, while the crushable juiciness is great for the overall metal attack!  'Nuff said!

And make sure to check out my interview from several years ago with Forbidden guitarist and founder Craig Locicero here: https://youtu.be/cVGnHZtPtAk .  And my interview from several years ago with Forbidden vocalist Normand Skinner here: https://youtu.be/KkM9mmlAxRk.

Forbidden is out touring right now with Heathen and Void!  Definitely catch this show if you can... absolutely fantastic performances!!!

Cheers and hails!! 

October 28th, 2026 - Falling Leaves Under a Frozen Sun

 

Hey there metal maniacs and craft beer lovers!  The Meista here today rocking out to a pairing of "Under A Frozen Sun", the wonderfully dark and infernal sophomore album by German extreme metal band Thulcandra and a delicious Falling Leaves Lager from the fine folks at Fisher Brewing Company!  Hells yes!


Album Info:

• Artist: Thulcandra
• Title: "Under A Frozen Sun"
• Recorded: January through April 2011 at Woodshed Studio in Landshut, Germany
• Release date: September 30th, 2011 (2nd studio album by Thulcandra)
• Record company: Napalm Records
• Production: V. Santura
• Album cover art: Kristian "The Necrolord" Wåhlin 
• Personnel: Steffen Kummerer (lead, rhythm, and acoustic guitars, and vocals), Sebastian Ludwig (lead, rhythm, and acoustic guitars, and backing vocals), Tobias Ludwig (bass), and Seraph (drums)
• Guest musicians: Peter Huss (lead guitar on "Gates Of Eden") and V. Santura (lead guitar on "Ritual Of Sight", "Aeon Of Darkness", and "Echoing Voices (A Cold Breeze of Death)")
• Musical style: Melodic black metal, death metal
• Sound: With heavy influence from Dissection, with "Under A Frozen Sun", Thulcandra creates a heavy, yet atmospheric blast of frozen and blackened metal straight from the depths of Hell!  The tracks here are as uncompromising as they are profoundly intense... killer stuff!
• Major themes: Death, darkness, evil, the occult, Satan, violence, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "In Blood And Fire"
2. "Black Flags Of Hate"
3. "Ritual Of Sight"
4. "Under A Frozen Sun"
5. "Aeon Of Darkness"
6. "Echoing Voices (A Cold Breeze of Death)"
7. "Gates Of Eden"
8. "Life Demise" (Unanimated cover)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.fisherbeer.com/
• Brew: Falling Leaves Lager
• Style: German Lager / Oktoberfest
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0% 
• Pour: The Falling Leaves pours a clear, deep copper hue with a thin, off-white head with good retention and lacing.
• Nose: The nose is malty, bready, grainy, and slightly grassy.  There are aromas of toasted barley, crackery biscuit, light grassy hops, cereal grains, and a splash of honey. 
• Taste: The taste of the Fallen Leaves follows the nose with lots of malty, light grassy, and hearty bready flavors.  There are notes of toasted barley, biscuit, hearty bread, light herbs, and hints of soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is very smooth and crisp with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The easy-drinking malty flavors of Fisher's Falling Leaves Lager is a great foil for the blackened heaviness of Thulcandra's excellent sophomore effort, "Under A Frozen Sun"!  

Prost!  Hails!

October 26th, 2026 - A Dark, Damp Asylum

 

Hello there metal heads and artisan beer freaks!  I took the day off of work, so here's a pairing!  The Meista here today rocking out to "Dark Asylum", the most recent album from the mighty Kamelot and a tasty and crushable Damp 26.05 Fresh Hop West Coast Pils from Offset Bier Company!  Hell yeah!!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Kamelot
• Title: "Dark Asylum" 
• Recorded: 
• Release date: August 28th, 2026 (14th studio album by Kamelot)
• Record company: Napalm Records
• Production: Sascha Paeth and Kamelot
• Album cover art: Péter Sallai
• Personnel: Tommy Karevik (vocals), Alex Landenburg (drums), Oliver Palotai (keyboards), Sean Tibbetts (bass), Thomas Youngblood (guitars)
• Additional musicians: Clémentine Delauney (vocals on "Sanctuary"), Ignacia Fernández (vocals on "Ashen World" and "Sanctuary"), Lea-Sophie Fischer (violin on "Beneath the Moon (Tunglið)"), Kiara Huber (vocals on "Dark Asylum"), Billy King (backing choir vocals), Sólveig Sara Leupold (vocals on "Beneath the Moon (Tunglið)"), Miro (strings on "Ivy, My Dear"), Sascha Paeth (additional guitars), Kobra Paige (vocals on "Ivy, My Dear"), Tobias Sammet (vocals on "One Last Masquerade"), and Rannveig Sif Sigurðardóttir (vocals on "Beneath the Moon (Tunglið)")
• Musical style: Melodic power metal, progressive metal, symphonic metal, gothic metal
• Sound: Emotive, bombastic, complex, polished, and totally engaging, Kamelot's latest album continues the evolution of the band's sound with singer Karevik.  Youngblood's fiery guitar work tears and shreds, Palotai's keys soar, Tibbetts and Landenburg hammer out a rhythm of tribal power, and Kaverik's amazing vocal acrobatics just get better and better with each album!  The guest vocals of the amazing Delauney, Fernández, Paige, and Sammet add another level of depth and power!
• Major themes: A concept album of sorts with songs about imprisoning oneself, themes on "Dark Asylum" include darkness, insanity, fear, emotional torture, sorrow, pain, deception, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Sanctorium"
2. "Ashen World"
3. "Dark Asylum"
4. "Sanctuary"
5. "Nocte Veritas"
6. "One Last Masquerade"
7. "Ivy, My Dear"
8. "Godlike Alchemy"
9. "The Sleeping Mind (Orphic Paradigm)"
10. "Kaleidoscope"
11. "Enigma (Think of Me)"
12. "Cassandra’s Disease"
13. "Beneath the Moon (Tunglið)"
14. "The Puppet King"
15. "Sanctum Requiem"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Offset Bier Company (Park City, Utah)
• Website: https://offsetbier.com/
• Brew: Damp 26.05 Fresh Hop West Coast Pils
• Style: Fresh Hop West Coast Pilsner
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: Cryo Fresh Krush and Manilita hops from Freestyle Farms and Simcoe hops from TV hops
• Pour: The Damp 24.05 pours a clear, bright golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, 1+ finger head with good sustain and lots of sticky, intricate spider web lacing. 
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, fruity, grassy, and bready.  There are aromas of kiwi, fresh green hops, light pine resin, and light, crackery biscuit.
• Taste: The taste is like the nose: fruity, citrusy, hoppy, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of kiwi, orange peel and pith, dank pine, grassy, green hops, light tart berry, and crackery malts.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Damp 26.05 is very crisp, yet soft and smooth with a dry, clean, and slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Damp 26.05 is a complex, punchy, and delicious brew... perfect for the power, intensity, intricacies, and overall depth of Kamelot's amazing "Dark Asylum"!  Those bright, fresh hop notes make a great foil to the dark themes and feel of the album, while the lighter biscuit notes go great with the wonderful vocals, soaring guitars, and keys!

Cheers and hails!!

October 25th, 2026 - A Cosmic Autumn Rebellion in a Realm of Chaos

 

Hello headbangers and craft brew fanatics, and a very happy Sunday to you!  With Halloween just around the corner, your drinking pal the Meista is here today rocking out to Bolt Thrower's classic sophomore album "Realm Of Chaos" and a festive Cosmic Autumn Rebellion Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Ale from the fine folks at Roosters Brewing Company!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Bolt Thrower
• Title: "Realm Of Chaos"
• Recorded: April 1989 at Loco Studios in Llanhennock, Gwent, Wales 
  Release date: October 28th, 1989 (2nd full-length studio album by Bolt Thrower)
• Record company: Earache Records
• Production: Dig (aka Digby Pearson)
• Album cover art: John Sibbick (artwork) and Mark Craven (band logo)
• Personnel: Jo Bench (bass), Barry "Baz" Thompson (guitars), Gavin Ward (guitars), Andrew Whale (drums), and Karl Willetts (vocals)
• Musical style: Death metal
• Sound: Characterized by the band's powerfully aggressive and thunderous sonic attack and Willetts' distinct and emotive growls, with the tracks on "", Bolt Thrower further solidified their dominance in the death metal world.  It remains an all-time favorite of mine to this day! 
• Major themes: Destruction, death, war, violence, disease, injustice, evil, insanity, vengeance, power, dark fantasy and sci-fi, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Intro"
2. "Eternal War"
3. "Through The Eye Of Terror"
4. "Dark Millennium"
5. "All That Remains"
6. "Lost Souls Domain"
7. "Plague Bearer"
8. "World Eater"
9. "Drowned In Torment"
10. "Realm Of Chaos"
11. "Outro"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Roosters Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://www.roostersbrewingco.com/
• Brew: Cosmic Autumn Rebellion Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Ale
• Style: Pumpkin Beer
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 12
• Pour: The Cosmic Autumn Rebellion pours a hazy bronze-amber hue with a frothy, 2-finger, light beige head with great retention and lots of sticky, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is vegetal, earthy, spicy, and sweet.  There are aromas of freshly cut pumpkin, dark chocolate, cocoa, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, cookie dough, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste follows the nose with lots of freshly baked pumpkin chocolate chip cookie flavor.  There are notes of pumpkin, spice cake, dark chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, and a hint of spicy booze.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Cosmic Autumn Rebellion is smooth with a spicy, somewhat dry finish.

Overall pairing: The Roosters Cosmic Autumn Rebellion is a very flavorful, drinkable, and complex brew of epic proportions... right in line with the metal intensity of Bolt Thrower!   Those spicy and sweet flavors and aromas go great with the fiery guitars, thunderous rhythms, and aggressive vocals!!  'Nuff said!

If you haven't done so already, check out my interview with Karl Willetts from July 2021: https://youtu.be/M_7b5UtZPLM

Cheers and hails!!  Raise your fists and raise your pints!!

October 24th, 2026 - Return of the Spectral Sweet Rider

 

Hey there headbangers and craft brew lovers!  Your drinking buddy the Meista is here this evening with another great pairing for ya... I'm rocking the hell out with another great pairing for ya... I'm headbanging to "Return Of The Spectral Rider", kick-ass 3rd album by the mighty Ravage and a Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPA from New Belgium Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Ravage
• Title: "Return Of The Spectral Rider"
• Recorded: 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts
• Release date: May 26th, 2017 (3rd full-length studio album by Ravage)
• Record company: Society for World Wide Ravage
• Production: Eli Firicano with Ravage
• Album cover art: Tim Jacobus
• Personnel: Alec "Al Ravage" Firicano (vocals), Eli Joe Firicano (guitars), Tommy Grimaldi (bass), Nick Izzo (guitars), and Derek Jay (drums)
• Guest musicians: George "GTB" Bellofatto Jr. (drums on "Whyvern" and "Wake The Dead", narration on "The Wasteland", and backing vocals), Tony "The Metal Duke" Canillas (backing vocals), Amber Newberry Izzo (backing vocals), Bassil Silver-Hajo (drums on "Spectral Rider"), and Yianni Tranxidis (drums on "Turn The Screw" and "Masque Of Black Death")
• Musical style: Heavy metal, speed metal, power metal
• Sound: Characterized by wonderfully crushing guitar riffs, soaring solos, thunderous drums and bass, and Al Ravage's district and powerful vocals, the sound on "Return Of The Spectral Rider" is pure, traditional, kick-ass American metal!
• Major themes: Destruction, darkness, evil, horror, death, , etc.
• Tracks: 
1. "Dies Irae"
2. "Spectral Rider"
3. "Turn The Screw"
4. "The Wicked Way"
5. "Masque Of Black Death"
6. "Ravage Part 1: Damage"
7. "Whyvern"
8. "Wake The Dead"
9. "The Wasteland"
10. "Curse Of Heaven"
11. "Bring Down The Hellhammer"
12. "The Kingdom Forgotten"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Website: https://www.newbelgium.com/ 
• Brew: Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPA
• Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.5%
• IBUs: 25
• Ingredients: Sabro, Lotus, Strata, and HBC 522 hops, and Pale Malt, Oats, and Wheat malts
• Pour: The Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPA pours a hazy, golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, 2+ finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate, and layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very citrusy, floral, sweet, and slightly malty.  There are aromas of fresh squeezed orange juice, tangerine, pink grapefruit, mango, fresh peach, wildflowers, caramel, and a hint of booze.
• Taste: The taste of the Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPAA follows the nose with lots of citrusy, juicy, punchy, and hop-forward fruit flavors.  There are big notes of orange, tangerine, mango, and peach, along with more subtle notes of pineapple, pink grapefruit juice, and sweet caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPA's mouthfeel is very crisp and very juicy with a dry, slightly boozy, and sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPA is a very crushable, somewhat sweet, and flavorful brew that is a perfect companion to the rockin' metal onslaught that is the mighty Ravage's "Return Of The Spectral Rider"!  Those biting hops go great with the darker thematic elements of the album's lyrics and rhythms, while the brighter, sweeter elements go great with the fiery guitars and soaring vocals!  'Nuff said!

And if you haven't done so already, check out my interview with the very cool Al Ravage!  You can access it here: https://youtu.be/wJ7kukDRq6c

Cheers and hails!!  Rock on!!

October 24th, 2026 - Fresh Cycles of Pain... and Hops

 

Greetings rockers, rollers, headbangers and craft beer freaks!  Happy Saturday!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here rocking the hell out to a pairing of "Cycles Of Pain", the most recent album by the mighty Angra and a bright and hoppy Fresh Hop IPA from the fine folks at Fisher Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Angra
• Title: "Cycles Of Pain"
• Recorded: 2023 at Sonastério and Elephant Office
  Release date: November 3rd, 2023 (10th full-length studio album by Angra)
• Record company: Atomic Fire Records / Voice Music
• Production: Dennis Ward
• Album cover art: Erick Pasqua (artwork) and Jonathan Canuto (design, layout, and additional artwork)
• Personnel: Felipe Andreoli (bass and additional rhythm guitar), Marcelo Barbosa (guitars), Rafael Bittencourt (guitars, piano, and vocals), Fabio Lione (lead vocals), and Bruno Valverde (drums and percussion)
• Guest musicians: Bruno Alves (piano on "Tide Of Changes - Part II"), Juliana D'Agostini (piano on "Tears Of Blood"), Ronaldo "Cordas" de Oliveira (additional orchestration on ""Vida Seca"), Nando Fernandes (choir vocals on "Ride Into The Storm"), Alexey Kurkdjian (orchestration), Lenine (vocals on "Vida Seca"), Roger Lima (keyboards), Fernanda Lira (choir vocals on "Ride Into The Storm"), Kiko Loureiro (guitar on "Here in the Now" (Vanessa Moreno version)), Caio MacBeserra (choir vocals on "Ride Into The Storm"), Guga Machado (percussion), Nei Medeiros (keyboards on "Tears Of Blood"), Karina Menascé (backing vocals and choir vocals on "Ride Into The Storm"), Tefo Mion (choir vocals on "Cyclus Doloris"), Turí Mion (choir vocals), Vanessa Moreno (vocals on "Tide Of Changes - Part II" and "Here In The Now"), Marcello Pompeu (backing vocals), May Puertas (choir vocals on "Ride Into The Storm"), Angel Sberse (choir vocals on "Ride Into The Storm"), Amanda Somerville (vocals on "Tears Of Blood"), and Antonio Teoli (keyboards and orchestration)
• Musical style: Progressive metal, power metal
• Sound: Characterized by soaring and fiery dual guitars by Bittencourt and Barbos, Andreoli's and Valverde's powerful rhythm work, and Lione's incredible and beautiful vocal acrobatics, Angra's "Cycles Of Pain" is a true progressive power metal classic!  
• Major themes: Life, death, pain, sorrow, growth, change, resolution, redemption, time, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Cyclus Doloris"
2. "Ride Into The Storm"
3. "Dead Man On Display"
4. "Tide Of Changes - Part I"
5. "Tide Of Changes - Part II"
6. "Vida Seca"
7. "Gods Of The World"
8. "Cycles Of Pain"
9. "Faithless Sanctuary"
10. "Here In The Now"
11. "Generation Warriors"
12. "Tears Of Blood"
13. "Here in the Now" (Vanessa Moreno version)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.fisherbeer.com/
• Brew: Fresh Hop IPA
• Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.5%
• Ingredients: Idaho 7 hops
• Pour: The Fresh Hop IPA pours a clear, golden amber hue with a billowy and frothy, bright white, half-finger head with good sustain and lots of sudsy, sticky, and layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by citrusy, floral, earthy, and herbal hops, and more subtle sweeter malts.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, herbal tea, wet pine needles, wildflowers, grassy hops, and more subtle aromas of doughy bread, toasted malts, and soft, sweet caramel/toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Fresh Hop IPA follows the nose with citrusy, earthy, and herbal flavors along with crackery maltiness.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, light pine resin, black tea, crackery biscuit, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, slightly bitter, yet smooth with a dry, bitter finish

Overall pairing: The bold, refreshing, and intricate flavors and aromas of Fisher's Fresh Hop IPA go great with the emotive intensity, fiery riffs, soaring vocals and guitar solos, and the thunderous rhythm section of "Cycles Of Pain"!  This is one of my favorite beers Fisher releases each year in late summer / early fall.  And I think it makes a nice companion to the immortal Angra!  'Nuff said! 

Make sure to check out my interview with Angra guitarist and founding member Rafael Bittencourt from several years ago here: https://brewsandtunes.blogspot.com/2018/10/october-6th-2018-interview-with-angras_6.html

Saude and hails!!