December 28th, 2014 - Some Anonymous Headspace For The SilverSpot

Good afternoon!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here with another rockin' pairing for you on this snowy Sunday day here in SLC... "I Am Anonymous" by Headspace and a Silverspot IPA from Pelican Brewing Company!  This pairing goes out to my buddy Jeff... cheers Jeff!

Album Info:

• Artist: Headspace
• Title: "I Am Anonymous"
• Release date: May 22nd, 2012 (debut album by the band)
• Record company: Inside Out Music/Century Media Records
• Personnel:  Richard "Rock" Brook - drums, Lee Pomeroy - bass, Pete Rinaldi - guitars, Adam Wakeman - keyboards, and Damian Wilson - vocals
• Major themes: According to the band, the album is mainly about "you [the listener] and your relationship with humanity, ultimately the battles fought within the mind from child to man."  Politics, religion, war, violence, suffering all play major roles in the thematic presentation.  The Kübler-Ross model, or the five stages of grief plays a prevalent part in the thematic ideas on the album as well. 
• Musical style: Progressive metal/progressive rock
• Sound: Compelling, engaging, thoughtful, and intricate melodies, hooks, and riffs.  According to keyboardist Adam Wakeman, the album is a "heavily guitar oriented record. That wasn’t the intention, but [Rinaldi] is a killer guitar player, and the album just evolved the way it did."
• Notes: Lee Pomeroy plays bass for It Bites.  Pete Rinaldi is the former lead guitarist of Hot Leg.  Adam Wakeman plays keyboards for Ozzy Osbourne.  He is also the son of legendary keyboardist Rick Wakeman of Yes fame.  Damian Wilson is the lead singer for Threshold and also performs with Star One. 
• Tracks:

1. "Stalled Armageddon"
2. "Fall Of America"
3. "Soldier"
4. "Die With a Bullet"
5. "In Hell's Name"
6. "Daddy Fucking Loves You"
7. "Invasion"
8. "The Big Day"

 Brew Info:

• Brewery: Pelican Brewing Company
• Website: http://www.yourlittlebeachtown.com/pelican
• Brew: Silverspot IPA
• Style: English-Style India Pale Ale
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.0%
• IBUs: 55
• Pour: Clear, bright orange-copper hue (like a shiny new penny) with a rocky, half finger, off-white head that displays good lacing.
• Nose: Biscuity malts and herbal hops dominate the nose.  There are aromas of sweet caramel, fresh bread, summer grass, and orange.
• Taste: The taste follows the nose... malty, herbal, and somewhat piney.  There are notes of caramel, toffee, pine, herbal tea, lemon, and tangerine.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is smooth and Crisp with a little bitterness in the finish.

 Overall pairing: The complexity of the Silverspot IPA is a wonderful companion to the depth of Headspace's "I Am Anonymous" while the bitter sharpness from the hops highlights the darker elements of the albums lyrics and guitar work.
Cheers!!