December 29th, 2016 - Living On The Edge With Diamond Head

Good evening!  The Meista here tonight rocking out with the self-titled and latest from NWOBHM legends Diamond Head and an Edge IPA from the Edge Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Diamond Head
• Title: "Diamond Head"
• Recorded: 2015 at Vigo Studio in London, England
  Release date: April 22nd, 2016 (7th studio album by Diamond Head)
• Record company: Dissonance Productions
• Production: Diamond Head
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Andy Abberley (rhythm and lead guitars), Rasmus Bom Andersen (vocals), Eddie "Chaos" Moohan (bass), Brian Tatler (lead and rhythm guitars), and Karl Wilcox (drums)
• Musical style: Heavy metal
• Sound: This is it... that classic Diamond Head sound, but with bite!  There are massive riffs, powerful vocals, wonderful melodies, and intense solos!
• Major themes: living on the edge, darkness, good and evil, power, misery, murder, life and death, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Bones"
2. "Shout At The Devil"
3. "Set My Soul On Fire"
4. "See You Rise"
5. "All The Reasons You Live"
6. "Wizards Sleeve"
7. "Out Time Is Now"
8. "Speed"
9. "Blood On My Hands"
10. "Diamonds"
11. "Silence"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Edge Brewing Company (Boise, Idaho)
• Website: http://www.edgebrew.com/
• Brew: Edge IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.0%
• IBUs: 61
• Ingredients: 2 Row, Crystal, and Vienna malts with Galena, Lemon Drop, Falconer’s Light, and Centennial hops
• Pour: The Edge IPA pours a hazy golden amber with a frothy, 2-finger, off-white head with great retention and intricate and sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, earthy, floral, herbal, and malty.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, lemon zest, fresh wild flowers, bitter herbs, black tea, and sweet caramel.
• Taste: The taste is characterized by citrus and floral hops with a strong malt backbone.  There are notes of pink grapefruit, tangerine, mango, pineapple, lemon zest, bready malt, sweet caramel, and black pepper.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Edge IPA is crisp and refreshing with a somewhat dry and bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The punchy, hoppy, and malty flavors and nose of the Edge IPA from Edge Brewing is great for the straight-forward, heavy metal rockin' goodness of Diamond Head's latest kick-ass album!  Those bold hop flavors work really well with the intensity, power, and brilliance of each and every track on this album!  I highly recommend picking up a copy of the album and a bottle of the IPA!!

Cheers and hails!!