April 12th, 2018 - Sweet Dreams For The Shadow Theory

Hello there!  The Meista here today rocking out to "The Shadow Theory", the amazing brand-new album from Kamelot and a Sweet Dreams Imperial Porter from Shades Of Pale Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!!  And although he doesn't drink, this pairing goes out to friend and fan of the page Rod Johnson!  Cheers buddy!

Album Info:

• Artist: Kamelot
• Title: "The Shadow Theory" (Digipak Edition)
• Recorded: 2017 in Wolfsburg, Germany
• Release date: April 6th, 2018 (12th studio album by Kamelot)
• Record company: Napalm Records
• Production: Sascha Paeth and Kamelot
• Album cover art: Stefan Heilemann
• Personnel: Tommy Karevik (vocals), Johan Nunez (drums), Oliver Palotai (keyboards), Sean Tibbetts (bass), Thomas Youngblood (guitars)
• Additional musicians: Jennifer Haben (vocals), Lauren Hart (vocals), Sascha Paeth (additional guitars and keys, and growls on "The Proud and the Broken")
• Choir: Annie Berens, Oliver Hartmann, Herbie Langhans, Evelyn Mank, Nadine Ruch, Cloudy Yang, and Thomas Dalton Youngblood
• Musical style: Melodic power metal, progressive metal, symphonic metal, gothic metal
• Sound: Emotive, bombastic, complex, 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 Nunez 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 Lauren Hart and Jennifer Haben add another level of depth and power!
• Major themes: A concept album of sorts with songs about an oppressive government in a dystopian future, themes on "The Shadow Theory" include rebellion, control, power, freedom, memory, darkness, sorrow, hope, etc.
• Tracks:   

Disc 1:

1. "The Mission"
2. "Phantom Divine (Shadow Empire)"
3. "RavenLight"
4. "Amnesiac"
5. "Burns To Embrace"
6. "In Twilight Hours"
7. "Kevlar Skin"
8. "Static"
9. "MindFall Remedy"
10. "Stories Unheard"
11. "Vespertine (My Crimson Bride)"
12. "The Proud And The Broken"
13. "Ministrium (Shadow Key)"

Disc 2:

1. "Phantom Divine (Shadow Empire)" (instrumental version)
2. "RavenLight" (instrumental version)
3. "Amnesiac" (instrumental version)
4. "Burns To Embrace" (instrumental version)
5. "Kevlar Skin" (instrumental version)
6. "The Proud And The Broken" (instrumental version)
7. "The Last Day Of Sunlight" (bonus track)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Shades Of Pale Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://shadesofpale.com/
• Brew: Sweet Dreams Imperial Porter
• Style: Imperial Porter
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 9.5% 
• Pour: The Sweet Dreams pours a deep, dark brown (almost ink black) with a creamy, half-finger mocha head that dissipates to the thin ring.
• Nose: The nose is rich, earthy, sweet, malty, and smoky.  There are aromas of dark roasted malts, dark roasted coffee, light fresh cream, dark chocolate, coffee, and liquid smoke. 
• Taste: The taste of the Sweet Dreams is .  There are notes of dark roasted malts, rich and bitter coffee, anise, liquid smoke, and burnt toffee, which really do a good job of hiding the boozy ABV.  As the beer warms it becomes sweeter.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with lower carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Sweet Dreams is sticky, thick, and with a dry, slightly bitter, sweet, and smoky finish.

Overall pairing: The Sweet Dreams Imperial Porter from Shades Of Pale is dark, complex, rich, and delicious brew... perfect for the power, intensity, intricacies, and overall depth of Kamelot's amazing "The Shadow Theory"!  Those big, smoky and earthy notes go great with the dark themes and feel of the album, while the sweeter notes go great with the wonderful vocals!

I picked up "The Shadow Theory" from my buddy Kevin at the Heavy Metal Shop (www.heavymetalshop.com) this past weekend... and you should too!!

Cheers and hails!!