September 14th, 2019 - The Coffin Train

Good evening!  The Meista here tonight rocking out with "Coffin Train", the latest from NWOBHM pioneers Diamond Head and an Extra Pale Ale  from the Dillon Dam Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Diamond Head
• Title: "Coffin Train"
• Recorded: 2019 at Vigo Studios in Walsall, Circle Studios in Birmingham, and Raw Sound Studio in London
  Release date: May 24th, 2019 (8th studio album by Diamond Head)
• Record company: Silver Lining Music
• Production: Diamond Head
• Album cover art: Travis Smith
• Personnel: Andy Abberley (rhythm and lead guitars), Rasmus Bom Andersen (vocals), Dean Ashton (bass), Brian Tatler (lead guitars and backing vocals), and Karl Wilcox (drums)
• Additional personnel: Ian Cooke (voiceover on "The Sleeper (Prelude)")
• Musical style: Heavy metal with more subtle elements of power metal and thrash metal
• Sound: This is it my friends... that classic Diamond Head sound, but with a bigger bite!  There are massive riffs, powerful vocals, wonderful melodies, and intense and soaring solos on this wonderful album!
• Major themes: Darkness, death, life, mythology, violence, god-like power, rebirth, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Belly Of the Beast"
2. "The Messenger"
3. "The Coffin Train"
4. "Shades Of Black"
5. "The Sleeper (Prelude)"
6. "The Sleeper"
7. "Death By Design"
8. "Serrated Love"
9. "The Phoenix"
10. "Until We Burn"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: The Dillon Dam Brewery (Dillon, Colorado)
• Website: http://www.dambrewery.com/
• Brew: Extra Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.1%
• Pour: The Extra Pale Ale pours a deep copper-amber with a 1+ finger off-white head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate lacing throughout.
• Nose: The nose is hoppy, citrusy, floral, and malty.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, herbal tea, fresh herbs, wild flowers, fresh doughy bread, and sweet caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Extra Pale Ale is characterized by citrusy and floral hops along with sweeter and bready malts.  There are notes of grapefruit, tangerine, black tea, hints of rosemary or thyme, freshly baked multigrain bread, .
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full in body with moderate carbonation, the Extra Pale Ale's mouthfeel is crisp, yet hearty with a dry, somewhat bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The very drinkable, yet punchy hoppy and malty flavors of the Dillon Dam Extra Pale Ale is great for the straight-forward, heavy metal rockin' goodness of Diamond Head's latest kickass album, "Coffin Train"!  Those bold hop flavors and that solid malt backbone work really well with the intensity, power, and brilliance of each and every track on this wonderful album! 

Cheers and hails!!