January 23rd, 2021 - Perpetual Imperial Pink Chaos

Boa noite evildoers, headbangers, and craft brew lovers!  The Meista here tonight rocking the hell out with another pairing for ya.... "Perpetual Chaos" the brand spanking new album by Brazilian bad-ass thrashers Nervosa and a tasty Imperial Pink Ale from Epic Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Nervosa
• Title: "Perpetual Chaos"
• Recorded: 2020 at Artesonao Casa de Grabación Studio in Malaga, Spain
• Release date: January 22nd, 2021 (4th full-length studio album by Nervosa)
• Record company: Napalm Records
• Production: Prika Amaral and Martin Furia 
• Album cover art: Abrar Ajmal 
• Personnel: Prika Amaral (guitars), Eleni Nota (drums), Diva Satanica (vocals), and Mia Wallace (bass) 
• Guest musicians: Erik A.K. (vocals on "Rebel Soul"), Guilherme Miranda (guitar on "Until The Very End"), and Schmier (vocals on "Genocidal Command") 
• Musical style: Thrash metal with elements of death metal and black metal
• Sound: The sound on "Perpetual Chaos" is unapologetically fast, aggressive, and steeped in classic thrash, death, and black metal, but with a fresh, modern, and relevant vibe.  Amaral's riffs and solos are a thing of brutal beauty layered on top of powerful, machine gun fire rhythmic tapestries by Nota and Wallace, while Satanica wails and growls like an infernal banshee!  Simply put, this album shreds!!
• Major themes: Chaos, death, destruction, evil, darkness, the occult, rebellion, the apocalypse, revolution, etc.
• Tracks:  
1. "Venomous"
2. "Guided By Evil"
3. "People Of The Abyss"
4. "Perpetual Chaos"
5. "Until The Very End"
6. "Genocidal Command"
7. "Kings Of Domination"
8. "Time To Fight"
9. "Godless Prisoner"
10. "Blood Eagle"
11. "Rebel Soul"
12. "Pursued By Judgement"
13. "Under Ruins"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Epic Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.epicbrewing.com/
• Brew: Imperial Pink Ale
• Style: Imperial Red India Pale Ale (IPA) / Double IPA (DIPA)
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 8.0% 
• Ingredients: Pink Boots special hop blend
• Pour: The Imperial Pink Ale pours a clear dark amber / ruby red hue with a creamy and billowy, off-white, 1+ finger head with great retention and lots of intricate, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by fruity, hoppy, sweet, and slightly funky elements.  There are aromas of grapefruit, tangerine, dried apricot, mango, fresh berries, light pine resin, a hint of Brett, and soft caramel.
• Taste: I was a little worried about this one.  I bought it about six months ago and forgot I had it until just the other day.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that it hadn't oxidized and was still filled with hoppy flavor.  The taste follows the nose with lots of citrusy, fruity, funky, and malty flavors.  There are notes of tangerine, orange, mango, raspberry, strawberry, dried apricot, white wine, a little Brett, sweet biscuit, caramel, and a little pine as well.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the is rather crisp, juicy, and a little funky with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: I put together this pairing for two simple reasons: the flavor/sound combination compliment each other quite well and I liked the idea of pairing a kick-ass all female band with a tasty beer brewed exclusively by women.  Epic's Imperial Pink Ale is a very complex, punchy, and flavorful ale that demands your full attention... a perfect companion to the thrash metal onslaught that is the mighty Nervosa!  Those big, bold, hoppy notes go great with the intricate guitar work and musical prowess of the band, while the sweetness, bitterness, and slightly boozy bite go great with the more aggressive passages!  

Saude and hails headbangers!!  Keep it craft and keep it heavy!  Learn more about the Pink Boots Society at https://www.pinkbootssociety.org/.