July 30th, 2023 - It's A Partyup Palooza For The Hallowed!

 

Hello there metal maniacs and hopheads!  The Meista here today on this sunny Sunday afternoon pairing the wonderful "The Hallowed", the latest kick-ass studio album from American power metal pioneers Jag Panzer and a bright and citrusy Partyup Palooza NE-Style Hazy IPA from Revision Brewing Company!!  YES!!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Jag Panzer
• Title: "The Hallowed"
• Recorded: 2022 at Hound House Studios, Sonic Phish Productions, and SteamPunk Audio Labs; mixed at Morrissound Studios 
• Release date: June 23rd, 2023 (11th studio album by Jag Panzer)
• Record company: Atomic Fire Records
• Production: Mark Briody and Jag Panzer
• Album cover art: Dušan Marković (cover art), Yan Sek (monster illustrations), and Mark Briody (art direction)
• Personnel: Mark Briody (rhythm guitars, keyboards, and backing vocals), Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin (lead vocals), Ken Rodarte (lead guitars), Rikard Stjernquist (drums and backing vocals), and John Tetley (bass)
• Backing vocals: Earnie Godbee, Jeff Haddock, Marty Marlow, and Mason Simpson
• Musical style: Heavy metal, power metal, speed metal, hard rock
• Sound: Wow... where do I start?  This is American power metal in the grandest sense of the style!  The tracks blend multiple elements of heavy metal and hard rock with strong, heartfelt songwriting, rich melodies, soaring harmonies, and that focused and masterful musicianship Jag Panzer is known for!  In the tradition of Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, the dual shredding guitar work of Briody and Rodarte is soaring, paint-peeling, face-melting brilliance!  Their combined tone is perfect, and the soloing is mind blowing!  Conklin's vocals sound as fresh, powerful, and youthful as they did 30+ years ago!  His range is huge, honest, and awe-inspiring!  And the combined thunder of rhythm section Stjernquist and Tetley hold it all together with machine-gun fire aggression, passion, and precision!
• Major themes: A concept album about a post-apocalyptic future, told from the perspective of the animals, themes on the album include survival, strength, courage, violence, life and death, the battle of good vs. evil, life and death, hope, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Bound As One"
2. "Prey"
3. "Ties That Bind"
4. "Stronger Than You Know"
5. "Onward We Toil"
6. "Edge Of A Knife"
7. "Dark Descent"
8. "Weather The Storm"
9. "Renewed Flame"
10. "Last Rites"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Revision Brewing Company (Sparks, Nevada)
• Website: https://revisionbrewing.com/
• Brew: Partyup Palooza NE-Style Hazy IPA
• Style: New England-Style Hazy India Pale Ale (IPA) 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.0%
• IBUs: 38
• Ingredients: Citra, Mosaic, and Strata hops
• Pour: The Partyup Palooza pours a very cloudy golden-yellow with a frothy, bright white, half-finger head with good retention and lots of sudsy, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very tropical, citrusy, dank, and floral.  There are aromas of mango, tangerine, orange marmalade, peach lemon zest, herbal tea, wildflowers, coconut, light pine, and sweet caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Hop-forward, the taste of the Partyup Palooza is citrusy, fruity, bright, and malty.  There are notes of tangerine, orange marmalade, orange juice, lime, pink grapefruit juice, mango, peach, pineapple, guava, a hint of pine, and sweet caramel/toffee. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp and very juicy, yet creamy and smooth with a dry, sweet finish.

Overall pairing: Both the complexity of flavors and the overall punchiness of Revision's Partyup Palooza IPA work perfectly with the bombast, musical prowess, and metal integrity of Jag Panzer's brilliant "The Hallowed"!  As with the brew, the album provides its audience with sweet, bitter, and very complex notes.  I can't say enough about this album!  GET IT!!

And make sure to check out my interview with Jag Panzer guitarist Mark Briody here: https://youtu.be/S1E9YWvxZiI 

Cheers and hails!!