August 29th, 2023 - Hustling Outside The Spiral

 

Hello metal heads and artisan beer freaks!  The Meista is here today pairing "Outside The Spiral", the brand new, kick-ass debut album from Till The Dirt, which is the latest project from mastermind Kelly Shaefer of Atheist fame... and a bold and hoppy Hustle Double IPA from Fremont Brewing Company!  Oh, hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Till The Dirt
• Title: "Outside The Spiral"
• Recorded:  at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida
• Release date: August 25th, 2023 (1st full-length studio album by Till The Dirt)
• Record company: Nuclear Blast
• Production: Scott Burns and Kelly Shaefer
• Album cover art: Santiago Jaramillo 
• Personnel: Kelly Shaefer (lead vocals) with Steve DiGiorgio (bass on "Outside The Spiral"), Jeff Loomis (lead guitar on "Privilege") Chris Martin (lead and rhythm guitars), Daniel Martinez (lead and rhythm guitars), John Longstreth (drums on "Insist And Demand"), Anthony "Apollo" Medaglia (drums), Yoav Ruiz-Feingold (bass), and Kyle Sokol (bass on "The Good, The Bad, The Other")
• Musical style: Progressive death metal with elements of thrash metal, doom metal, experimental metal, grunge, alternative rock/metal, etc.
• Sound: Wonderfully complex, powerfully intense, and blending multiple genres and styles, the sound on "Outside The Spiral" is wholly unique and encompassing sonic experience!  As with anything Shaefer composes, the tracks on this album are intensely honest, compelling, and demanding artistically and emotionally.  Along with Schaefer's brilliant writing and powerful vocals, the musicianship and production on this album is absolutely stunning!  "Outside The Spiral" is most definitely on my top 10 list for 2023!
• Major themes: Life, death, introspection, rage, society, isolation, facing adversity, conviction, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Starring Role"
2. "Outside The Spiral"
3. "Privilege"
4. "As It Seems"
5. "Invitation"
6. "Forest Of Because"
7. "Who Awaits"
8. "Insist And Demand"
9. "The Good, The Bad, The Other"
10. "Watch You Grow Old"
11. "Bring On The Gods" (bonus track)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fremont Brewing Company (Seattle, Washington)
• Website: https://www.fremontbrewing.com/
• Brew: Hustle Double IPA
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) 
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 9.0%
• IBUs: 75
• Ingredients: 2-Row Pale malt with Columbus Extract, Chinook, Centennial, and Simcoe Cryo hops 
• Pour: The Hustle pours a fairly clear, golden yellow with a bright white, 1-finger, frothy head with great retention and sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is dank, citrusy, earthy, and herbal.  There are aromas of orange juice, zest, and pith, tangerine, grapefruit rind, pine resin, herbal tea, and sweet caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Hop-forward, the taste of the Hustle is citrusy, bittersweet, and malty.  There are notes of orange pith, pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, pine, black tea, and sweet caramel/toffee. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is somewhat think, but still rather crisp with a dry, bittersweet finish.

Overall pairing: The bold, hoppy, and complex flavors of the Fremont Hustle Double IPA demand your attention, perfect for the metal intensity and artistic integrity of Till The Dirt's ass-kicking and thought provoking "Outside The Spiral" album!  Make sure to pick up this wonderful album and this tasty brew ASAP... you won't be disappointed!  

And if you haven't done so already, please check out my interview from 2021 with the very friendly and talented Kelly Shaefer here: https://youtu.be/CXlaoSze_2s

Cheers and hails head bangers!!