February 19th, 2024 - A Rising Rainbow for a Pixelated Stargazer

 

Hey there headbangers and hop freaks!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here with another killer pairing for ya!  Today, I'm pairing "Rising", the brilliant sophomore album by the legendary Rainbow and a delicious and very juicy Pixelated Stargazer NE-Style Hazy India Pale Ale from the fine folks at Revision Brewing Company!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Rainbow
• Title: "Rising" (aka "Rainbow Rising")
• Recorded: February 1976 at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany
• Release date: May 17th, 1976 (2nd full-length studio album by Rainbow)
• Record company: Polydor / Oyster
• Production: Martin Birch
• Album cover art: Ken Kelly 
• Personnel: Jimmy Bain (bass), Ritchie Blackmore (guitars), Tony Carey (keyboards), Ronnie James Dio (vocals), and Cozy Powell (drums and percussion)
• Additional musicians: Munich Philharmonic Orchestra
• Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal, progressive metal, power metal
• Sound: The 1976 sophomore album of Rainbow is a wonderfully complex and "multi-dimensional" hard rock/progressive rock/metal masterpiece.  This is quite possibly the perfect album.  The song writing and musicianship is just top-notch... so incredibly influential and inspiring.  And the production by mastermind, the late Martin Birch ranks among his best.  Ronnie James Dio's emotional vocals and Ritchie Blackmore's other-worldly guitars soar over the bombastic and powerful rhythm section of the late Jimmy Bain's thumping bass and the late Cozy Powell's explosive drumming, all while Tony Carey's synthesizers invoke the spirits of Emerson and Wakeman - conjuring images of wizards, dragons, and heroes.  Songs like "Tarot Woman," "Starstruck," and the two final pieces: "Stargazer" and "A Light In The Black" really encompass the mastery of this band... so very multi-dimensional in their approach, intent, and delivery.  Every song is a gem. "Stargazer" alone basically is the textbook for the perfect power metal song... intense, emotional, bombastic and in your face!  Cozy Powell's opening drum work is that of legend and sets the standard for all metal drummers.  Blackmore's guitar work on "Stargazer" may outdo his Deep Purple era work... maybe.  :)  And of course, then there is the late, great Dio's lyrics and amazing vocals!
• Major themes: Steeped in fantasy themed lyrics, themes on the album include , etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Tarot Woman"
2. "Run With The Wolf"
3. "Starstruck"
4. "Do You Close Your Eyes"
5. "Stargazer"
6. "A Light In The Black"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Revision Brewing Company (Sparks, Nevada)
• Website: https://revisionbrewing.com/
• Brew: Pixelated Stargazer NE-Style Hazy India Pale Ale 
• Style: New England-style Hazy India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.7%
• IBUs: 37
• Ingredients: Motueka, Mosaic, and Citra hops 
• Pour: The Pixelated Stargazer pours a very hazy golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, half-finger head with good retention and sudsy, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very tropical and citrusy with more subtle floral and malt elements.  There are aromas of tangerine, lemon zest, lime juice, orange juice, grapefruit rind, bright mango, peach, apricot, fresh pineapple, hints of melon, wildflowers, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Hop-forward and very juicy, the taste of the Pixelated Stargazer is citrusy, fruity, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of tangerine, candied oranges, orange juice, mango, pineapple, guava, and light honey.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp and very juicy, yet smooth and creamy with a dry, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The Revision Brewing Pixelated Stargazer is a juicy and bright brew... a great brew for the classic heavy stylings of Rainbow's legendary "Rising" album!  When I first saw the name of the brew, the Rainbow song "Stargazer" immediately popped in my head... and the beer label and album art cover look great together as well!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!