June 2nd, 2024 - Myths of Fate Have Left Me in a Holy Haze

 

Alright my metal brethren of brews... put on your Viking helmets, grab your goblets or horns, and cozy up to the hottest Valkyrie you can find... 'cause the Meista is channeling his Scandinavian bloodlines and taking you on a Viking and hops voyage!  I'm pairing German/Norwegian symphonic metal band Leaves' Eyes' newest album, "Myths Of Fate" and a tasty Holy Haze Hazy Pale Ale from Wasatch Brewery!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Leaves' Eyes
• Title: "Myths Of Fate"
• Recorded: Throughout 2023 at Mastersound Studio in Steinheim, Germany
• Release date: March 22nd, 2024 (10th studio album by Leaves' Eyes)
• Record company: AFM Records / Nuclear Blast
• Production: Alexander Krull
• Album cover art: Stefan Heilemann
• Personnel: Luc Gebhardt (guitars), Alexander Krull (vocals, keyboards, samples and programming), Joris Nijenhuis (drums and choir vocals), Micki Richter (guitars and choir vocals), and Elina Siirala (lead vocals)
• Guest musicians: Lea-Sophie Fischer (fiddle) and Thomas Roth (Nyckelharpa)
• Musical style: Symphonic metal, gothic metal, folk/pagan metal, Viking metal, heavy metal
  Sound: Ambitious, challenging, engrossing, epic, yet very accessible, Leaves' Eyes' "Myths Of Fate" is a near perfect musical journey from beginning to end!  The music is bombastic and wonderfully intricate.  And 's vocals are as wonderfully beautiful and mesmerizing as ever.  Her range is truly amazing! 
• Major themes: The majority of songs by Leaves' Eyes explore Norse mythology and Viking Age lore and history.  Themes on the album include mythology, power, glory, vengeance, unification, life, death, darkness, fear, and hope.
• Tracks:  

1. "Forged By Fire"
2. "Realm Of Dark Waves"
3. "Who Wants To Live Forever"
4. "Hammer Of The Gods"
5. "In Eternity"
6. "Fear The Serpent"
7. "Goddess Of The Night"
8. "Sons of Triglav"
9. "Elder Spirit"
10. "Einherjar"
11. "Sail With The Dead"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Wasatch Brewing (Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.saltlakebrewingco.com/wasatch
• Brew: Holy Haze Hazy Pale Ale
• Style: New England Pale Ale / Hazy Pale Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 10
• Pour: The Holy Haze pours a very hazy, bright golden yellow hue with a bright white, 1+ finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, tropical, grainy, and malty. There are aromas of grapefruit juice and rind, tangerine, orange juice and peel, lime, mango, freshly cut pineapple, toasted bread, and light caramel.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste of the Holy Haze is very citrusy, fruity, and malty.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, orange juice, tangerine, lime, mango, bready malts, and soft toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, juicy, and smooth with a dry, slightly bittersweet finish.

Overall pairing:  The Wasatch Holy Haze is perfect for the complexities, boldness, and explosiveness of the power that is Leave's Eyes!  Those bright, citrusy and fruity flavors go wonderfully well with the soaring music and hauntingly beautiful vocals of Siirala while the more aggressive hop flavors are great for Krull's growls and fiery guitars!

And if you haven't done so already, check out my interview with Alexander Krull here: https://youtu.be/Q8W0yH0SZF0

Skål and hails!!