March 1st, 2025 - Sorry Not Sour, Our Life Belongs to Us!

 

Hey there headbangers and craft brew lovers!  Доброго дня and happy Saturday!  In light of the debacle that took place in Washington D.C. yesterday, today I'm pairing "Our Life Belongs To Us" by my friends in the wonderful Ukrainian melodic death metal band Lethargy [UA] (Летаргия) and a fruity and juicy Sorry Not Sour Fruit Ale from Prairie Artisan Ales!  Hell yeah!!  This pairing is dedicated to the citizens of Ukraine. 

Album Info:

• Artist: Lethargy [UA]
• Title: "Our Life Belongs To Us"
• Recorded: 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine
• Released: 2023 (4th full-length studio release by Lethargy)
• Record company: Moon Records
• Production: Lethargy [UA]
• Album cover art: Mattias Norén of ProgArt Media
• Personnel: Kirill Denisov (bass), Olexandr Kuznetsov (drums), Olexandr Shyrynskiy (guitars), and Vitaly Yavnov (lead vocals)
• Guest musicians: Yana Kovalskaya (keyboards), Eugene Kugaevskyi (keyboards), Dario Naumenko (keyboards), Konstantin Naumenko (additional vocals on "Delusions"), Alexander Plusnin (additional vocals on "I Will Never Forget You"), Vlad Shahin (additional vocals on "Eternal Solitude"), Aaron Stainthorpe (additional vocals on "I Know How To Live"), Lina Urban (keyboards)
• Musical style: Melodic death metal with elements of gothic metal, atmospheric doom metal, and even a little black metal
• Sound: Blending melodic death metal with doom and gothic elements, the sound on "Our Life Belongs To Us" is at times atmospheric, at times sludgy and crushing, and at times heavy as hell!  Along with guest vocalists, Vitaly paints a wonderfully rich vocal picture atop a complex, yet powerful metal tapestry!  There are some really nice, blackened elements for good measure throughout the album as well!
• Major themes: Love, life during wartime, death, solitude, grief, loss, hope, etc.
• Tracks: 
  

1. "Eternal Solitude"
2. "Hard To Breath"
3. "Eden"
   
4. "I Will Never Forget You"
5. "Delusions"
6. "The Sea Of Trees"
7. "John Galt"
8. "Victory"
   
9. "I Know How To Live"

 Brew Info:

• Brewery: Prairie Artisan Ales (Oklahoma)
• Website: https://prairieales.com/
• Brew: Sorry Not Sour Fruit Ale
• Style: Fruited Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 4.5%
• Pour: The Sorry Not Sour pours a bright golden yellow-orange hue with a frothy, light-yellow, 1-finger head that dissipates fairly quickly, leaving a thin ring and sticky, light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very fruity, slightly grainy, slightly malty, and rather sweet.  There are aromas of orange juice and zest, freshly cut mango, passionfruit, and a hint of honey.
• Taste: The taste of the Sorry Not Sour is juicy, fruity, citrusy, and sweet.  There are notes of citrusy blood orange, sweet mango, sweet berries, and apple juice, along with more subtle flavors of bright grains, sweet malts, and honey.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Sorry Not Sour is somewhat thick (almost on the verge of becoming a slushy), yet crisp, smooth and easy drinking with a crisp and juicy, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The Prairie Sorry Not Sour Fruited Ale is a bright, juicy, and very fruity easy-drinking brew... a lovey foil to the dark, foreboding, and wonderfully gothic heaviness of Lethargy [UA]'s fantastic "Our Life Belongs To Us"!  'Nuff said!

будмо!!  Hails!!