April 19th, 2025 - Chasing Shadows in the Vale

 

Hello and happy Saturday thrashers, metal maniacs and craft brew lovers!  The Meista here this today pairing "The Vale Of Shadows", the 4th album by thrash metal band Hatriot and a delicious, juicy, and hoppy Chasing Shadows NE-Style Hazy India Pale Ale from the fine folks at Revision Brewing Company in collaboration with Lead Dog Brewing!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Hatriot
• Title: "The Vale Of Shadows"
• Recorded: 2022 at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California
• Release date: July 22nd, 2022 (4th full-length studio album by Hatriot)
• Record company: Massacre Records
• Production: Juan Urteaga
• Album cover art: Paolo Girardi
• Personnel: Kevin Paterson (guitars and additional vocals), Cody Souza (bass and lead vocals), Nick Souza (drums), and Kosta V. (lead guitars)
• Musical style: Thrash metal
• Sound: With fiery fast driving rhythms and guitars, and aggressive vocals, the sound on "The Vale Of Shadows" is that classic California thrash metal sound in the tradition of Evildead, Exodus, and Heathen, but with a modern flare!  
• Major themes: Good vs. evil, rage, hate, darkness, violence, war, suffering, pain, anger, vengeance, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Horns & Halos"
2. "The Hate Inside"
3. "Forceful Balance"
4. "Verminious And Vile"
5. "Clemency Denied"
   
6. "The Twenty Fifth Hour"
7. "Only Red Remains"
8. "Mark Of The Tyrant"
9. "Vale Of Shadows"
10. "Murderous Tranquility"
11. "Hymn For The Wicked"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Revision Brewing Company (Sparks, Nevada) and Lead Dog Brewing (Reno, Nevada)
• Website: https://revisionbrewing.com/
• Brew: Chasing Shadows NE-Style Hazy India Pale Ale 
• Style: New England-style Hazy India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.0%
• IBUs: 33.3
• Ingredients: Nelson Sauvin, Citra, and Motueka hops
• Pour: The Chasing Shadows 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, mandarin oranges, lemon zest, lime juice and peel, grapefruit rind, bright mango, freshly cut melon, wildflowers, light pine resin, freshly cut hay, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Fruit-forward and very juicy, the taste of the Chasing Shadows is citrusy, fruity, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of tangerine, mandarin orange juice, honeydew, cantaloupe, lime, mango, pineapple, guava, light pine, 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, slightly boozy finish.

Overall pairing: The Chasing Shadows NE-Style Hazy India Pale Ale from Revision Brewing / Lead Dog Brewing is a punchy, yet very drinkable and refreshing, hoppy brew... great for pairing with the aggression of Hatriot's "The Vale Of Shadows"!  The complexity and uniqueness of the beer aligns well with the rage and aggression of the tracks on the album!  'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!!