February 8th, 2026 - My Obsession With Charlotte Wessels' Amazing Voice Got Me Excommunicated!

 

Goedemiddag and happy Sunday!  Today I'm rocking out with a pairing of the fantastic "The Obsession", the most recent studio album by Dutch vocalist Charlotte Wessels and a delightfully tasty and hoppy Excommunicated NW India Pale Ale from Chappell Brewing!  Yes!

Album Info:

• Artist: Charlotte Wessels
• Title: "The Obsession"
• Recorded: 2024 
• Release date: September 2024 (3rd full-length studio album released by Charlotte Wessels)
• Record company: Napalm Records
• Production: Charlotte Wessels
• Album cover art: Marnix de Klerk (graphics and illustrations) and Tim Tronckoe (photography)
• Personnel: Charlotte Wessels (lead vocals) with Elianne Anemaat (cello), Joey Marin de Boer (drums), Timo Somers (guitars and backing vocals), Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (bass and backing vocals)
• Additional and guest musicians: Vikram Shankar (keyboards and orchestral arrangements), Simone Simons (vocals on "Dopamine"), Sophia Vernikov (piano and Hammond organ), and Alissa White-Gluz (vocals on "Ode To The West Wind")
• Musical style: Rock, power pop with elements of symphonic metal, melodic metal, and progressive metal/rock
• Sound: Upbeat, highly energetic, and rather poppy, Charlotte Wessels' latest, "The Obsession" furthers the sound they've been developing over the past few years... guitar and keyboard driven melodic metal with synth-pop influence.  As always, Wessels' vocals soar!  And those incredibly upbeat bass, guitars, and drum rhythms make you want to bounce!
• Major themes: Relationships, life, death, loss, pain, sorrow, yearning, perseverance, love, lust, hope, truth, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Chasing Sunsets"
2. "Dopamine"
3. "The Exorcism"
4. "Soulstice"
5. "The Crying Room"
6. "Ode To The West Wind"
   
7. "Serpentine"
8. "Praise"
9. "All You Are"
10. "Vigor + Valor"
11. "Breathe;"
12. "Soft Revolution"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Chappell Brewing (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://chappell.beer/
• Brew: Excommunicated NW India Pale Ale
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 8.0%
• Ingredients: HBC-522, HBC-638, and Spectrum hops
• Pour: The Excommunicated NW India Pale Ale pours a clear golden-yellow with a thin, bright white head with good sustain and light, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, dank, herbal, floral, and earthy.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, orange peel, melon, dried mango, summer pine, juniper, wildflowers, herbal tea, toasted bread, and light toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Excommunicated NW India Pale Ale follows the nose with bright, citrusy, tropical, floral, and piney flavors.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, orange juice and zest, lime, mango, cantaloupe, pine resin, black tea, and soft caramel/pine.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Excommunicated NW India Pale Ale is with a crisp and biting with resinous and slightly oily finish.

Overall pairing: The Excommunicated NW India Pale Ale from Chappell Brewing is a complex and hoppy, yet inviting, drinkable, and flavorful brew... perfect for the depth, honesty, and beauty of Charlotte Wessels' fantastic "The Obsession" album!  Those complex hop flavors go great with Wessels' amazing vocals, while the malty flavors go great with the soaring and powerful music of these outstanding musicians!  'Nuff said!  

Proost!!  Gezondheid!!