November 7th, 2026 - Odin's Ally Heimdal

 

Hello and happy Saturday heathens, headbangers, and artisan brew fans!  The Meista here today pairing "Heimdal", the killer 16th studio album from the mighty Enslaved and a very delicious, hoppy, and crushable Odin's Ally Hazy IPA from the fine folks at Mother Earth Brew Company! 

Album Info:

• Artist: Enslaved
• Title: "Heimdal"
• Recorded: January 2021 through April 2022 at Solslottet Studios in Bergen, Norway, Earshot & Conclave Studios in Norway, and the Overlook Hotel 
• Release date: March 3rd, 2023 (16th studio album by Enslaved)
• Record company: Nuclear Blast
• Production: Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson, and Iver Sandøy 
• Album cover art: Tor Ola Svennevig (artwork) and Mirjam O. Vikingstad (photography)
• Personnel: Ivar Bjørnson (guitars, keyboards, and effects), Arve Isdal (lead guitars), Grutle Kjellson (bass, keyboards, effects, and lead and backing vocals), Iver Sandøy (drums, keyboards, effects, and backing vocals), and Håkon Vinje (keyboards and lead and backing vocals)
• Additional musicians: Seb Baily (vocals on "Heimdal"), Jens Borgen (vocals on "Behind The Mirror"), Serena Cherry (vocals on "Heimdal"), Lisa Cope (vocals on "Heimdal"), Sheila Maria Diaz Peralta (vocals on "Heimdal"), Mélanie Duperrex (vocals on "Heimdal"), Simon Füllemann (vocals on "Heimdal"), Arild Gertz (vocals on "Heimdal"), Eilif Gundersen (horn on "Behind The Mirror"), Claire Harris (vocals on "Heimdal"), Emi Horikawa (vocals on "Heimdal"), Andrew Liles (vocals on "Heimdal"), Alexander Milas (vocals on "Heimdal"), Katrine Ødegård Stenbekk (vocals on "Heimdal"), KiraKira Peralta (vocals on "Heimdal"), Inger Sunneva Peersen (vocals on "Heimdal"), Sonja Elizabeth Peersen (vocals on "Heimdal"), Sunneva Ø. Peersen (vocals on "Heimdal"), Tonje Elizabeth Peersen (vocals on "Heimdal"), Einar Selvik (vocals on "Heimdal"), Magdalena Szymaniak (vocals on "Heimdal"), Michelle Van Oorschot (vocals on "Heimdal"), Silje Wergeland (vocals on "Heimdal"), and Lukasz Worny (vocals on "Heimdal")
• Musical style: Progressive metal, progressive black metal, folk metal, Viking metal, doom metal
• Sound: Like its predecessor, "Heimdal" is steeped in the traditional progressive metal and blended with black metal and folk metal.  The sound is atmospheric, dark, brooding, and very melodic with intricate rhythms and time changes.  Like all of Enslaved's works, "Heimdal" is a brilliant, emotional, and mesmerizing musical journey! 
• Major themes: Viking history and lore, Norse mythology, paganism, ancient Nordic spirituality, nature, death, winter, the sea, etc. 
• Tracks:  

1. "Behind The Mirror"
2. "Congelia"
3. "Forest Dweller"
4. "Kingdom"
5. "The Eternal Sea"
   
6. "Caravans To The Outer Worlds"
7. "Heimdal"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Mother Earth Brewing Company (Vista, California and Nampa, Idaho)
• Website: https://www.motherearthbrewco.com/
• Brew: Odin's Ally Hazy IPA 
• Style: New England-style Hazy India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.2%
• IBUs: 25
• Ingredients: Elani, Nelson, Strata, and Citra Cryo hops 
• Pour: The Odin's Ally Hazy IPA pours a very hazy, pale golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, 1-finger head with good retention and sudsy, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very citrusy and tropical with more subtle floral and malt elements.  There are aromas of tangerine, freshly squeezed orange juice, orange zest, lemon zest, lime juice and zest, grapefruit rind, bright mango, stone fruit (soft peach and dried apricot), light pine, wildflowers, freshly picked and cut strawberries, grassy hay, and light caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Fruit-forward and very juicy, the taste of the Odin's Ally Hazy IPA is citrusy, fruity, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of tangerine, orange juice, orange pith, juicy lime, Sprite, mango, passion fruit, guava, a hint of pineapple, sweet peach, ripe strawberries, a hint of pine resin, 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, pillowy-soft finish.

Overall pairing: Those intricate and bold, yet very drinkable flavors of Odin's Ally are perfect for the complex sound, depth of songwriting, and musical prowess of the mighty Enslaved!  The boldness and complexity of the brew is a wonderful companion the power of each member of the band and their amazing performances on "Heimdal"!  'Nuff said!

Skal and hails!!