Metal Riot

Reteaming with Machine for the first time since BLAST TYRANT paid off big time. Maryland’s finest (and world’s finest live band in my opinion) Clutch have once again made an example of a modern rock n’ roll record that can be held up as current music that will stand the test of time. This is, in my opinion, the most consistent band going, a group who have contributed more to the underground via road dog touring, great personalities and a drive to keep it rooted to true grit. Listen to the assured sing along stomp of “Mr. Freedom” and the explosive Tim Sult soloing to witness pure, refined human chemistry. Clutch may have come as close yet to making a studio record that captures their live electricity.

“Everyone keeps telling’ me, Neil you got to quit your lowdown ways,” croons Neil Fallon on second single “Constant Velocity”. Well, the pure rock fury on hand on this disc, a much faster offering than the excellent and bluesy STRANGE COUSINS FROM THE WEST, should allow for lots of room for low down dirty behavior. The album is like they perfected the thinner, slightly twangy guitar tone of the self-titled Clutch classic platter and just made it much bigger. Dan Maines’ low end is monstrous on here, in perfect lock with the great JP Gaster spring step grooves that make this band so heavy but also danceable. Ass shakin’ puts the people in their seats. Take note, head bangers. The upcoming tour with fellow legends of the stoner path Orange Goblin is not to be missed.

Fallon is on fire as usual, even more riled up than ever. That the band cites Thin Lizzy, Bad Brains and Motorhead as the driving influences behind the album pretty much assures it would be my fave outing from Clutch in awhile (as those are kind all of my other favorite bands besides the Melvins, hahha).  This shit is just pushy and powerful and will ensure a lot of elbows in the pit. “I’m a war monger baby, I got blood in my eyes and I’m looking’ at you,” bellows Fallon in the cowbell heavy groove of album standout “D.C. Sound Attack”. The song does what Clutch does best…takes a simple Clutch groove where you can’t believe a riff so to the point is so damn good and manages to embody the best traditions of hardcore, blues, social commentary and hard rock in one fell swoop.

Click HERE to read the full review.

I have always maintained that if I ever got married, the Clutch song “Green Buckets” would have to play at the wedding. It is the most romantic song about recycling and fighting barbarians ever. “Let A Poor Man Be”, “King Of Arizona”, “Ship Of Gold”, “Ghost”, “Electric Worry”, “Guild Of Mute Assassins”, the mighty and often forgotten “Effigy”…I could list amazing songs by the Maryland quartet all day. My favorite band going on fourteen years now, they remain one of the hardest working and touring groups out there and have never made a bad album.

Some hippies will gush over a boring jam band while I yawn and think about how Clutch can out jam the best of them. Hipster blogs will gush over one keyboard and someone stroking a tambourine with a feather while a token skinny girl in a tank top mumbles, but that sure isn’t as cool as “Release The Kraken” or the eternal power of “Spacegrass”. Kids will get super excited about some new jack, redundant hardcore band, but it never matches the effortless intensity of “Impetus”.

It was an honor to speak with guitarist Tim Sult of Clutch at a Poughkeepsie, NY show (with great openers Lionize) about Clutch’s upcoming plans, football team loyalty, releasing new songs from The Mob on Clutch’s own Weathermaker Music, getting a song placed in The Walking Dead and more!! It was also cool to meet and drink beers with photographer Steve Truglio (who shot the JAM ROOM booklet gear photos) and compare our favorite Clutch shows ever . I think we agreed the best we ever both saw was a Coney Island High show Clutch played back in the day.

Click HERE to read the interview and see exclusive live pics!