Clutch – Earth Rocker

1.
2. Crucial Velocity
3. Mr. Freedom
4. D.C. Sound Attack!
5. Unto The Breach
6. Gone Cold
7. The Face
8. Book, Saddle, & Go
9. Cyborg Bette
10. Oh, Isabella
11. The Wolf Man Kindly Requests…
“In the title track of “”, Neil Fallon proudly proclaims: “I will suffer no evil. My guitar will guide me through.” This statement makes for an ideal motto for Maryland-based , who show no signs of stopping. After their two previous records, it seemed that the foursome would pursue their chosen path of vintage blues rock. This certainly is not the case with their tenth full-length “” which takes an unexpected turn towards the style of the act’s greatest endeavors regarded by many as stoner rock benchmarks. As a result, the album captures at their heaviest, fastest and most streamlined, not only on the strength of their focused vision, but also due to the contribution of their former producer Machine who opts for a massive, yet distinctly warm sound.”
“All songs brim with a renewed zest for crafting ferocious tunes, and the songwriting that propels “” is remarkably efficient combining many elements that made “Blast Tyrant” and “Robot Hive/Exodus” so coveted in the first place. On a predominantly guitar-centered album, Tim Sult steals the show with a multitude of memorable riffs that oscillate between thundering, groove-laden and spaced-out. Dan Maines’ clunky bass lines are more prominent in the mix than ever before, often counterpointing Jean-Paul Gaster whose performance behind the drum kit feels both hard-hitting and inventive. The outfit’s penchant for integrating massive grooves with infectious choruses and superb transitions is in full swing. Whether it’s the anthemic vibe of the title track, ominous guitar tones of “Crucial Velocity” or the danceable groove of “Mr. Freedom”, excel in keeping their presentation intense, yet familiar for everyone who’s acquainted with their previous work.”
“Neil Fallon’s presence has always equipped ‘s albums with loads of personality, and “” is no exception. Fallon injects many sing-along choruses with a palpable sense of bravado, yet he’s prone to break his signature flow every now and again. As regards the lyrics, Fallon continues to tackle a plethora of themes that overflow with his uniquely personal vision and culture-inspired poetry. In its essence, “” is a rollicking heavy rock ride that showcases at the peak of their collective talents. With a fan-pleasing alteration in style and “no-filler, all-killer” logic, the outfit have churned out one of the their most widely appealing efforts thus far, not to mention a staple release for stoner rock in 2013.”
All That Is Heavy, Greg Fisher
LP album
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