Clutch Announce Annual Holiday Tour

Posted in Whathaveyou on September 30th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

You think by the time Clutch get to Starland Ballroom on Dec. 30 they’ll have any of those vinyl singles left from the Weathermaker Vault Series they’ve been doing? Could go either way, right? I wouldn’t mind finding out though. It’s been a minute since I saw Clutch on one of their annual holiday tours — my fault, not theirs; they do it every year — and as I haven’t gone to pay homage to the groove masters in a little while, it seems only fair to think of myself as due for a good Clutch gig. Might be fun. Philly on New Year’s Eve might be fun too, as I recall it was in 2011 when they rung in 2012 with Earthride and the trio incarnation of Corrosion of Conformity supporting. This time around it’ll be The Steel Woods and Damon Johnson, so yes, a different vibe, but as has been well established, Clutch have no trouble crossing over from one audience to another. They seem to be welcome wherever they go, and for good reason.

The PR wire has the dates:

clutch holiday tour poster

CLUTCH ANNOUNCE ANNUAL US HOLIDAY RUN TOUR DATES

DECEMBER 27th – DECEMBER 31st 2019

Clutch announce December 2019 tour dates for their annual US Holiday Run Tour. The tour kicks off December 27th at Bogarts in Cincinnati, OH and ends with a special New Years Eve show at Union Transfer in Philadelphia, PA. Main support on all dates will be The Steel Woods from Nashville, TN. Damon Johnson, guitarist/singer songwriter will open all shows except Asheville, NC. Our good friends Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown will open the Asheville, NC show.

Tickets go on sale this Saturday, September 28th at noon ET via www.pro-rock.com.

Clutch Annual Holiday Tour Dates:

Fri/Dec-27 Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts
Sat/Dec-28 Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel (support from Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown)
Sun/Dec-29 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Mon/Dec-30 Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Tue/Dec-31 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer (New Years Eve Show)

Over the past few months, the band has been releasing a series of new studio recordings that comprise the newly launched Weathermaker Vault Series. This is the first new official music Clutch is making available since the release of their critically acclaimed album, Book Of Bad Decisions.

The first three singles (Evil, Precious And Grace, and Electric Worry) were mixed by 6X Grammy Award winner and Clutch collaborator, Vance Powell (Wolfmother, The Raconteurs, Arctic Monkeys) and are available now on all digital platforms.

Clutch is currently on a US Fall Tour with Dropkick Murphys along with metalcore veterans Hatebreed as direct support.

Clutch Fall Tour with Dropkick Murphys:
(headline** and festival* dates) = no Dropkick Murphys.
Clutch headline ** show support below.

Mon/Sep-30 Chicago, IL @ Aragon
Tue/Oct-01 Minneapolis, MN @ The Myth
Thu/Oct-03 Moorhead, MN @ Bluestem Center For The Arts
Fri/Oct-04 Council Bluffs, IA @ Westfair Amphitheatre
Sat/Oct-05 Broomfield, CO @ FirstBank Center
Sun/Oct-06 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union
Tue/Oct-08 Los Angeles, CA @ The Palladium
Wed/Oct-09 San Diego, CA @ Park at the Park
*Fri/Oct-11 Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival
**Sat/Oct-12 Bend, OR @ Midtown Theater (support: Red Fang, Mos Generator)
**Sun/Oct-13 Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theater (support: Red Fang, Mos Generator)
Mon/Oct-14 Boise, ID @ Outlaw Field at Idaho Botanic Gardens
Tue/Oct-15 Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theatre

** = HEADLINE SHOW
* = FESTIVAL

CLUTCH:
Neil Fallon – Vocals/Guitar
Tim Sult – Guitar
Dan Maines – Bass
Jean-Paul Gaster – Drums/Percussion

www.facebook.com/clutchband
www.instagram.com/clutchofficial
www.twitter.com/clutchofficial
www.pro-rock.com
www.youtube.com/user/officialclutch

Clutch, “Electric Worry (2019)” official video

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Clutch and Killswitch Engage Announce Co-Headlining Tour

Posted in Whathaveyou on May 16th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

“Wow, called it!” said nobody. You know, a couple outdoor gigs, a fest or two along the way, and a decent amount of focus on the Eastern Seaboard — pretty standard fare for Clutch touring at this point, if a little bit shorter than some of the runs they go on. Then you throw in metalcore stalwarts Killswitch Engage as a co-headliner and things get a little more eyebrow-raising. Clutch of course are no strangers to touring with metal bands — they shared a bill with Slayer and System of a Down in ’98 as I recall and even recently they were out with Sevendust I guess to fill their quota of “odd pairings with bands who also started in the ’90s,” but it’s been a while I think since they’ve hit the road with a group so directly aggro as Killswitch Engage. Trying to reach different audiences is a tricky prospect, but no worries. Clutch‘ll be just fine.

They go supporting last year’s Book of Bad Decisions (review here) on Weathermaker. Worth noting as well that the Inwood, West Virginia, show is their third Earth Rocker Festival, which Killswitch Engage and Cro-Mags will also play, as well as Fireball Ministry.

Okeydokey then:

clutch kse tour

CLUTCH AND KILLSWITCH ENGAGE ANNOUNCE CO-HEADLINE SUMMER TOUR

Clutch and Killswitch Engage have announced co-headline tour dates for this summer. Tickets go on sale on Friday, May 17th at 10am.

Both bands will also be appearing on several festivals during their July 12th – August 4th run to include Earth Rocker Festival (July 13th), Rock Fest (July 19th), Heavy Montreal (July 26th) and Impact Festival (July 28th).

“We are really looking forward to heading out on the road with Killswitch Engage,” said Clutch’s vocalist Neil Fallon. “It’ll be a rager”.

Jesse Leach vocalist of Killswitch Engage adds “We’re excited to hit some of our favorite spots in July and to share the stage wtih Clutch, fun times ahead”

CLUTCH – KILLSWITCH ENGAGE CO-HEADLINE DATES
Tickets available at www.pro-rock.com
July 12th in Syracuse, NY at SI Hall
July 13th in Inwood, WV at Shiley Acres
July 14th in Myrtle Beach, SC at House Of Blues
July 16th in Fort Wayne, IN at The Clyde
July 18th in Sioux City, IA at Hard Rock Casino
July 19th in Cadott, WI at Rock Fest
July 22nd in Tulsa, OK at The Brady Theater
July 23rd in St Louis, MO at The Pageant
July 25th in Bethelehem, PA at Sands Event Center
July 26th in Asbury Park, NJ at Stone Pony (Outdoors)
July 27th in Montrael, QC at Heavy Montreal
July 28th in Bangor, ME at Impact Festival
July 30th in Huntington, NY at The Paramount
August 2nd in Pittsburgh, PA at Stage AE (Outdoors)
August 3rd in Port Chester, NY at Capital Theater
August 4th in Worcester, MA at Palladium (Outdoors)

CLUTCH:
Neil Fallon – Vocals/Guitar
Tim Sult – Guitar
Dan Maines – Bass
Jean-Paul Gaster – Drums/Percussion

www.facebook.com/clutchband
www.instagram.com/clutchofficial
www.twitter.com/clutchofficial
www.pro-rock.com
www.youtube.com/user/officialclutch

Clutch, Live at Riot Fest 2018

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Clutch Post “Ghoul Wrangler” Video; Announce More Touring

Posted in Bootleg Theater on February 20th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

clutch ghoul wrangler video

The new Clutch clip is the fourth one the band has put out in support of their latest album, Book of Bad Decisions (review here), and it comes accompanied by another round of dates of the Maryland-based outfit’s forever-tour, this one largely focused on the Midwest and even a few stops up in Canada before they’ll close out in New York at Irving Plaza. Having in the past enjoyed a good number of Clutch gigs in that particular room, I’m willing to go on record speculating that’ll be a fun time, and perhaps all the more as the last night of the tour, as much as that phrase can ever apply to Clutch, who as noted, are on tour forever.

“Ghoul Wrangler” reunites them with director David Brodsky and was made on-location in zombie-lawyer-infested Pennsylvania. Vocalist Neil Fallon stars as the titular wrangler, while guitarist Tim Sult, bassist Dan Maines and drummer Jean-Paul Gaster feature as the ghouls. There’s a book of folk magic, and chaos ensues with spell-cast hatchets and a plasma rifle, because why not. The song, which comes from the deeper end of the tracklisting, but hell, so did “Hot Bottom Feeder,” so that’s hardly an impediment. It’s catchy as hell, and with the storytelling aspects of Fallon‘s lyrics, of course lends itself well to the visual medium. Who the hell knew these guys were so camera-ready?

Did you know there are still people who don’t like Clutch? It’s true! I’ve heard people say things like, “Nah,” and, “I don’t really dig them.” To each their own, but to me, it kind of feels like if you’re not into Clutch, you’re only denying yourself one of life’s great joys. You can be into all kinds of stuff, but I’ll tell what: I was out at the Costco recently with The Patient Mrs. and The Pecan and a dude walked by with a Clutch shirt on, and I nodded and gave him a, “Hey nice shirt,” and I knew that at least on some level we were friends already. It’s a subculture of a subculture at this point.

Enjoy “Ghoul Wrangler.” Really enjoy it.

Tour dates follow the video:

Clutch, “Ghoul Wrangler” official video

Maryland rockers Clutch have released a new video for the single “Ghoul Wrangler” from their latest album Book Of Bad Decisions. The video was shot in the Old Bedford Village in Pennsylvania and can be viewed at this location: https://youtu.be/W74TewnAxx0

Vinyl fans might remember the Ghoul Wrangler business card that was included in each 12″ jacket. Many of those who called the number on the card left messages for the Ghoul Wrangler. Some of these messages have been used as teasers on Clutch’s socials in the last couple of days. The phone line is still active. You never know what comes next. Call!

”JP wears pantaloons, Dan’s got horns, and Tim throws up on my face” says frontman Neil Fallon. “I’m pretty sure we all deserve Academy Awards.”

Clutch will be starting their Winter tour next week in support of Book Of Bad Decisions. Tickets are on sale now at this location: Linkfire -https://clutch.lnk.to/TourLink.

Support for the tour comes from Big Business from Seattle, WA and The Inspector Cluzo from Gascony, France. A Clutch curated Spotify playlist featuring music from all three bands can be found at this location: http://tinyurl.com/y2htbm79

Book Of Bad Decisions is Clutch’s twelfth studio album debuting at #1 on several charts around the world including the US Billboard Hard Rock chart.

CLUTCH’s “Book of Bad Decisions Winter Tour 2019”
Tickets available at www.pro-rock.com
Tue/Feb-19 Columbia, SC @ The Senate
Thu/Feb-21 Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
Fri/Feb-22 Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge
Sat/Feb-23 Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
Sun/Feb-24 Baton Rouge, LA @ Varsity Theater
Tue/Feb-26 Springfield, MO @ Gillioz Theater
Wed/Feb-27 Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s
Fri/Mar-01 Billings, MT @ Pub Station
Sat/Mar-02 Missoula, MT @ Wilma Theater
Sun/Mar-03 Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall
Mon/Mar-04 Edmonton, AB @ The Ranch Roadhouse
Wed/Mar-06 Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theater
Fri/Mar-08 Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion Ballroom
Sat/Mar-09 Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
Sun/Mar-10 Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theater
Wed/Mar-13 Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall
Thu/Mar-14 Green Bay, WI @ Green Bay Distillery
Fri/Mar-15 Indianapolis, IN @ The Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
Sat/Mar-16 Snowshoe, WV @ Ballhooter Spring Break (* No The Inspector Cluzo/Big Business)
Mon/Mar-18 Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom ( *No The Inspector Cluzo)
Tue/Mar-19 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza

CLUTCH:
Neil Fallon – Vocals/Guitar
Tim Sult – Guitar
Dan Maines – Bass
Jean-Paul Gaster – Drums/Percussion

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The Obelisk Presents: THE TOP 30 ALBUMS OF 2018

Posted in Features on December 20th, 2018 by JJ Koczan

the-top-30-of-2018

Please note: This post is not culled in any way from the Year-End Poll, which is ongoing. If you haven’t yet contributed your favorites of 2018 to that, please do.

It just wouldn’t be a year if it wasn’t completely overwhelming, right?

2018 has certainly met that standard and then some. The swath of output, whether it’s a new generation adopting and adapting established methods or out and out reinventing the stylistic wheel and then pushing it uphill on a seemingly endless barrage of tours, has been staggering, and it’s still happening. There’s a little more than a week to go in the year. You think a band isn’t putting something out today? Of course they are. It’s every day. It’s all the time.

But this year wasn’t just about quantity either. I think one of my biggest struggles in writing about albums in 2018 — and with the last Quarterly Review and various premieres and video posts that were basically album reviews in disguise, let’s estimate we’re somewhere past 300 records reviewed one way or another — was in conveying just how killer so much of the stuff coming through was. How many times can you say the word “awesome?” Well, I’m sure we’ll see it a few more times before this list is over, so there you go.

I say something like this every time I do a list, but please keep in mind these are my picks and I’m one person. But I am a person. I know there’s the whole internet-anonymity thing, but I assure you, I’m a human being (more of a cave troll, really) typing these words. I’m all for everyone sharing their own picks in the comments, and all for passionate advocating, but please, let’s keep it civil and respectful. These things can spiral out of control quickly, but let’s remember that we’re all human beings and worth of basic courtesy, even if some of us are dead wrong about a good many things. You should definitely punch nazis, though.

Thanks in advance for reading. Here we go:

[UPDATE: You’ll notice the inclusion of an ’18a.’ I had Stoned Jesus in my notes as number 18 initially and they got dropped as I was adjusting things along the way. I’ve added them back in, but it didn’t seem fair to bump everyone else down after the post had already been published. That was the best I could come up with for a solution. If you’re pissed about one more killer record being added, please feel free to email me and tell me all about it.]

30. The Skull, The Endless Road Turns Dark

The Skull The Endless Road Turns Dark

Released by Tee Pee Records. Reviewed Sept. 12.

Chicago’s The Skull had no small task before them in following up their 2014 debut, For Those Which are Asleep (review here) — let alone living up to their pedigree — but their second album demonstrated a creative growth that sacrificed nothing of memorability when it came to songs like “Breathing Underwater” and “All that Remains (Is True).” They got down to work and got the job done, which is what a working band does. 2018 was by any measure a fantastic year for doom, and The Skull were a big part of why.

29. Foghound, Awaken to Destroy

foghound awaken to destroy

Released by Ripple Music. Reviewed Nov. 21.

The Dec. 2017 murder of Rev. Jim Forrester was tragic. No other way to say it. Foghound, who were in the midst of making Awaken to Destroy at the time, put together an album that not only features Forrester‘s last recorded performance, but pays respect to his memory while the wound is still raw and manages to kick ass all the while. It’s a record that can’t ever be divorced from its circumstances — just can’t — and so it can be a heavy listen in more than just its tones, but it’s basically Foghound proving they’re unstoppable. And so they are.

28. Orange Goblin, The Wolf Bites Back

orange goblin the wolf bites back

Released by Spinefarm Records. Reviewed June 13.

Who among us here today is not a sucker for Orange Goblin? Come forward an be judged. I mean, really. Nine records deep, the London sceneforgers are nothing less than an institution, beloved by boozehounds, riffhounds, doomhounds, and really, a wide variety of hounds the world over. Also dudes. With its essential title-track hook and highlight cuts in “Ghosts of the Primitives” and “Burn the Ships” — or, you know, any of them — they added to one of heavy’s most unshakable legacies with an album as furious as it is welcoming to its generations-spanning fanbase.

27. Fu Manchu, Clone of the Universe

fu manchu clone of the universe
Released by At the Dojo Records. Reviewed Feb. 15.

There are two kinds of people in this world, and they’re both Fu Manchu fans. Clone of the Universe turned heads with a guest appearance from Rush‘s Alex Lifeson on the 18-minute side-B-consuming “Il Mostro Atomico,” but really to focus on that instead of “Intelligent Worship,” “(I’ve Been) Hexed,” “Don’t Panic,” “Slower than Light,” etc., is only seeing half the point of the album in the first place. The long-running lords of fuzz hit a new stride with 2014’s Gigantoid (review here), and Clone of the Universe was in every way a worthy successor.

26. Witch Mountain, Witch Mountain

Witch-Mountain-Witch-Mountain
Released by Svart Records. Reviewed May 16.

It was an unenviable task before Witch Mountain in replacing vocalist Uta Plotkin, but founding guitarist Rob Wrong and drummer Nathan Carson found the right voice in Kayla Dixon and solidified the lineup with her and bassist Justin Brown enough to make a declarative statement in Witch Mountain‘s self-titled LP. That’s the story of it. They pulled it off. Met with what was unquestionably a bummer circumstance, they pushed through and moved their sound forward through a new beginning — and not their first one. Watch out when their next record hits.

25. Windhand, Eternal Return

windhand eternal return

Released by Relapse Records. Reviewed Oct. 3.

Richmond, Virginia, doomers Windhand‘s second collaboration with producer Jack Endino produced a marked and purposeful expansion of their sound, encompassing classic grunge influences and a heavy psychedelic swirl that added color their previously-greyscale sonic haze. Resonant in tone and emotionalism, Eternal Return readjusted Windhand‘s trajectory in such a manner that, where one might’ve thought they knew where the band were headed in terms of their progression, they’ve made themselves a less predictable outfit on the whole. For that alone, it’s a triumph. Then you have the songs.

24. Sun Voyager, Seismic Vibes

Sun Voyager Seismic Vibes

Released by King Pizza Records. Reviewed April 18.

I don’t even want to admit how long I was waiting for Sun Voyager‘s first long-player to show up, but when it finally did, the New York trio did not disappoint. Catchy, energetic, fuzzed-out tunes with driving rhythms and a heavy psych flourish, they tapped into shoegaze and desert vibes without losing any sense of themselves in the process, and if the extra wait was so they could be so remarkably coherent in their expression on their full-length, then I wouldn’t want it to have shown up any sooner. An easy pick to stand among 2018’s best debut albums. Now to wait for the next one.

23. Forming the Void, Rift

forming the void rift

Released by Kozmik Artifactz. Reviewed July 27.

It should tell you something that after working quickly to produce three albums, Louisiana’s Forming the Void are still defined by their potential. If I had my druthers, I’d put the recent Ripple signees on tour for the bulk of 2019, across the US and in Europe for festivals and support-slot club shows, really give them an opportunity to hammer out who they are as a band and then hit the studio for LP four. I don’t know if that’ll happen, but they’d only be doing the universe a favor by kicking into that gear. As it stands, their progression is palpable in their material and they stand absolutely ready for whatever the next level might be for them.

22. Spaceslug, Eye the Tide

spaceslug eye the tide

Released by BSFD Records and Oak Island Records. Reviewed June 29.

Aside from the speed at which Spaceslug have turned around offerings — with Eye the Tide following 2017’s Mountains and Reminiscence EP (review here) and Time Travel Dilemma (review here) full-length and their 2016 debut, Lemanis (review here) — the Polish outfit have undertaken significant progression in their sound, moving from pure heavy psychedelic warmth to incorporating elements out of extreme metal as they did on Eye the Tide. Adding to the latest record’s accomplishment is the smoothness with which they brought seemingly opposing sides together, only adding depth to an approach already worthy of oceanic comparison.

21. Conan, Existential Void Guardian

Conan Existential Void Guardian
Released by Napalm Records. Reviewed Sept. 14.

Conan‘s reign of terror has been unfolding for more than a decade now, and each of their albums has become a kind of step along a path of incremental growth. Consider the melody creeping into the shouts of founding guitarist Jon Davis, or the emergence of bassist Chris Fielding as a vocal presence alongside, the two sharing a frontman role more than ever before while welcoming drummer Johnny King to the fold of destructive tonality and doomly extremism. Existential Void Guardian may end up just being another stomp-print on their way to the next thing, but it affirmed the fact that as much as Conan grow each time out, their central violence continues to hold sway.

20. Pale Divine, Pale Divine

PALE DIVINE S/T
Released by Shadow Kingdom Records. Reviewed Nov. 21.

Look. A new Pale Divine record doesn’t come along every day, so yeah, their self-titled was probably going to be on my list one way or the other, but it definitely helps that not only was it their first outing in six years since 2012’s Painted Windows Black (review here), but it had the songs to live up to a half-decade-plus of anticipation. It marked the first studio appearance from bassist/backing vocalist Ron “Fezz” McGinnis alongside guitarist Greg Diener and drummer Darin McCloskey — now both of Beelzefuzz as well — and made a strong argument for how much Pale Divine deserve more than 20 years on from their initial demo to be considered classic American doom.

19. Mos Generator, Shadowlands

mos generator shadowlands
Released by Listenable Records. Reviewed May 11.

The return and rise to prominence of Washington pure heavy rockers Mos Generator might be the underground’s feelgood story of the decade, but it hasn’t by any means been easily won. In addition to rebuilding the band however many albums ago, guitarist/vocalist Tony Reed has put in innumerable hours on tour and worked to actually develop the group creatively in addition to in terms of stage presence. This is shown throughout some of the classic prog elements making their way onto Shadowlands, and perhaps some of the collection’s moodier aspects are born of the aforementioned road time as well. Hard for that kind of thing not to be a slog after a while, but at least they have killer tunes to play.

18a. Stoned Jesus, Pilgrims

STONED JESUS PILGRIMS

Released by Napalm Records. Reviewed Sept. 5.

The only safe bet about Stoned Jesus‘ fourth long-player, Pilgrims, was that it was going to sound different than the third. That 2015 outing, The Harvest (review here), preceded the band touring to celebrate the fifth anniversary and after-the-fact success of 2012’s Seven Thunders Roar (review here), but Pilgrims defied narrative in that instead of incorporating elements from the second record in more of a heavy psych or jam sound, Stoned Jesus instead showcased a tighter, more sureheaded sense of craft than they’ve ever displayed before, and arrived on Napalm Records with a collection of songs that demonstrated the growth and sense of creative will that drives them. While one can take a look at their moniker and think immediately they know what’s coming, Stoned Jesus have made themselves one of the least predictable bands in heavy rock.

18. Backwoods Payback, Future Slum

backwoods payback future slum

Self-released. Reviewed Aug. 15.

“Pirate Smile.” “Lines.” “Whatever.” “It Ain’t Right.” “Threes.” “Cinderella.” “Generals.” “Big Enough.” “Alone.” “Lucky. Mike Cummings, Jessica Baker, Erik Larson. Every player, every song, every minute. If you want to know what heart-on-sleeve sounds like, it fucking sounds like Backwoods Payback. In their line from hardcore punk to grunge to heavy rock, they encompass experiences and emotionalism that are both shown in raw form throughout Future Slum, and build all the while on the chemistry they set out in developing with 2016’s Fire Not Reason (review here), when they welcomed Larson to the lineup on drums and revitalized their mission. Also worth noting, they were the best live band I saw this year. Anywhere.

17. Corrosion of Conformity, No Cross No Crown

corrosion of conformity no cross no crown

Released by Nuclear Blast Records. Reviewed Jan. 3

No question the excitement of C.O.C. putting out their first record with frontman Pepper Keenan involved since 2005’s In the Arms of God was one of this year’s top stories in heavy. And No Cross No Crown tapped directly into the spirit of 1994’s Deliverance (discussed here) and 1996’s Wiseblood (discussed here) in terms of direction, while updating the band’s style with a four-part 2LP in mind. In some ways, it’ll be their next album that really gives listeners a sense of where they’re at and where they might be headed, but as welcome returns go, having Keenan alongside Mike DeanWoody Weatherman and Reed Mullin is in no way to be understated, and neither is the quality of their output together, then and now.

16. Naxatras, III

naxatras iii

Self-released. Reviewed Feb. 14.

It is no simple feat to hypnotize an audience and convey serenity while at the same time holding attention with songcraft, so that the listener isn’t actually so much unconscious as malleable of mood and spirit in such a direction as the band suggests. Greek trio Naxatras have worked quickly to become experts at this, and their third full-length fosters tonal warmth and jammy progressions with an overarching naturalism that finds them so committed to analog recording that one can buy direct transfers of the tape master of III. Some acts take classic-style practices as an aesthetic choice. With Naxatras, it seems to be the stuff of life, yet their sound is only vibrant and human in a way that, at least one hopes, is even more representative of the future than the past.

15. Clutch, Book of Bad Decisions

clutch book of bad decisions

Released by Weathermaker Music. Reviewed Aug. 27.

It was time for Clutch to make a change in producers, and the Maryland overlords of groove seemed to know it. Known as a live band, they went with Vance Powell, who’s known a live band producer. The results on Book of Bad Decisions might not have been so earth-shatteringly different from 2015’s Psychic Warfare (review here), which was the too-soon follow-up to 2013’s Earth Rocker (review here) — both helmed by Machine — but the inimitable four-piece indeed succeeded in capturing the electricity of their stage performance and, as ever, treated fans to a collection of songs bearing Clutch‘s unmistakable hallmarks of quirky lyrics, funky rhythms and heavy roll. They may always be a live band, but Clutch‘s studio work is in no way to be discounted, ever, as this record reaffirmed. Plus, crab cakes.

14. Ancestors, Suspended in Reflections

Ancestors Suspended in Reflections

Released by Pelagic Records. Reviewed Aug. 3.

After 2012’s In Dreams and Time (review here), I wasn’t sure Ancestors were going to put out another record. They kicked around word of one for a while, but it wasn’t until the end of last year that it really seemed to congeal into a possibility. And by then, who the hell knew what they might get up to on a full-length? With Suspended in Reflections, in some says, they picked up where they left off in terms of finding a niche for themselves in progressive and melodic heavy, but I think the time showed in the poise of their execution and the control of the material. Suspended in Reflections can’t help but be six years more mature than its predecessor, and that suits its contemplative feel. In tracks like “Gone,” and “The Warm Glow,” they tempered their expansive sound with an efficiency that can only be had with time.

13. High on Fire, Electric Messiah

high on fire electric messiah

Released by eOne Heavy. Reviewed Sept. 28.

The narrative here was hard to beat. Matt Pike spending an album cycle talking about Lemmy Kilmister and paying homage to his dirt-rock forebear and the gods of old? It doesn’t get much more perfect than that. Electric Messiah was the third collaboration between High on Fire and producer Kurt Ballou behind 2015’s Luminiferous (review here) and 2012’s De Vermiis Mysteriis (review here), and while it seemed after the last record that the formula might be getting stale, the band only sounded more and more lethal throughout the latest offering. Even putting aside their contributions to underground heavy, they’ve become one of the most essential metal bands of their generation. Metal, period. Doesn’t matter what subgenre you’re talking about it. If you’re listening to High on Fire, you know it. Usually because you’ve just been decapitated.

12. Yawning Man, The Revolt Against Tired Noises

yawning man the revolt against tired noises

Released by Heavy Psych Sounds. Reviewed July 2.

You know, if you take the time to separate Yawning Man from their 30-plus-year history and their legacy as one of the foundational acts of what later became desert rock, and you listen to The Revolt Against Tired Noises, you’re still left with basically a dream of an album. Mostly instrumental, as is their wont, they nonetheless had bassist Mario Lalli (also Fatso Jetson) sing this time around on a version of the previously-unreleased “Catamaran,” which Kyuss covered once upon a whenever although Yawning Man had never officially put it to tape. But really, that and all other novelty aside, guitarist Gary Arce, Lalli and drummer Bill Stinson are a chemistry unto themselves. I don’t know if they’ll ever be as huge as they should be, but every bit of acclaim they get, they’ve earned, and if The Revolt Against Tired Noises helps them get it, all the more so.

11. Greenleaf, Hear the Rivers

greenleaf hear the rivers

Released by Napalm Records. Reviewed Nov. 26.

Swedish heavy rock mavens Greenleaf have become an entirely different band than they once were. No longer a Dozer side-project from guitarist Tommi Holappa with a rotating cast of players, they’re a solidified, road-tested, powerhouse unit, and Hear the Rivers bleeds soul as a result. Holappa, frontman Arvid Hällagård, bassist Hans Fröhlich and drummer Sebastian Olsson sound like they’re absolutely on fire in the album’s tracks, and far from being staid or formulaic as one might expect a sixth long-player to be, Hear the Rivers built on what the band accomplished with 2016’s Rise Above the Meadow (review here) and came across as all the more vital and nearly frenetic in their energy. I won’t say Greenleaf has seen their last lineup change, because one never knows, but the band as they are today is the realization of potential I don’t think even Greenleaf knew was there.

10. Gozu, Equilibrium

gozu equilibrium

Released by Blacklight Media / Metal Blade Records. Reviewed April 4.

Five records deep into a career into its second decade, Gozu haven’t had a miss yet. Admittedly, some of their early work can seem formative considering where they are now, but still. And after the 2016 rager, Revival (review here), to have the band return to the same studio — Wild Arctic in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where strides producer Dean Baltulonis — for the follow-up allows for the four-piece to directly show how their sound has grown more encompassing in the last couple years. And it has. Equilibrium is a rich and varied listen that holds true to Gozu‘s well-established penchant for soulful vibes and crunching, hard-hitting riffs and groove, but while it shares the directness of approach with Revival, it makes moves that a band could only make moving from one record to the next. I expect nothing less their next time out as well, because a decade later, that’s Gozu‘s proven track record.

9. Monster Magnet, Mindfucker

monster magnet mindfucker
Released by Napalm Records. Reviewed Feb. 23.

The battle for the best album title of 2018 ended early when New Jersey everything-rockers Monster Magnet announced the release of Mindfucker. And what else to call a Monster Magnet LP at this point? They’ve stopped writing to genre. They’re driven by the creative mania of frontman/founder Dave Wyndorf, and they’ve seen psychedelic expanses and commercial success the likes of which would serve the tenure of four lesser bands. What’s left to do but whatever the hell you want? So that’s what Monster Magnet are doing. It just so happens that while they’re doing it, they’re still basically outclassing the entirety of the former planet earth as songwriters. As Monster Magnet fan in 2018, there was nothing more I could’ve asked than what Mindfucker delivered. And if you’re still trying to get your brain around it however many months later, you’re not alone. I think that’s the idea.

8. Apostle of Solitude, From Gold to Ash

Apostle of Solitude From Gold to Ash

Released by Cruz del Sur Music. Reviewed Feb. 20.

Best doom album of 2018. The combination of craft and passion behind the delivery. The way the dark tones fed into the emotions so clearly on display and sheer presence of it in listening to songs like “Keeping the Lighthouse,” “Ruination by Thy Name” and “My Heart is Leaving Here.” Apostle of Solitude never seem to be the highest profile band out there, but their work seems never to be anything less than outstanding, and I refuse to accept them as anything less than among the most pivotal American acts out there making traditional doom. And not just making it, but making it their own, with a sense of new pursuits and individualism that extends to playing style as well as atmosphere. I know doom isn’t exactly in short supply these days — figuratively or literally — but if you miss out on what Apostle of Solitude are doing with it, you’ll only regret it later. I’ll say it one more time: Best doom album of 2018.

7. Holy Grove, Holy Grove II

holy grove ii
Released by Ripple Music. Reviewed Oct. 31.

Every now and again, anticipating the crap of an album really pays off, and such was the case with Holy Grove II, the Ripple Music debut from the Portland outfit whose 2016 self-titled (review here) seemed like such a herald of excellence to come while also, you know, being killer. Holy Grove II brought the four-piece of vocalist Andrea Vidal, guitarist Trent Jacobs, bassist Gregg Emley and drummer Eben Travis to entirely new levels of composition and execution. In songs like “Blade Born,” the shorter, sharper “Aurora,” the patiently rolling “Valley of the Mystics,” “Solaris” and closer “Cosmos,” which boasted a not-really-necessary-but-definitely-welcome guest vocal appearance from YOB‘s Mike Scheidt, — and oh wait, that’s all of the tracks — Holy Grove entered a different echelon. Anticipation will likewise be high for Holy Grove III, but it’ll be hard to complain with this record to keep company in the meantime.

6. All Them Witches, ATW

all them witches atw
Released by New West Records. Reviewed Sept. 18.

Over five All Them Witches albums, the Nashville four-piece have gone from a nascent heavy Americana jam band to one of the most distinct acts in the US underground. Their development in sound is chemistry-driven, so it was a risk when the founding trio of bassist/vocalist Charles Michael Parks, Jr., guitarist Ben McLeod (who also produced) and drummer Robby Staebler welcomed new keyboardist Jonathan Draper into the lineup to take the place of Allan van Cleave. Amid a more naturalist production than that of 2017’s Sleeping Through the War (review here), the revamped four-piece flourished in terms of songwriting and conveying their stage-born sonic personae. From the gleeful fuckery of opener “Fishbelly 86 Onions” to the memorable moodiness of “Diamond” and the back-end jam “Harvest Feast” en route to the stretched-out end of “Rob’s Dream,” All Them Witches essentially confirmed they could do whatever they wanted and make it work.

5. YOB, Our Raw Heart

yob our raw heart
Released by Relapse Records. Reviewed June 7.

Actually, if you want a sample of YOB‘s raw heart, the place to go is probably 2014’s Clearing the Path to Ascend (review here), but whatever the Eugene, Oregon, shapers of cosmic doom might’ve lacked in titular accuracy on their eighth long-player, they made up for in a new, statesman-like posture. Their approach was mature, hammered out to a professionalism working completely on its own terms, and they never sounded so sure of who they are as a band or as confident of their direction. In extended cuts “Beauty in Falling Leaves” and “Our Raw Heart,” they explored new and progressive textures and melodies, and managed to reaffirm their core aspects while finding room for conveying emotion that came across as nothing but ultimately sincere. They have been and still are one of a kind, and as they continue to move forward, they remain a band that makes one feel lucky to be alive to witness their work. Our Raw Heart was perhaps more refined than it let on, but the heart was there for sure, as always.

4. Brant Bjork, Mankind Woman

brant bjork mankind woman

Released by Heavy Psych Sounds. Reviewed Sept. 13.

I’m not going to say I wasn’t a fan of the (relatively) harder-hitting approach Brant Bjork and his Low Desert Punk Band took on 2014’s Black Power Flower (review here) and 2016’s Tao of the Devil (review here), but Mankind Woman brought in some more of his soul influences, and whether it was the subtly subversive funk of “Chocolatize” and “Brand New Old Times” or the callout “1968” and laid back vibes of the title-track and “Swagger and Sway,” Bjork — working with guitarist Bubba DuPree on songwriting and production — offered a definitive look at what has made his 20-year solo career so special and demonstrates not only his longevity and his legacy, but his will to continue to progress as an artist honing his craft. His discography is well populated by now to be sure, but Mankind Woman represents a turn from the last couple records, and if it’s in any way portentous of things to come, it bodes well. Bjork is right at home nestled into classic-style grooves, and his legacy as one of the principal architects of desert rock is continually reaffirmed.

3. Earthless, Black Heaven

earthless black heaven

Released by Nuclear Blast Records. Reviewed March 15.

They’ve been great, not just good, for a long time now, and as forerunners of the San Diego heavy scene, they’re godfathers to an up and coming generation of bands taking their influence — let alone acts from the rest of the world — but Black Heaven is a special moment for them because of its departure. No, it wasn’t not the first time guitarist Isaiah Mitchell sang on an Earthless recording, but it did represent a tip of the balance in that direction for the band on a studio full-length, and that resulted in a special moment. Album opener “Gifted by the Wind” was one of the best songs I heard this year, and while “End to End” and the all-thrust “Volt Rush” affirmed that more traditional songwriting was well within the grasp of Mitchell, bassist Mike Eginton and drummer Mario Rubalcaba, they still found space for a sprawling jam or two, keeping their claim on the instrumentalism that’s (largely) fueled their tenure to date. Earthless don’t want for acclaim, but every bit of it is earned, and while their primary impact has always been live, Black Heaven saw them construct a traditional-style LP that still bore the hallmarks of their collective personality. It was the best of all worlds.

2. King Buffalo, Longing to Be the Mountain

king buffalo longing to be the mountain
Self-released/released by Stickman Records. Reviewed Sept. 27.

In the dark early hours of 2018, the Rochester, New York, trio of guitarist/vocalist Sean McVay, bassist Dan Reynolds and drummer Scott Donaldson issued the Repeater EP (review here) as a follow-up to their 2016 debut, Orion (review here), so Longing to Be the Mountain didn’t exactly come out of nowhere, but even with Repeater preceding its arrival, I don’t think anyone necessary expected King Buffalo‘s second album to have such a scope or to be so engrossing with it. In its melody, patience, atmosphere and heft, it was an absolute joy to behold. Its songs were memorable at the same time they were far-reaching, and while Orion was already my pick for the best debut of 2016, Longing to Be the Mountain realized even more potential than that record had hinted toward. It could be intimate or majestic at its whim, and its dynamic set an individual characterization of heavy psychedelia and blues-style sprawl that the band wholly owned. With production by Ben McLeod of All Them Witches behind them, they worked to serve notice of a progression undertaken the results of which are already staggering and still seem to be looking ahead to the next stage, literally and figuratively. One of the principal standards I use in constructing this list every year is what I listen to most. That’s this record.

1. Sleep, The Sciences

sleep the sciences

Released by Third Man Records. Reviewed May 1.

Obviously, right? To some extent, when Sleep surprise-announced on April 19 they’d release their first album in 15 years the next day, and then did, they took ownership of 2018. Even with records still to come at that point from YOB and Sleep guitarist Matt Pike‘s own High on Fire, there was no way that when the end of the year came around, it wasn’t going to be defined by the advent of a new Sleep record. And even if it sucked, it would probably still be Album of the Year, but fortunately, as Pike, bassist/vocalist Al Cisneros (also Om) and drummer Jason Roeder (also Neurosis) took their long-running stage reunion to the studio, they brought material that highlighted the best elements from all players. Pike‘s wild soloing, Cisneros‘ meditative vocals and Roeder‘s intricate but smooth style of roll all came together in older pieces like “Antarcticans Thawed” and “Sonic Titan” and newer highlights “Giza Butler” and “Marijuanaut’s Theme,” and aside from the excitement at their existence, they showed the mastery of form that Sleep had been demonstrating live since 2009 and which they hinted toward in the 2014 single, The Clarity (review here). A new Sleep full-length was something long-discussed, long-rumored and long-considered, but when it finally happened, I think the results vaporized expectation in a way no one could’ve anticipated. There’s a reason Sleep are Sleep. Having The Sciences as a reminder of that brought about the defining moment of 2018.

The Next 20

Indeed, it wouldn’t be much of a Top 30 at all if it didn’t go to 50. Don’t try to make sense of it, just look at the records.

31. Atavismo, Valdeinfierno
32. Grayceon, IV
33. Clamfight, III
34. Seedy Jeezus, Polaris Oblique
35. Megaton Leviathan, Mage
36. Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Wasteland
37. Arcadian Child, Superfonica
38. Freedom Hawk, Beast Remains
39. The Machine, Faceshift
40. Messa, Feast for Water
41. Black Rainbows, Pandaemonium
42. Church of the Cosmic Skull, Science Fiction
43. Domkraft, Flood
44. Träden, Träden
45. Mythic Sunship, Another Shape of Psychedelic Music
46. Samavayo, Vatan
47. Foehammer, Second Sight
48. Bongripper, Terminal
49. Mansion, First Death of the Lutheran
50. Sunnata, Outlands
51. Chubby Thunderous Bad Kush Masters, Come and Chutney

Believe me when I tell you, I sweated over this section more than I did the actual top 30. Mansion should be higher. So should Chubby Thunderous, though something in me thought they might like being #50 on a list of 30. Church of the Cosmic Skull, Clamfight, Black Rainbows, Foehammer, Seedy Jeezus, Messa, Domkraft. All of these were fucking awesome. And there are more (we’ll get there). Eventually numbers add up. I won’t say a bad word about any of these. That’s it.

Honorable Mention

This section always winds up expanded as other people point out things I missed and so on, but here’s what I’ve got in the immediate, alphabetically:

  • Alms, Act One
  • Ape Machine, Darker Seas
  • Belzebong, Light the Dankness
  • Black Moon Circle, Psychedelic Spacelord
  • Blackwater Holylight, Blackwater Holylight
  • Bong, Thought and Existence
  • Carpet, About Rooms and Elephants
  • Churchburn, None Shall Live… The Hymns of Misery
  • Deadbird, III: The Forest Within the Tree
  • Dead Meadow, The Nothing They Need
  • Death Alley, Superbia
  • Drug Cult, Drug Cult
  • Dunbarrow, II
  • Electric Citizen, Helltown
  • Eagle Twin, The Thundering Heard: Songs of Hoof and Horn
  • Evoken, Hypnagogia
  • Funeral Horse, Psalms for the Mourning
  • Fuzz Evil, High on You
  • Graven, Heirs of Discord
  • Graveyard, Peace
  • Green Dragon, Green Dragon
  • Green Druid, Ashen Blood
  • Here Lies Man, You Will Know Nothing
  • High Priestess, High Priestess
  • Horehound, Holocene
  • IAH, II
  • JIRM, Surge ex Monumentis
  • Killer Boogie, Acid Cream
  • Lonely Kamel, Death’s Head Hawkmoth
  • MaidaVale, Madness is Too Pure
  • Moab, Trough
  • Mountain Dust, Seven Storms
  • Mouth, Floating
  • Mr. Plow, Maintain Radio Silence
  • T.G. Olson, Earthen Pyramid
  • Onségen Ensemble, Duel
  • Orango, Evergreen
  • Owl, Nights in Distortion
  • Pushy, Hard Wish
  • Rifflord, 7 Cremation Ground/Meditation
  • River Cult, Halcyon Daze
  • Rotor, Sechs
  • Somali Yacht Club, The Sea
  • Sumac, Love in Shadow
  • Sundrifter, Visitations
  • Svvamp, Svvamp II
  • Thou, Magus
  • Thunder Horse, Thunder Horse
  • Weedpecker, III

Special Note

Somehow it didn’t seem appropriate to include these in the list proper because they’re not really underground releases, but there were two more records I especially wanted to highlight for their quality:

  • Alice in Chains, Rainier Fog
  • Judas Priest, Firepower

Best Short Release of the Year

Normally I’d do this as a separate post, but as a result of being robbed earlier this year, I feel like my list is woefully incomplete. If you have any demos, EPs, splits, singles, etc., to add to it, please feel free to do so in the comments below. Still, the top pick was clear:

  • Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard & Slomatics, Totems Split

Rarely do two bands work in such coherent tandem to their mutual benefit. Here are a few other essential short releases for 2018, alphabetically:

  • All Them Witches, Lost and Found
  • Alunah, Amber & Gold
  • Canyon, Mk II
  • Demon Head, The Resistence
  • Destroyer of Light, Hopeless
  • Ecstatic Vision, Under the Influence
  • Godmaker & Somnuri, Split
  • Holy Mushroom, Blood and Soul
  • King Buffalo, Repeater
  • Minsk & Zatokrev, Split
  • Sleep, Leagues Beneath
  • Stonus, Lunar Eclipse
  • Sundecay, Gale

Looking Forward

A good many albums have already been announced or hinted at for 2019. I in no way claim this to be a complete roundup of what’s coming, but here’s what I have in my notes so far, in absolutely no order:

Kings Destroy, Lo-Pan, Cities of Mars, Heavy Temple, Mr. Peter Hayden, Curse the Son, High Fighter, Destroyer of Light, Year of the Cobra, Buffalo Fuzz, Zaum, The Sonic Dawn, Alunah, Candlemass, Elepharmers, Grandier, Dorre, Abrahma, Mars Red Sky, Eternal Black, Elephant Tree, Atala, No Man’s Valley, Sun Blood Stories, Crypt Sermon, The Riven, Hibrido, Snail, Red Beard Wall, 11Paranoias, Dead Witches, Monte Luna, Captain Caravan (LP), Swallow the Sun, Oreyeon, Motorpsycho, Vokonis, Hexvessel, Saint Vitus, Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, Kind, Mastiff, Shadow Witch, Om.

Okay, That’s It

Yeah, no, I’m serious. List is done. Everybody go back to your lives. Your families miss you.

Really though, while this is by no means my last post of 2018, I can’t let it pass without saying thank you so much to everyone for checking out the site this year, or for just digging into this, or for sending me music, or hitting me up on social media, sharing a link, anything. Thank you. Thank you. I could never have imagined when it started out where it would be now. Or that I’d still be doing it. Your support means more to me than I can say, and I thank you so much for being a part of this with me.

So thanks.

If you have something to add to the list, please do so by leaving a comment below, but keep in mind as well the above note requesting civility. Please don’t make me feel stupid because I forgot your favorite record. I forgot a lot of people’s favorite records. I’m one dude. I’m doing my best.

And please keep in mind if you’ve got a list together that the Year-End Poll is open and results will be out Jan. 1.

Everybody have a great and safe 2019.

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Clutch Head out on Winter Tour Starting Feb. 19

Posted in Whathaveyou on November 16th, 2018 by JJ Koczan

clutch (Photo by JJ Koczan)

Last time I posted about a Clutch tour — and yeah, they pretty much go from one to the next — I told my sob story about how I hadn’t yet thrown down for a copy of their latest album, Book of Bad Decisions (review here). Pitiful. Some sad shit. You see, the thing is: I want the special edition. The CD. It’s nifty looking and it’s not really more expensive than the regular version. My holdup has essentially been one of cashmonies and the lack thereof. Not looking for sympathy or anything, but it’s kind of become an existential crisis.

Enough of one to get me to drive four hours south to Irving Plaza in March to pick one up? Maybe. Clutch at Irving has always been a singular good time, though I wouldn’t complain about hopping up to Portland, Maine, to catch them next month on their holiday run either. Xmas present to myself, maybe. It’s a daydream, but it’d be neat.

I’ll get that record, though. And I’ll keep you posted when it happens. I’m sure there’ll be another tour to announce soon.

From the PR wire:

clutch winter 2019 tour

CLUTCH ANNOUNCE NEW 2019 WINTER TOUR DATES

Maryland rockers Clutch have announced the first batch of their 2019 Winter tour dates for February and March in support of their newest effort Book Of Bad Decisions. Tickets go on sale to the public this Friday, November 16th at 10:00 am.

All ticket links are available at the official Clutch Facebook facebook.com/clutchband and www.pro-rock.com.

Book Of Bad Decisions is Clutch’s twelfth studio album debuting at #1 on several charts around the world including the US Billboard Hard Rock chart.

CLUTCH’s “Book of Bad Decisions Winter Tour 2019”
Tickets available at www.pro-rock.com
Tue/Feb-19 Columbia, SC @ The Senate
Thu/Feb-21 Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
Fri/Feb-22 Fayetteville, AR @ Majestic
Sat/Feb-23 Austin, TX @ Stubbs BBQ
Sun/Feb-24 Baton Rouge, LA @ Varsity
Tue/Feb-26 Springfield, MO @ Gillioz Theater
Wed/Feb-27 Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s
Fri/Mar-01 Billings, MT @ Pub Station
Sat/Mar-02 Missoula, MT @ Wilma Theater
Fri/Mar-08 Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion
Sat/Mar-09 Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
Sun/Mar-10 Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theater
Wed/Mar-13 Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall
Thu/Mar-14 Green Bay, WI @ The Distillery
Sat/Mar-16 Snowshoe, WV @ Ballhooter Spring Break @ Snowshoe Mountain
Mon/Mar-18 Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
Tue/Mar-19 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza

Clutch Holiday Tour Dates:

Thu/Dec-27 Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live!
Fri/Dec-28 Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Sat/Dec-29 Portland, ME @ Aura
Sun/Dec-30 Clifton Park, NY @ Upstate Concert Hall
Mon/Dec-31 Cleveland, OH @ Masonic Auditorium at Temple Live

CLUTCH:
Neil Fallon – Vocals/Guitar
Tim Sult – Guitar
Dan Maines – Bass
Jean-Paul Gaster – Drums/Percussion

www.facebook.com/clutchband
www.instagram.com/clutchofficial
www.twitter.com/clutchofficial
www.pro-rock.com
www.youtube.com/user/officialclutch

Clutch, “Hot Bottom Feeder” official video

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Clutch Announce Holiday Tour; Will Spend New Year’s in Cleveland

Posted in Whathaveyou on October 11th, 2018 by JJ Koczan

clutch (photo by Dan Winters)

It just wouldn’t be the holidays without Clutch. Would you believe Book of Bad Decisions (review here) has been out for over a month and I still haven’t bought the CD? Isn’t that the saddest little story you ever heard? Money’s tight, but that’s like an existential crisis for me. A genuine moral quandary. Makes me feel like I’ve gone two days without showering.

Anyway, my only question as regards Clutch‘s holiday tour — New Year’s Eve in Cleveland this time; nifty — has to do with the poster below: What’s up with “featuring Small Upsetters?” I know “Small Upsetters” a Clutch song, and it’s a good one, but would they put that on the poster if it was going to be in the set? Could we be talking about a horn section to fill out “In Walks Barbarella” from the new album, maybe? Some keys? Some additional something or other? What’s that all about? Gonna have to dig into the social media thing and see if I can find an answer, but for now, mystery abounds.

Clutch are on tour now, of course, and that seems to be their last batch of shows until December. No doubt more to come next year.

Dig it:

clutch holiday tour

CLUTCH NEW DECEMBER “HOLIDAY” TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

Clutch has announced their annual “Holiday” tour dates for December with The Messthetics, Lionize and Mike Dillon Band supporting the tour. Radio pre sale tickets go on sale this Thursday, October 11th at 10:00am and public on sale starts Friday October 12th at 10:00am. The “Holiday” tour starts December 27th and ends with their New Years Eve show in Cleveland on December 31st.

Jean-Paul Gaster on the package said “We are very excited to have our friends Lionize, The Mike Dillon Band and The Messthetics be a part of this year’s Clutch Holiday Run. Each band brings something special to the bill and with so many great players in one place there’s bound to be some surprises. Come out early and celebrate with us!”

All ticket links are available at the official Clutch Facebook facebook.com/clutchband and www.pro-rock.com.

Clutch Holiday Tour Dates:

Thu/Dec-27 Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live!
Fri/Dec-28 Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Sat/Dec-29 Portland, ME @ Aura
Sun/Dec-30 Clifton Park, NY @ Upstate Concert Hall
Mon/Dec-31 Cleveland, OH @ Masonic Auditorium at Temple Live

CLUTCH is currently on tour until November 1st supporting “Book of Bad Decisions”.

Tickets available at www.pro-rock.com

Tue/Oct-09 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
Thu/Oct-11 San Francisco, CA The Regency Ballroom
Fri/Oct-12 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theater SOLD OUT
Sat/Oct-13 San Bernardino, CA Glen Helen Amphitheater w/SOAD ***
Sun/Oct-14 San Diego, CA North Park/Observatory
Mon/Oct-15 Tempe, AZ The Marquee
Wed/Oct-17 Tulsa, OK Cain’s Ballroom
Thu/Oct-18 Sauget, IL Pop’s Nightclub
Fri/Oct-19 Grand Rapids, MI 20 Monroe Live
Sat/Oct-20 Detroit, MI The Filmore Detroit
Sun/Oct-21 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
Tue/Oct-23 Toronto, ON Rebel
Thu/Oct-25 Worcester, MA The Palladium
Fri/Oct-26 New York, NY Irving Plaza SOLD OUT
Sat/Oct-27 New York, NY Irving Plaza SOLD OUT
Sun/Oct-28 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
Tue/Oct-30 Raleigh, NC The Ritz
Wed/October-31 Norfolk, VA The NorVa*
Thu/Nov-1 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade *

* = no Sevendust/ TB&TSD main support
** = date w/ System of a Down/ no Sevendust/ no TB&TSD

CLUTCH:
Neil Fallon – Vocals/Guitar
Tim Sult – Guitar
Dan Maines – Bass
Jean-Paul Gaster – Drums/Percussion

www.facebook.com/clutchband
www.instagram.com/clutchofficial
www.twitter.com/clutchofficial
www.pro-rock.com
www.youtube.com/user/officialclutch

Clutch, “In Walks Barbarella” official video

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Clutch, Book of Bad Decisions: Right Turns, Right Time

Posted in Reviews on August 27th, 2018 by JJ Koczan

clutch book of bad decisions

Most of all, it’s a good time. With the flag of their home state of Maryland as their banner, Clutch are some 25 years removed from the release of their debut album, Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes and Undeniable Truths, and their latest work through their own Weathermaker Music imprint, Book of Bad Decisions, finds the self-sustaining, ever-touring groove lords in energetic form with a collection of marked character and 15 varied tracks just about all of which would function well in the live sphere as 56 minutes of a probably-longer headlining set. The permanent lineup of vocalist/sometimes-guitarist Neil Fallon, guitarist Tim Sult, bassist Dan Maines and drummer Jean-Paul Gaster worked with producer Vance Powell (Jack White, Tinariwen, Buddy Guy, etc.) with the stated intent of capturing a more live-feeling sound, and tonally and in terms of their delivery, they meet that goal.

As in the past, the producer is an important consideration in Clutch‘s overall impression on a given record, and Powell makes a mark here in taking over for Machine, who helmed their last two outings, 2015’S Psychic Warfare (review here) and 2013’s Earth Rocker (review here), the earlier of which seemed very much to be the blueprint the latter followed in terms of structure, sound and component styles. Three years later, Book of Bad Decisions makes a well-timed departure, learning the lessons of its two predecessors but not being beholden all the way through to the patterns they established. Of course, Clutch‘s sound has its established tenets, trademark quirks, etc., and those remain intact. But there’s a shift in approach throughout even straightforward songs like “Vision Quest” and “H.B. is in Control,” and no doubt manifesting that was part of the reason the band traded out producers in the first place. Though Machine manned the board for 2004’s landmark Blast Tyrant (discussed here; reissue review here), after two outings back to back, it was time for a change.

Clutch issued four singles leading up to the release of Book of Bad Decisions, and each one introduces a different side of the album’s personality. They started with “Gimme the Keys,” which opens the album at a speedy clip in the spirit of “X-Ray Visions” and “Earth Rocker” as Fallon recounts a dangerous night on the road in the Midwest, touting a punk rocker’s guilt at the nostalgia all the while — a nostalgia that would seem to inform the subsequent “Spirit of ’76” and the later “Vision Quest” to some degree as well — before “How to Shake Hands” furthered the gonna-be-president theme of “One Eye Dollar” from 1999’s Jam Room and 2007’s From Beale Street to Oblivion (reissue review here) with a memorable hook about putting “Jimi Hendrix on the 20-dollar bill and Bill Hicks on a five note.”

With a mid-paced shuffle and active guitar flourish from Sult atop intricate snare work from Gaster, “How to Shake Hands” is a stage-ready track through and through, and as Maines locks down the groove in still-a-secret-after-all-these-years weapon fashion, Fallon, Fallon even seems to sing along with himself in layers for the chorus. The third advance cut, the slide-guitar-laden “Hot Bottom Feeder” (video posted here) brilliantly plays off the four-piece’s Maryland heritage in lyrics that offer a recipe for crab cakes and makes itself a late-album highlight surrounded by songs like “H.B. is in Control” — the initials standing for Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch — and the shoving “Paper and Strife,” both of which are solid back-end cuts leading to the longer closer of the second LP, “Lorelei,” a slower, bluesier answer to its LP1 counterpart, “Emily Dickinson,” which executes a similar feel and adds a shimmering psychedelic lead late from Sult that’s classic sounding and a departure for Clutch all the same, but among the most welcome advents on the album as a whole.

clutch (photo by Dan Winters)

The fourth single, and perhaps most interesting of all, is “In Walks Barbarella,” which might be the side B leadoff, but in any case resounds after the opening salvo of “Gimme the Keys,” “Spirit of ’76,” the title-track and “How to Shake Hands,” with horns included and lyrics that would seem likewise to be a nod to go-go D.C. funk acts like Parliament (the Mothership makes an appearance), Trouble Funk and Chuck Brown. Hardly Clutch‘s first engagement with funk as a style — it’s an essential component in Sult‘s riffing and Maines‘ classy-as-always basswork, but the level is upped and the genre is called out by name — again on the speedier “Ghoul Wrangler” as well, so if Book of Bad Decisions is marking the advent of ‘C-funk,’ so be it. “In Walks Barberella” is loaded with lyrical references to science fiction, Deep Purple, etc., and has the feeling of another live staple-to-be in kind with Earth Rocker‘s “D.C. Sound Attack,” but again, pushed further.

It’s somewhat telling that three out of the four singles appear within the first five tracks, in that Clutch definitely know how to introduce a release to their fanbase — pro-rock and all that — but songs like the ultra-catchy “Vision Quest,” the boogie-minded “A Good Fire” and the speedy “Weird Times” all offer hooks and signature elements of Clutch being Clutch, the latter dipping a bit into social commentary of the present moment’s confusion and barrage, though the basic image of “H.B. is in Control” is perhaps even more effective in that effort. Of particular note is the return of organ to the band’s arrangement repertoire, something they last included on From Beale Street to Oblivion over a decade ago, parting ways with Mick Schauer prior to the release of 2009’s Strange Cousins from the West (discussed here). It first appears on “Book of Bad Decisions” itself and is peppered throughout, adding bluesy feel to “Emily Dickinson,” “Sonic Counselor” and “Lorelei” in a seeming show that, after three records pointedly without, nothing is off-limits for Clutch at this point.

Such expansions of sound, along with the piano that would seem to be worked into “Vision Quest” and the breadth of moments like Sult‘s guitar at the end of “Emily Dickinson,” are emblematic of the right choices Clutch have suitably enough made on Book of Bad Decisions, and they add depth to the context of the down-to-basics material in “Paper and Strife,” “Weird Times” (though there’s some subtle and effective vocal layering in the verses there; a kind of melodic call and response) and “A Good Fire,” all of which remain excellently composed and rife with hooks and engaging rhythmic turns. Speaking as a Clutch fan, there’s little not to enjoy on Book of Bad Decisions, and though so much of the band’s focus for the last two decades — at least — has been on live performance, the album serves as a reminder of the force they can be in a studio setting as well.

One wonders if they’ll tour again with someone handling keys, but whether they do or don’t, those elements are put to excellent use in across the 2LP’s formidable span, and as much as FallonSultMaines and Gaster build momentum during their time to carry listeners from one end to the other — or at very least lead the celebratory parade — they also provide distinctive moments to stand their songs out from each other and from past offerings, even if it’s more a question of aspects recombined rather than revolutionized. Ultimately, Book of Bad Decisions is another righteous collection from an American rock institution, a national treasure of groove and one of the most distinguished acts on a forever-touring circuit. They are in it for the long haul, and these songs only further demonstrate how fortunate their audience is for that.

Clutch, “Gimme the Keys” lyric video

Clutch, “How to Shake Hands” official video

Clutch, “Hot Bottom Feeder” official video

Clutch, “In Walks Barbarella” official video

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Making Clutch’s “Hot Bottom Feeder” Crab Cakes

Posted in Bootleg Theater on July 31st, 2018 by JJ Koczan

clutch hot bottom feeder recipe

I have to think there are a decent number of Clutch fans having crab cakes this week. Certainly ever since the Maryland lords of groove unveiled their new single last Friday I’ve had the notion in my head. If you haven’t seen it, the track in question, “Hot Bottom Feeder,” comes from the four-piece’s impending album, Book of Bad Decisions, which is out Sept. 7 on Weathermaker Music, and the lyrics, as shown in the video at the bottom of this post, are a recipe for crab cakes. In the clip, vocalist Neil Fallon takes the audience cooking-show-style through the process and after he serves the results to guitarist Tim Sult, bassist Dan Maines and drummer Jean-Paul Gaster, the ending is actually a recipe card for what’s described in the verses. I decided to try it out.

Now, I’m an individual of particular taste when it comes to any number of things, food among them, but I’ve had a few Maryland crab cakes in my time. They’re a regional delicacy of the Chesapeake watershed and if I’m in the area and feeling flush with cash, I usually try to pick a few up frozen to bring home back north. Hasn’t happened in a while though. And a crab cake recipe from Clutch? It couldn’t be any more Maryland if it was a Baltimore Ravens bumper sticker. I hit the local fancy-ish grocer — not the super-fancy grocer, but the pretty fancy grocer — to see if they had any genuine Maryland crab meat. As the first words in the song go, “Never mind that stuff they sell from Vietnam/Get it from the Chesapeake but never from a can.”

The track recommends Backfin, but as Fallon notes, “There’s nothing wrong with Special.” I grabbed a container of what I thought was from Maryland because that was the address on back of the package, but found out after I brought it home it said “Product of India” on the top of the lid. I know I’m old because I suck at reading packages now. Used to have that down. So not a great start, but one presses on. I assembled ingredients: Some whole wheat bread crumbs because I have food issues and authenticity is a myth so keep the 4C. Ground mustard. Mayo. Butter. A raw egg. Some fresh chopped parsley. I’m not huge on parsley and was going to get it dried, but remembered in the video the shot of Fallon chopping it. I’ve trusted Clutch on way more serious issues than garnish herbs, so I rolled accordingly. The idea, after all, was to follow directions.

I was surprised there was no call for Old Bay Seasoning, but again, not my recipe. I resisted all kinds of temptation to embellish. Maybe some jalapeno pesto in there instead of mayo? Maybe some paprika and red pepper flakes to give it a kick? Nope. Keep it simple. This is folk food. It’s not meant to be elaborate. It’s meant to be something you make for your friends and/or family on a Monday afternoon. And yes, with The Patient Mrs. looking on — she doesn’t eat anything with a face, so I knew that was out — I did let The Pecan sample some crab meat as I made my way through the preparation.

Separating said Product of India in my fingers was probably the most time-consuming part, but there wasn’t much shell to find, so that was okay. I threw my ingredients all together in a mixing bowl and got a 1/2 cup measuring cup to shape the actual cakes. In the song, Fallon uses a biscuit cutter. I looked for one at the store, but no dice, so I made do with what I had. They turned out to be a pretty good shape, so as instructed, I stuck them “in the reefer” for a while to cool off, then browned some butter in a pan — also substitution, since “Hot Bottom Feeder” calls for a cast iron skillet; well, all my skillets are in another state, so again, I made do — put the baby on my shoulders and began to fry them on each side.

I didn’t cook a full pound of crab meat, because that’s an awful lot for basically me, but I wound up with three good-sized crab cakes that were awesome. And for all my doubting, I think the fresh parsley actually made a huge difference. Making them made me think about some of the other crab cakes I’ve had, and the difference that some of the “to taste” balances make — some with too much mayo, some with too much mustard, too much breadcrumbs, etc. On the whole, I was pleased. I had two for lunch, without my favorite beverage because time’s always a press these days and I wasn’t exactly eating to relax, and was kind of sitting on the third until I decided to call my mother and have her over for the third. She said it was delicious. Nice to have that support.

“Hot Bottom Feeder” is maddeningly catchy and I hope Clutch like it because it’s the kind of song that’s going to feature in live sets for years to come. I’d never made my own crab cakes before, but the chance to dig into this recipe was too good to pass up, and I sincerely doubt this will be the last time I make it. This week. My particular taste? Well satisfied.

Clutch, “Hot Bottom Feeder” official video

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