Very much looking forward to this one. 2013’s already got a few releases I’m dying to hear on the docket, but I don’t think I’m looking forward to anything quite as much as Clutch‘s Earth Rocker, because you know that no matter what turns the band makes, they’re going to deliver. The album art just came down the PR wire and I wanted to post it right away, so you’ll find it below, followed by their first round of North American tour dates to support it. You know there’ll be plenty more of those coming.

Dig it:

CLUTCH Reveal Album Artwork for Earth Rocker

Announce Initial North American Tour Dates

First Taste of New Music to Come on Christmas Eve!

With a little bit more than three months left before the release of CLUTCH’s highly anticipated new studio effort Earth Rocker, the band has officially unveiled the album’s artwork and has announced the initial dates for the first leg of the North American Earth Rocker world tour.

The artwork was created by Nick Lakiotes, long time CLUTCH art director, who has worked on previous efforts including: Robot Hive/Exodus and Strange Cousins From the West.

CLUTCH has announced the initial dates for the first leg of the North American Earth Rocker world tour. The dates kick off March 8th in Cincinnati, OH and are currently slated to run through March 24th in Anaheim, CA. Support on these dates will be provided by Orange Goblin, Lionize and Kyng. Tickets for fan club members go on sale today via Pro-Rock.com and tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday December 21st. Look for more dates to be announced in the coming weeks.

Before they hit the road for their annual Holiday run, CLUTCH will be headlining the KBPI “When Hell Freezes Over” show this Friday night December 21st in Denver, CO at the Fillmore Auditorium. To get more information on the show and to purchase tickets visit http://bit.ly/SyLxpD.

CLUTCH’s Holiday tour dates kick off December 26th in Washington, DC and conclude with a special New Year’s Eve performance in Worcester, MA at The Palladium.

Fans can keep up on the progress of Earth Rocker by visiting the new website www.earthrocker.com. The website is a hub dedicated to all things Earth Rocker. This Christmas Eve www.earthrocker.com will debut a live video of the title track Earth Rocker, which was recorded live at The Machine Shop. Fans can expect to see frequent updates including photos, videos from the studio, song title announcements and samples of new songs.

In addition to the new website CLUTCH has joined the world of twitter. Follow CLUTCH on Twitter @ClutchOfficial.

KBPI “When Hell Freezes Over” Radio Show
12/21: Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium

Holiday Tour With Mondo Generator, Saviors and Wino
12/26: Washington DC @ 9:30 Club SOLD OUT!
12/27: Asheville NC @ The Orange Peel
12/28: Lexington KY @ Buster’s Billiards & Backroom
12/29: Columbus OH @ Newport Music Hall
12/30: Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock on Sale Friday
12/31: Worcester MA @ The Palladium

Earth Rocker European Tour
1/21: Press Day in London, UK
1/22: London, UK @ Koko SOLD OUT!
1/23: Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
1/24: Press Day in Paris, FR
1/25: Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie SOLD OUT!
1/26: Stuttgart, GER @ Universum
1/27: Munchen, GER @ Backstage Club
1/28: Press Day in Berlin, GER
1/29: Berlin, GER @ Lido
1/30: Press Day in Cologne, GER
1/31: Cologne, GER @ Luxor
2/1: Brussels, BE @ VK
2/2: Hamburg, GER @ Logo SOLD OUT!
2/3: Copenhagen, DK @ Amager Bio
2/4: Press Day in Oslo, NO
2/5: Oslo, NO @ Parkteateret
2/6: Press Day in Stockholm, SWE
2/7: Stockholm, SWE @ Tyrol

Earth Rocker North American World Tour
3/8: Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
3/9: Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
3/10: Sauget, IL @ Pop’s
3/11: Little Rock, AR @ Juanita’s Cantina Ballroom
3/12: Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
3/14: Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom
3/18: Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep
3/19: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
3/21: Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
3/22: Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
3/23: Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Café Las Vegas
3/24: Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues

Good morning and good news. Clutch have unveiled Earth Rocker as the title of their next record, which is due March 2013 on their own Weathermaker Music imprint, with an expected huge amount of touring to coincide. Details (there are many) follow, courtesy of the PR wire.

CLUTCH Announce Earth Rocker as New Album Title

Earth Rocker World Tour to Kick off in January 2013

Maryland rockers CLUTCH have announced Earth Rocker as the title of their new studio album.  Earth Rocker is scheduled for a worldwide release in March of 2013 on CLUTCH’s label Weathermaker Music.

In conjunction with the album’s release CLUTCH will embark on the Earth Rocker world tour beginning in The United Kingdom in January of 2013.  In addition to the tour dates, the band will be available for press opportunities on select dates. A complete list of dates can be found below.  A full United States and Canadian headline tour will follow and is slated to run from March 8th through April 20th.

The band has completed tracking Earth Rocker with Machine handling all production duties.  Machine is currently in the mixing process on the album.  Fans can keep up on the progress of Earth Rocker by visiting the new website www.earthrocker.com. The website will be a hub dedicated to all things Earth Rocker.  Fans can expect to see daily updates including photos, videos from the studio, song title announcements and samples of new songs.  In addition to the new website CLUTCH has joined the world of twitter.  Follow CLUTCH on Twitter @ClutchOfficial.

Frontman Neil Fallon commented on the the recording process for Earth Rocker and how it differs from other CLUTCH albums:

“Last minute overdubs are fun.  Harmonicas, tambourines (yes, we use those), claps, the odd backing vocal.  Recording can be monotonous, so those unintended moments can be a lot of fun. It’s kind of like kindergarten music class, but with beer.   And sometimes the spontaneity of a last ditch idea breathes a lot of life back into a song that we’ve been beating up for weeks on end. A looming deadline can be a great muse!”

He continues, “It has a lot in common with Blast Tyrant in that Machine’s production techniques are really unique.  It differs from Blast Tyrant and a lot of other CLUTCH records in that, overall, the songs are faster and concise.”

When asked about how this record how it differs from other CLUTCH releases guitarist Tim Sult added, “As far as the composition of the songs go, this is the heaviest and fastest CLUTCH album to date. “

CLUTCH will also take to the road starting on Halloween for a quick run of dates including two stops in Flint, MI and two stops in Detroit, MI.  MonstrO will open these shows with Lionize providing direct support.

In what has become an annual tradition, CLUTCH will play a string of Holiday tour dates this December.  The dates kick off December 26th in Washington, DC and conclude with a special New Year’s Eve performance in Worcester, MA at The Palladium.  Support on these shows will come from Mondo Generator, Saviours and Wino.  A complete list of all dates is below.

With Lionize and Monstro
10/31: Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop
11/1: Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop (Sold Out – Rescheduled from 5/13)
11/2: Joliet, IL @ Mojoes
11/3: Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall (Sold Out – Rescheduled from 5/12)
11/4: Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall

Holiday Tour With Mondo Generator, Saviors and Wino
12/26: Washington DC @ 9:30 Club
12/27: Asheville NC @ The Orange Peel
12/28: Lexington KY @ Buster’s Billiards & Backroom
12/29: Columbus OH @ Newport Music Hall
12/30: Sayreville NJ @ Starland Ballroom
12/31: Worcester MA @ The Palladium

Clutch Earth Rocker World Tour
1/21: Press Day in London, UK
1/22: London, UK @ Islington Academy
1/23: Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
1/24: Press Day in Paris, FR
1/25: Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie
1/26: Stuttgart, GER @ Universum
1/27: Munchen, GER @ Backstage Club
1/28: Press Day in Berlin, GER
1/29: Berlin, GER @ Lido
1/30: Press Day in Cologne, GER
1/31: Cologne, GER @ Luxor
2/1: Brussels, BE @ VK
2/2: Hamburg, GER @ Logo
2/3: Copenhagen, DK @ Amager Bio
2/4: Press Day in Oslo, NO
2/5: Oslo, NO @ Parkteateret
2/6: Press Day in Stockholm, SWE
2/7: Stockholm, SWE @ Tyrol