Clutch’s 10th album, Earth Rocker, is a turbo-charged belter that finds the veteran Maryland 4-piece crafting their fastest, hardest-rocking and flat-out best album since 2004’s classic Blast Tyrant. All the typical Clutch attributes are in place –the zany elements, swaggering rock ‘n’ roll, funk-infused jams and a strong blues pulse. But after the slightly restrained bluesy jams of their most recent album, Strange Cousins from the West, the band has made a concerted effort to make a more straight-forward album whilst retaining their trademark quirks and distinct sound. The direct bursts of inspired rock are rippling with energy and a stack of instantly memorable hooks, grooves and catchy choruses. Notably, Machine returns to the production helm and like his previous work on the similarly inclined Blast Tyrant, he captures their pure rock spirit and renowned raw energy of their live performances into a punchy, vibrant sonic vessel for the band to weave their magic.
The hard-edged riffs and no-nonsense rock ‘n’ roll of the opening title track is classic Clutch and sets the tone for the rest of the album. Singer Neil Fallon is in impeccably fine form; firing off profound, offbeat and poetic lyrical rants with his distinct vocals hitting each note with great force and enthusiasm. The rest of the band are reliably tight and versatile. Jean-Paul Gaster’s drumming is loaded with variety and impeccable chops, forming half of one of rock’s strongest and most underrated rhythm sections. He shuffles effortlessly between busy fills, intricate rhythms and ample doses of swinging groove. Dan Maine’s bass adds plenty of warmth and clout to Clutch’s sound. While Tim Sult’s dynamic guitar work bleeds rock, blues, funk and soul; hitting with the force of a Mac truck yet embellished with some wonderful deftness and subtlety.
Scaling back some of their stranger tendencies, Clutch keep their offbeat nature present but grounded. Consistency is the name of the game here and Clutch deliver in spades. ‘Crucial Velocity’ jams hard and features some sublime guitar soloing and a killer chorus that will stick in your head for days. But even after the classic opening one-two punch the quality never dips as tune after tune offers something distinct and engaging. The harmonica laced ‘D.C. Sound Attack!’ has a classic modern Clutch vibe; mixing groovy funk-rock with a catchy southern-boogie vibe. ‘Unto the Breach’ rocks harder than anything Clutch has released in the past decade, with yet another punchy, addictive chorus and classic rock soloing. The hypnotic jazz-blues ballad ‘Gone Cold’ is perfectly sequenced halfway through the album, offering a subdued break to the full-blooded rockers it’s wedged between.
Fallon’s hearty vocals are superb throughout the album as he commands the microphone with tremendous character and authority. He dominates the epic drive and irresistible chorus of ‘The Face’ – a personal favourite and absolute stunner of a rock song. The catchy rock ‘n’ roll twang of ‘Book, Saddle and Go’ and the hard-hitting, upbeat stomp of ‘Cyborg Betty’ keeps the album in overdrive as it hurtles towards its conclusion. The high-octane closer ‘The Wolf Man Kindly Requests’ grinds classic Sabbath and Zeppelin riffs through a swamp-rock filter, ending the album on a soaring high note.
Even this far into their career Clutch are still as surprising and vital as ever, defined by their individuality, relentless work ethic, consistency and versatility. Earth Rocker represents another essential chapter in the Clutch cannon and is without doubt one of the must-have rock albums of the year.
Weathermaker Music
9/10
Reviewer: Luke Saunders