Clutch // Sunrise On Slaughter Beach // Album Review

In the early days of their fourth decade as a band, Clutch releases their thirteenth studio album ‘Sunrise On Slaughter Beach’. Anyone who claims to be a hard blues rock lover will most likely know these long-time rock rulers as endearing contributors to the scene. Their combination of in-your-face power-rasp vocals from Neil Fallon and crash groove instrumentations from 

Tim Sult (guitar), Dan Maines (bass) and Jean-aul Gaster (drums) have led them down many varying paths with their loyal fanbase trailing joyously behind. 

Released on Clutch’s own Weathermaker label, ‘Sunrise On Slaughter Beach’ was coined by the band to be a different take on the recent world upheaval years. After a bunch of compilation albums were released following their last record, ‘Book of Bad Decisions’ dropped in 2018, the Clutch world waited to see what would come next. The result is a 9-track ride which takes us out to the edge of the Clutch we know and then straight back to those heartedly recognisable servings. 

Previously released on their 3 song EP this year, the album kicks things off with ‘Red Alert (Boss Metal Zone) and ‘Slaughter Beach’. Both strap down that familiar Clutch sound of hard blues and heavy beats. The title track hosts a brilliant mid-song, very 90s instrumental that sees the sound drop back into the studio, producing a crisply layered output. 

‘Mountain Of Bone’ toys around with a different groove, featuring some prominent work by Gaster. The track opens the album up with a slight live edge as it augments into a guitar ring-out finish. But the standout moment for me is ‘Nostferatu Madre’. It’s a staunch hard rockers’ delight with a plentiful soul. 

‘Mercy Brown’ shows a different side to the band with some beguilingly haunting backing vocals and the surprising use of a theremin. Both unheard feats in Clutches’ extensive discography charm the track into a versatile if not slightly surprising experience. 

Back into riff-ready rarity and that classic Maines bass hook with ‘We Strive For Excellence’ we go before ‘Skeletons On Mars’ kicks the tempo up another notch. An old fan pleaser for the books.

The eyebrow-raiser moment on the record comes with the ‘Three Golden Horns’ intro as a gentle vibraphone sends mellow tones out to us. The track then dives right into its dirt-led core which though a far shout from that introduction, it’s nice to hear experimental musical endeavours play out. In many ways, this takes the album a step forward from the rest of the bands who may play it safe. There’s some nice jazz-like chord play on rhythm guitar from Sult coming through during the verses. ‘Three Golden Horns’ is no doubt the Clutch wildcard but it’s well played. 

The album’s final frontier, ‘Jackhammer’, strips away the chaos and leaves Fallon to demonstrate his vocal abilities which remain just as strong as thirty years ago. It’s a real ‘end of the road’ number which I’d actually pinpoint as one of their finest when the mood hits right. Slightly Monster Magnet in its roots. 

‘Sunrise On Slaughter Beach’ is a grand entrance into newfound Clutch territory not seen before. Whilst still harnessing their iconic sound, the band have managed to widen their range and prove themselves once more pioneers; unafraid of throwing out a curveball. The excitement for and love of these life-long friends’ music seems simply unable to be foregone and as always, we as fans will continue to relish in Clutch for as long as we can.  

Review: Monty Sewell

CLUTCH CELEBRATE RELEASE OF NEW ALBUM WITH FREE LIVESTREAM “LIVE FROM HAMMERJACKS” 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH AT 10PM EST/7PM PST

(3AM BST SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH)

FULL SETLIST INCLUDES NEW ALBUM IN ITS ENTIRETY

WATCH LIVE AT OFFICIALCLUTCH YOUTUBE CHANNEL  

LIVE STREAM WILL BE AVAILABLE ON DEMAND AFTERWARDS

NEW ALBUM SUNRISE ON SLAUGHTER BEACH” OUT NOW VIA WEATHERMAKER MUSIC – ORDER HERE

Track Listing: Red Alert (Boss Metal Zone) Slaughter Beach Mountain Of Bone Nosferatu Madre Mercy Brown We Strive For Excellence Skeletons On Mars Three Golden Horns Jackhammer Our Names

Sep 15 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues Sep 16 – New York, NY @ Palladium Times Square Sep 17 – Baltimore, MD @ Hammerjacks Sep 18 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz Sep 20 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE Sep 21 – Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall Sep 23 – Louisville, KY @ Louder than Life* Sep 24 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works Sep 25 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern Sep 27 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues Sep 29 – Houston TX @ Warehouse Live Sep 30 – Dallas, TX @ The Factory in Deep Ellum Oct 01 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom Oct 02 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s Oct 04 – Phoenix, AZ @ Van Buren Oct 05 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent Oct 07 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock* Oct 08 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory Concert House Oct 09 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre Oct 10 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SODO Oct 12 – Salt Lake City, UT @ the Depot Oct 13 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium Oct 14 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater Oct 15 – West Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom Oct 16 – Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall *Clutch only

Nov 11 – Glasgow, UK – 02 Academy Nov 12 – Newcastle, UK – 02 City Hall Nov 13 – Leeds, UK – 02 Academy Nov 15 – Exeter, UK – Great Hall Nov 16 – Brighton, UK – Brighton Dome Nov 18 – Hannover, GER – Capitol Nov 20 – Hamburg, GER – Markthalle Nov 22 – Berlin, GER – Huxley’s Neue Welt Nov 23 – Munich, GER – Neue Theaterfabrik Nov 24 – Wien, AT – Arena Nov 25 – Zagreb, CRO – Culture Factory Nov 26 – Milan, IT – Fabrique Dec 2 – Toulouse, FR – Le Bikini Dec 3 – Lyon, FR – Le Transbordeur Dec 5 – Zurich, CH – X-TRA Dec 6 – Stuttgart, GER – LKA Longhorn Dec 7 – Frankfurt, GER – Batschkapp Dec 9 – Cologne, GER – Live Music Hall Dec 10 – Paris, FR – Bataclan Dec 13 – Bristol, UK – 02 Academy Dec 14 – Birmingham, UK – 02 Academy Dec 15 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy Dec 16 – Nottingham, UK – Rock City Dec 17 – London, UK – The Roundhouse