Back on Jam Room Clutch asked the world, "Who wants to rock?" And on the bands sixth full-length, Blast Tyrant, they respond to that question with the ironic answer of themselves. After flirting with major labels with their past few releases, Clutch have regrouped, signed with an indie label, and recorded an album filled with rock-n-roll loud enough to deafen the local stoner.
Clutch adamantly state that they despise going into the studio to record. They would much rather be out on the road playing in front of a crowd, and with good reason since they are one of the most entertaining bands one can see live. But despite this urge, Clutch still continues to put out solid releases one after another. Blast Tyrant is no different. "Mercury" opens with a brief instrumental before vocalist/guitarist Neil Fallon takes the podium to sermonize to the world. What Fallon brings to Clutch is untouchable. In addition to his premier guitar skills, Fallon's lyrical and vocal approach is one of a kind. While Fallon continues to preach to the loyal Clutch followers, the remainder of the band provides countless opportunities for them to rock out. Guitarist Tim Sult provides the blueprint for "The Mob Goes Wild," with a heavily Led Zeppelin influenced guitar-riff. Maybe in an effort to demonstrate their versatility, Clutch experiment with acoustic instrumentation as showcased on "Regulator." As the album continues to unfold, Clutch shows no sign of letting up. Behind the kit, Jean-Paul Gaster can do it all, but if my word isn't good enough check out "Spleen Merchant." But wait, there's more! We are treated to the exclusive track "English Pounds," a jam piece from Clutch side-project The Bakerton Group, which is really Clutch sans Fallon. The majority of Blast Tyrant rocks in typical Clutch fashion, which is the only pitfall for Clutch. Despite some variations in instrumentation on a few songs, Clutch maintains itself as the jam rock band that burst onto the scene in 1993 with Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes & Undeniable Truths. For any other band this may be a bad thing, but for Clutch I'll willingly take it.
So now that you're up to speed on Clutch, what's next? If you are wise, you will purchase a ticket to see the band next time they bring their shenanigans through your town. Hell, it's even worth a road trip to witness rock-n-roll in all its glory.
