Clutch: Pure Rock Fury : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

With its latest, Clutch offer another heaping helping of bare-bones rock rooted in the glorious grimy tradition of bands like the MC5 and Mountain (Mountain ax man Leslie West in fact makes a guest appearance on "Immortal.") The West Virginia quartet's fourth album opens with a snarling squall of dissonant guitar, then shifts into high gear for a non-stop onslaught of meaty, manly grooves that grind with a suave insistence that tempers the gruff vocals and stark production. Many tracks (notably "Open Up the Border") are reminiscent of Corrosion of Conformity and occasionally the strident syncopation takes on a distinctly Helmet-ine cast. Though Clutch often whips up a stoner rock vibe, it's much harder hitting than most of the herb-powered set, with tighter compositions and more of a crisp emotional edge. Even the jammy stretches unwind without meandering in circles, proof positive that Clutch has the musical muscle to keep its heady tunes on track.

(SANDY MASUO)