Album Review: Clutch – Sunrise on Slaughter Beach (Weathermaker)

They’re back! Groovy, fuzzy, energetic, stoner rock band Clutch are back with their 13th studio album, Sunrise on Slaughter Beach. It will be released on September 16th via their own label Weathermaker.

Hitting their stride immediately with the banger that is Red Alert (Boss Metal Zone). We’ve had plenty of time to spend with this track already as it was a previously released single, yet it isn’t losing any of its potency. A Clutch energised and excited, the rhythm is so catchy and the chorus is anthemic as all hell. If there were any doubts about Clutch delivering on this album, this track blows them all away in an instant.

How do you follow that? With something delightfully groovy in the form of Slaughter Beach. The riffs are slow and sleazy, the chorus is fire, the vocals are immense and there’s just a touch of that Clutch oddness. Something that seeps into Mountain of Bone, a darker toned track vocally but balanced by the airiness of the guitars that soar and bloody soar. This is Clutch on top form and lyrically, it’s as fun and fascinating as always.

Nosferatu Madre might be the highlight of the entire record though. One of the best Clutch tracks in recent memory. The beat, the bursts of energy, the infectious progression… it’s wild and weird in all the best ways possible. So memorable and so exhilarating.

We do then get something notably different with Mercy Brown though. A real curve-ball compared to what we’ve had up to this point. A combination of stoner riffs, cleaner passages, interesting keyboard melody and awesome vocal harmonisation. Before it’s back to classic Clutch rock and groove with the danceable blast of energy that is We Strive for Excellence.

The album is so much fun and that only continues into the dreamy and unnerving Skeletons on Mars. A track with a bit more bite, disconcerting effects and an echo that really enhances the spacey feel this track has. Whereas the penultimate track, Three Golden Horns, is riff-heaven and a little jammy, and the finale of Jackhammer Our Names mixes blues and rock, has some wonderful melodic guitar twangs and features some of the album’s finest lyrical content too. A stunning finish that feels very much like the setting of the sun. Perfect for an album closer.

Clutch have done it again. They’ve released a banger album that is exciting, interesting and fun to listen to. What more can you ask for?

Clutch – Sunrise on Slaughter Beach Full Track Listing:

1. Red Alert (Boss Metal Zone)
2. Slaughter Beach
3. Mountain of Bone
4. Nosferatu Madre
5. Mercy Brown
6. We Strive for Excellence
7. Skeletons On Mars
8. Three Golden Horns
9. Jackhammer Our Names

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