Clutch: Pure Rock Fury

Clutch don't exactly get a bad rep in my circle, but I constantly find myself defending their honor. Let's get it straight: Clutch rules, and you know it. I got into the band right after Elephant Riders came out. It was unlike anything I'd listen to at that point. I was 14 and my untinged ears liked what they heard. Shortly after, I picked up their next album, Pure Rock Fury, which had just been released.

Let this album be a lesson to you all on how a modern day album becomes great. Clutch thrives in a live setting. This album attempts to bring their live shows into a studio setting. The combined live recordings and mixed it with studio work. It's not cheating, but collaging together the best of both worlds. What came out at the end is probably one of the rawest hardrock albums in the last 15 years. This the album where I learned what it mean when the amps peaked. (For whatever reason, I hadn't fully got into the Melvins at this point and the lesson was relearned shortly after)

I feel as if the sounds created on this album have not been recreated by anyone, not even the band. I remember reading and interview regarding this album and Niel Fallon referenced Black Flag, Bad Brains and the Cro-Mags as influences on this album. It took me a while to realize what he meant. It was the approach taken by 80s hardcore bands, the attitude, not so much the actual music. Clutch hadn't released a live album by the point, although they would shortly. This was the next best thing, possibly better.

The album captures a rare moment in the band's career. They had slowly moved away from the noise and grooved filled post metal and into a grooved filled heavy blue rock band, and then they made this album. It's heavy, but different. (Two steps forward, one step back) The songs present a more cacophonous atmosphere, and not just due to the recording process. Tim Sult's guitar work seemed slightly agressive, no matter what style he played, and the rest of the band followed.

Dare I say this was the band in their prime? In a sense, yes. The albums that followed slowly took a different direction, certainly not for the worst. This album seems to culminate their beginnings up until the release of this album. It's harsh, it's fast, it's stock full of their classic grove jams and Fallons prolific lyrics. Definite check out 'Pure Rock Fury', 'Brazenhead' and 'Drink to the Dead'. These three tracks really do the trick.