Review by Tammy Lomax for MPM
Clutch have long been established as one of the most respected forces in hard rock. Packed with tonnes of groove, their signature sound seamlessly blends riff-heavy stoner rock with gritty blues.
It’s not every day you see a band stick together with the exact same lineup for 35 years. That is pure loyalty. It’s also exactly why they are known as one of the hardest-working, tightest live acts in the world.
Their next full-length studio album is slated to drop in January 2027. It will mark five years since Sunrise on Slaughter Beach, and fans should get ready. The direction and overall vibe are a completely new experience.
The title track, “Wasted Lands” takes inspiration from a real-life Facebook scammer. The song tackles an online troll who stubbornly insisted Neil Fallon personally owed them a free t-shirt and dinner from a contest. When the internet tried to explain the profile was a fake, the user simply refused to believe it. Fallon’s response? “You want a monster? Let’s give you one.” He wrote a track painting himself as “Neil Patrick Fallon” a horrific, legendary local creature that even H.P. Lovecraft or Stephen King couldn’t dream up.
To call this track unique is an understatement. Lyrically, it’s delightfully unhinged! I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anything quite so mad, but it carries a serious amount of groove.
About two minutes in, the chaos suddenly made perfect sense and I fell in love with it. My initial surprise turned into a deep appreciation for the exceptional musical talent on display. Listening to it highlights how rare this style of rock has become. It’s a shame it slipped away, considering this vibrant, experimental sound is exactly what birthed some of the greatest musical movements decades ago.
There is hope with their upcoming album release though and most things are possible. Wasted Lands will be released on the 22nd January 2027, watch this space.
