CLUTCH: BLAST TYRANT

SCORE: 98/100

Despite being the album to help get Clutch just a bit more commercially recognized - 'Blast Tyrant' is still something of a hidden gem. It has a heavier rock sound that brings in hard rock influences to make this album chock-full of incredibly memorable and captivating guitar riffs that will have you pulled in the minute the album kicks off. 

'Blast Tyrant' keeps some of the groove rock elements as their previous albums while still leaning heavily into stoner rock - dabbling in heavier and more commercial sounds while still staying true to the band's unique and polarizing sound. Outputs like this from the band make me really wonder how there's such a widely held opinion of people not liking them - but this album is near-impossible to not like; even if its just slightly.

Each track is unique enough from its predecessor - but this manages to stay true while the album is entirely consistent. There's a style that stays in-tact incredibly well throughout the album, making the entire output feel completely cohesive in its production and sound while still switching up enough to make the songs stand out from one another. 

There are some more calm moments in between the moshing energy held within this album - making it feel like an essential and perfect introduction to all sides of the spectrum when it comes to Clutch's sound. It meshes their softer, more groove-orientated sound with something a bit more edgy and worth partying to - and every track has something worthwhile; meaning that this album comes together into one delightful package that goes by more smoothly than expected.

It's a little bit lengthy (although it doesn't feel that way at all) - but the sheer energy and power held by this album make it more than worthwhile in the end. Songs like 'Profits Of Doom' and 'The Mob Goes Wild' showcase a more guitar-focused side of Clutch, with the instrumentals taking shape within this album in a more hard-hitting way than what one might expect from the band. This album has less of their slow, bass-focused sounds and it delves into heavier territory with fun elements and a sound that just extrudes energy at every waking moment.