Release
date: October 02nd 2015. Label: Weathermaker. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Psychic
Warfare – Tracklisting
01.
The Affidavit
02.
X-Ray Visions
03.
Firebirds
04.
A Quick Death In Texas
05.
Sucker For The Witch
06.
Your Love Is Incarceration
07.
Doom Saloon
08.
Our Lady Of Electric Light
09.
Noble Savage Clutch
10.
Behold The Colossus
11.
Decapitation Blues
12.
Son Of Virginia
Band
Members:
Neil
Fallon: Vocals/ Guitar
Jean-Paul
Gaster: Drums
Dan
Maines: Bass
Tim
Sult: Guitar
Review:
Everybody
who knows me knows how important Clutch is for me. They were my
gateway to the scene, that big game-changer that everybody has. Blast
Tyrant changed my perception of music as a form of art, and I've been
praying at the altar of the burning beard ever since I discovered
them. So to say that I would go into this review without a bias would
be a downright lie, and I could almost claim me being biased would
defy the idea of a critical approach to reviewing this album, but
everybody who likes Clutch knows that these guys are unable to
release a bad album, even if they tried. That being said, I did go
into it with some fear due to my observation of me perceiving a lot
of new albums as growers rather than instant love, and I was afraid
that it would be the same with Psychic Warfare. But song titles like
Sucker for the Witch and Decapitation Blues get me excited so, lets
dive into it.
The
albums kicks of the with the half-minute intro The Affidavit, which
has resident madman preacher Neil Fallon asking for a an account of
happenings (apparently he wanted Tommy Lee Jones to do the intro and
outro, alas Mr. Jones is a busy man).
Fittingly
it launches right into the first single of the album, X-Ray Visions,
with the line "First thing that I did was buy a pack of smokes".
Neil seems channel his inner paranoid conspiracy-theorist in that
song, recalling songs like Sleestak Lightning and Escape from the
Prison Planet. Lyrically it is what you come to expect from an Clutch
record: Hard-rock sermons with Neil's ingenious humour-drenched
allusions to (urban) mythology. Lines like "I was quickly
overtaken by the angry spirits of Ronald and Nancy Reagan" will
stay with you for some time. Above all it is just an insanely fun
song to listen to and embodies everything Clutch stands for.
Firebirds
picks right up where X-Ray visions left off, another fun high-octane
rocker with however if you've been longing for that southern fried
Blast Tyrant era Clutch, then A Quick Death in Texas will satisfy
your needs. This funky chunk has a bass-line that will make you dance
in an instant, rounded off with some cowbell in the bridge for good
measure.
Sucker
for the Witch is a standout. Neil in conjunction with Dan's bass
spins into a proper frenzy, to unload the built up energy in a
ferocious chorus. This is probably the closest Clutch have ever
gotten to something akin to a breakdown, and it works better than
expected. The lyrics are hilarious (I highly recommend you to watch
Neil's series of lyrics explanation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh-mT_pJa_M) and it has become one of
my favourites off the album.
Your
Love is Incarceration works much in the same way as A Quick Death in
Texas, about another affair with the ladies gone sour, and Neil keeps
it delightfully vague. His exclaimed "Ugh" sets the tone,
and Dan's bass-line is downright infectious.
Doom
Saloon is a sombre interlude/intro piece of strummed guitars, that
leads right into Our Lady of Electric Light, a thick slab of blues
that in combination with Doom Saloon marks a major change in pace and
sound for the album. Slide guitars paint desert landscapes, and
although he doesn't vary much in his singing voice Neil lays down his
best vocal performance on this album. This is heavy stuff and much
like its brother in spirit Gone cold from Earth Rocker it is destined
to become a fan favorite.
Good-time
rock Noble Savage brings a harsh contrast to Our Lady and is a
barnstormer, the chorus "Unapologetic Lifer for Rock and Roll"
does justice to its own matter. Jean Paul and Tim deliver one of
their best performances on the entire album. Behold the Colossus
doesn't change the recipe a lot, but thanks to the driving beats and
the wah drenched guitars it turns out to be quite a stomper. But
Clutch decide to send off Psychic Warfare with a proper bang with the
next two songs.
At
this point I'd pay Neil bare coin to tell me bed time stories and
Decapitation Blues shows once again that he is no stranger to odd
lyrical inspirations(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ff4EysaOko).
When Mastodon sings about Methheads chopping down trees to pay for
their drug habit, then Clutch sing about neck problems, and both
manage to conjure up a killer tune fit for head-banging if you dare
to do so.
Mining
the darker mood set by Decapitation Blues Clutch prepare to bid us
farewell with Son of Virginia. This slow cooking ballad has a long
build-up before it erupts into a huge riff, only to get back into the
echoing twang of Tim Sult's guitar and spiralling yet into the
furious riff swagger again. However the the real farewell is a short
outro at the end of the song to close the loop with the The
Affidavit. Neil, somewhat doubtful of the truth of the events that
unfolded the previous 40 minutes wishes a good night.
I
admit, I am among the vexed, so, was this a grower or instant love? I
am happy to report that it is the later. Clutch crafted another great
soundtrack for weekends of greasy BBQs and Saturday afternoon truck
cruising. The musicianship is high class, but you'd come to expect
such a thing from a band that has been playing with the same line-up
for almost 25 years.
Dan's
bouncing bass-lines are pronounced (and luckily it seems that he is
given more time overall in the spotlight on this record), Tim wields
his axe with proficiency, dealing in short but efficient solos and
catchy southern-rooted riffs and JP behind the kit keeps the pace
with a snapping accuracy and groove, bringing (in cooperation with
Dan) massive drive to songs like Noble Savage. Neil doesn't bother
move out of his comfort zone, prefers to dish out hobo-wisdoms
varying only between his his gravely singing voice and lower end
barks.
Together they form a tight unit, the chemistry between each
member is great. Credit should definitely go as well to the top notch
production by Machine, who was also behind Earth Rocker and Blast
Tyrant, which also may explain the overall similarities between these
three albums. The production is really crisp, each instrument is
clearly audible, and the mix packs a punch, making this album really
fun to listen to. In comparison to its straight forward predecessor
it is a more challenging, diverse listen, but all the more rewarding.
Clutch
doesn't reinvent the wheel with this album, but they make it run a
little bit smoother than it did before. You shouldn't get your hopes
up for them to ever be avant-garde, and they make no secret of their
own groundedness. They're mom's home-cooked meal of hard rock/stoner.
It will never stun you with innovation, but it will always taste
good, and you'll always come back for more. Its a familiar, warm
embrace. The only envelope they push is in terms of quality, as
they're yet to tarnish their discography with a bad release. Psychic
Warfare holds up to any other music they released before and further
cement their position as one of the greatest rock contemporaries.
Overall
it could be summed up as a logical continuation of Earth Rocker,
unsurprisingly, as the material was written shortly after ER's
release, but also revisiting some of the sound found on fan favorite
Blast Tyrant as well, rounded off with a healthy dose of Blues and
some sprinkles of Funk. Seeing that Psychic Warfare was only released
2 1/2 years after Earth Rocker means that we will probably have to be
patient for a new album. But Psychic Warfare will keep me entertained
for those long years ahead. Get it now. You won't regret it. You
better believe me, brother!
Words
by Calvin Lampert
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