CLUTCH Schedules Australian Headlining Dates

CLUTCH will embark on a short tour of Australia in June. The dates are as follows:

May 31 - The Zoo, Brisbane, QLD
June 01 - The Metro, Sydney, NSW
June 02 - Hi Fi, Melbourne, VIC

Support at the shows will come from BUDD and PEEPING TOM (**NOT** to be confused with the Mike Patton-fronted band).

CLUTCH released its new album, "From Beale Street to Oblivion", yesterday (March 27) via DRT Entertainment.

Produced by Joe Barresi (who has worked with KYUSS, TOOL, MELVINS, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, etc.),the 12-track album touches upon a myriad of hard rock styles — stoner rock, southern rock, blues metal, and plenty of tasty jams.

"This is probably the most 'live' album we have recorded," enthused frontman Neil Fallon about "Beale Street".

"We went out for a few weeks, and played the music on the road. So, when we went into the studio, all of us knew exactly what was going to happen — a first for CLUTCH. I don't know why we haven't done it this way all along; it's so much easier.

"We also recorded the basic tracks directly onto tape. Nothing digital in there at all. We haven't done that since 'The Elephant Riders'. And this record has a few more bluesy elements than has been the case in the past, but nothing so blatant that it could be called alien to what we do."

One of rock's most hard-working live bands, CLUTCH will be supporting the album (which is their third for the DRT label) with a world tour — including U.S., European, and Australian dates, as well as an appearance at the mammoth Bonnaroo Festival on June 14.

"Musically, we've become much more of a rock 'n' roll band now, as opposed to being a metal or hardcore one," said Fallon. "Our style is riff-oriented, with a swing. It's never been a calculated move; we just followed our instinct, and that is leading us closer to those bands to whom we listened in our childhood. Bands which are now termed as 'classic rock.'"