When you think of a hard rock band, one calls to mind an angry voice, heavy guitar and an infectious beat one must bang their head to. With this album, you will not be dissapointed. On September 7th, Clutch released a full length album titled “Book of Bad Decisions,” yet listening to this album will be the best decision you have ever made. Once it is turned on, one cannot help but jumping into the nearest mosh pit and throwing up a rock and roll sign. It is one of those albums that captivates its audience with every song on the roster.

Formed in 1991, this band has been together since members formed to group in high school back in Germantown, Maryland. Their band consists of Neil Fallon (vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards), Tim Sult (lead guitar, backing vocals), Dan Maines (bass, backing vocals) and Jean-Paul Gaster (drums and percussion). To date they have released 12 studio albums and are signed to their own label, Weathermaker. Having so much history, and being in the game for this long, one would expect their sound to “weather” or die out, but these guys are up to the challenge and have put out an album the rock fans, young and old, can enjoy and love.

Their combination of hard rock, southern heart and charm, and funk-based beat creates an infectious mood that forces listeners to tap their foot in appreciation, or nod their head out of obligation. Their first song on the album, “Gimme the Keys” the band kicks off the album with an intense anthem that takes a look back at their career for a moment, saying that many things have come their way, good and bad, but still, they grab the keys and keep moving onward and upward. The guitar solos and consistent drumline create a mood of exhilaration and excitement that will coarse through listeners veins, encouraging them to appreciate the past, and yet still look to the future and what you can do.

“In Walks Barbarella” will throw new listeners for a loop, as one is greeted with a sudden fury of trumpets, weaving the funk sound with the hardest of rock one could imagine. Fallon even mentions the use of “weaponized funk” in the song lyrics, which could be a kick ass name for a band in its own right, as you are bombarded with a raging guitar and gritty voice that challenges you to keep listening and continuously brings listeners in for more. Continuing in “Vision Quest” a flaming piano chorus will lead you into the action-packed song, combining the genres of southern rock, hard rock, and funk so seamlessly, you will be left bewildered. If you are new to rock or hard rock, be prepared for a musical journey that will challenge, excite, motivate, and ultimately provide an amazing experience that will leave you wanting more, because it is that good.