Maryland’s Clutch spills the dirt on ‘Book of Bad Decisions’

After 27 years in the business, Maryland rock quartet Clutch has more than a few stories to tell.

They can’t share everything, but the band is spilling a little dirt on its latest release “Book of Bad Decisions.”

“Not all the songs reference our collective experience as a band, but ‘Book of Bad Decisions’ seemed like an apt name for these various chapters, whether factual, fictitious, or somewhere in-between,” lead singer/guitarist Neil Fallon said in a press statement.

Clutch released “Book of Bad Decisions,” its 12th studio album, in September through its own Weathermaker Music.

Recording with Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, the White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys), the band – Fallon, drummer Jean-Paul Glaser, bassist Dan Maines and guitarist Tim Sult – felt empowered to try a few new things, including using vintage amps and adding a horn section on “In Walks Barbarella.”

After more than 25 years in the business, Clutch has also used “Book of Bad Decisions,” especially the song “Sonic Counselor,” to thank fans for their years of support.

“I’ve always loved rock songs that just celebrated rock ‘n’ roll,” Fallon said in a second press statement. “But that song was a bit more about the people who come to our shows, that make it as exciting for us as hopefully it is for them. My favorite shows that I’ve seen bands do is like going to church, especially when everybody’s in sync with each other and you walk out with your jaw on the floor. I feel incredibly grateful that people have walked out of our shows and felt the same way. It’s a tip of the hat to them.”