“We want to release a great record”

In a recent conversation with Shawn Ratches by Laughing monkey music, Clutch‘S Neil Fallon offered a glimpse into the band’s upcoming touring plans and a hint at new music in the works. Fallon talked about the band’s recent tour, where they played their 2004 album, Shoot tyrantin its entirety, on the occasion of the album’s twentieth anniversary.

Looking back on the tour’s promotion, Fallon admitted (via Blabbermond): “In retrospect, I don’t think we promoted that very well or let people know that was happening. So we’re going to do it again for a while, like four more shows, in a sort of Mid-Atlantic in New York and Baltimore in the area, as it was the twentieth anniversary of the record.

After these shows, the band plans to take a break from touring until April. Fallon revealed that during this time they will turn their attention to celebrating the 30th anniversary of Clutch‘s self-titled album from 1995. Excitingly, this milestone includes a long-awaited reissue on vinyl. “Then we’re going to take a significant amount of time off, until April or so, and then we’re going to do pretty much the same thing with the 1995 self-titled record, because that will be the thirtieth anniversary and we’ve got the rights to re-release that on vinyl .I mean, we don’t own that record outright, but it’s getting closer. And in the spaces between us writing the new record do that when you’re constantly touring. You’d think it would be easier to writing, but right now that’s the last thing I want to do,” he admitted.

If we think further about the creative process, Fallon explained that creating new songs is not an easy task after 30 years as a band. “The thing is, you’re in a band, it’s a hive mind. It would be one thing if you were the only person you were accountable to and you understood what kind of mood you’re in. Like, ‘I’m in a sour mood. I don’t want to write music. Or ‘I’m in a good mood and I could release five songs.’ But when you’re dealing with personalities, especially personalities that have been together for thirty years, you have to wait until the stars align. And we don’t just want to put out a record for the sake of putting out a record , and if that takes longer than, let’s say, normal, then so be it.’