Based in Maryland and formed way back in 1991, CLUTCH have been prolific, having released 12 studio albums. "Book of Bad Decisions" dropped back on September 7^th, with a tour to accompany that's garnered great reviews from friends of mine that have seen it. Here's the deal, CLUTCH is a prime example of cross-over AOR/Doom/Stoner/Blues metal that can easily appeal to newer and vintage metal fans alike. They've got the formula tweaked just right, and cornered the market on primordial butt-shaking metal. My wife, who is not a metal fan in any sense, enjoyed this album quite a bit. "Book of Bad Decisions" is a great introduction to what this band represents, gritty sandpaper like guitar, a relentless steady backbeat and songwriting steeped in a "don't f@*k with me attitude". There's a lot on this new album to like or even love. That's not to say there's not some throw-away tracks, because there are. But overall, this is a really fun release.

"Book of Bad Decisions" opens with the distorted guitar of "Gimme The Keys" which does a fine job setting the tone of this album. The next track is "Spirit of '76" and it's definitely a favorite for me. Tim Sult's guitar work is at its best here, dripping with the doominess of Iommi. Dan Maines' bass and Jean-Paul Gaster's kit work keep things funky, while Neil Fallon's vocals perfectly accentuate the vintage reflection of the theme...  "Spirit of '76, we were such a tender age". The title track, "Book of Bad Decisions" is another rager that resonated with me. Throughout the album I found myself smiling and shaking my head over how Fallon can turn just about anything into a subject for a song. Crab cake recipe? Fallon's got that covered in "Hot Bottom Feeder". Jane Fonda's iconic role sci-fi role? Check. It's addressed with "In Walks Barbarella". Presidential aspirations? Look no further than "How To Shake Hands" which probably showcases Fallon's lyrical genius the best.

"Book of Bad Decisions" totals out at 15 tracks. Personally, I think that comes in a bit much, and adds a few clunky songs that muck-up the overall process here. Songs like "Vision Quest" and "Weird Times" just fall flat for me, The fact that these two songs are back to back just throw a wrench in the flow of the album for me, yet I'm sure some listeners will completely dig them. That's the beauty of music. Thankfully  for me, the next track "Emily Dickenson" brought me back around, and lastly, the closing track "Lorelei" is fabulous start to finish. Overall, I really enjoyed CLUTCH's newest endeavor. It's a worthy contribution to their arsenal, and should be a must have for any fan.