Customer Reviews

Robot Hive: Exodus

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The always hard to categorize Clutch are becoming even more hard to categorize with each passing album. These guys are both hardworking and relentlessly creative. This disc is a little less metallic and more experimental than their last outing, the great Blast Tyrant. However, that old Clutch heaviness is still plentiful here, especially in the neckpain-inducing "Burning Beard" and the strangely angular "Circus Maximus." The best aspect of Clutch's approach is the jam-oriented interactions between the disarmingly funky basslines of Dan Maines and the off-kilter stoner-metal riffs of Tim Sult, built upon drummer Jean Paul Gaster's driving and genre-jumping rhythms. Meanwhile, singer Neil Fallon sounds more and more like he's drowning in oppressive political and religious demagoguery, and this describes both his cryptic lyrics and his riot-inciting vocals.

The biggest development for Clutch here is the addition of fulltime keyboardist Mick Schauer, who has been fully integrated into the band's sound, instead of just adding ornamentation. This has pushed Clutch further into an unmistakable classic rock and blues sound, evident in the surprisingly no-nonsense tunes "10001110101" and "10,000 Witnesses." There are even a few snippets of balladry here, like in the verses of "Land of Pleasant Living." Most unexpectedly, the album ends with two reverential 12-bar blues workouts. The first is a lyrical cover of Mississippi Fred McDowell's "Gravel Road" on top of slammin' Clutch-created blooze mayhem; this is followed by a full cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Who's Been Talking." You might just think that Clutch is evolving into an older and wiser blues band (albeit a strange one), but I bet they'll add a new element or three to their sound on the next album. [~doomsdayer520~]

You've got to give Clutch credit. Despite being one of the most revered and underrated bands in the hard rock/metal genre, they continue to pump out excellent albums one after another, and "Robot Hive/Exodus" is no exception. Taking a step back with the more metal aspects of their sound and fusing an almost funk sound with blues and classic rock, Clutch's diversity can be seen to full effect. The driving rhythms that fuel the opening "Incomparable Mr. Flannery", "Burning Beard", "Gullah", and "Never Be Moved" are must listens, but the band really shows their stuff on "10001110101" and "10,000 Witnesses". The previously mentioned tracks are standouts, but make no mistake that there is not one track on this album that you'll want to skip through. "Robot Hive/Exodus" is one of those few albums that come along every once in a while that will leave you in awe, and it's a modern day Clutch masterpiece. It's a perfect place to start for new fans, and it's definitely one of, if not the, best albums of the year in ANY musical genre.

And that is saying a lot, believe me, as I pretty much regard Clutch's 2004 effort, "Blast Tyrant" to be a rock'n roll masterpiece, not to mention one of my all-time favorite albums, and I know that a lot of Clutch's fans feel the same way. When I first heard Robot Hive/Exodus, I was of the opinion that it was good, but not quite as good as their last release. Lately, however, this album has grown on me something fierce, and I felt compelled to write up a review to try and explain exactly why.

Whereas Blast Tyrant feels more direct, "punchier" if you will, Robot Hive/Exodus feels more bluesy, even gospel-tinted, by comparison. The album flows very smoothly, partially because nearly all of the songs fade from one into the next, and in part due to the fact that they simply complement each other extremely well.

Make no mistake, though. This is one hard rocking beast of an album, replete with Jean-Paul Gaster's jazzy drumming, Dan Maines' funky basslines, Tim Sult's fuzzy guitarwork and Neil Fallon's wonderfully weird lyrics and gravelly vocals. Indeed, Fallon displays his mastery of the microphone once more, and seems to be more comfortable with his role in the band than ever, as he slides effortlessly through the band's grooves and guides the listener through gleefully absurd apocalyptic visions, robot revolutions (and revelations), and an increasingly surreal colosseum on the song "Circus Maximus" ("Every time I open my window, cranes fly in to terrorize me.", "Tipping cows in fields Elysian", "Celebrities and tentacles regard the beast with two backs." and so on..). You'd be hard pressed to find a cooler doomsayer anywhere.

And then there is the newcomer to the band, one Mick Schauer, whose understated keyboard and organ playing adds a whole new dimension to the band's sound. It's hard to picture the songs on this album working without Schauer's contributions, which lend the whole album, as well as Clutch's sound in general a new flavour and allows them explore new musical vistas. After listening to RH/E extensively, I've found myself sorely missing it when going back to their previous albums.

The band seems more confident on this album than ever before, and therein lies part of its charm. The songwriting feels tighter here than it has on previous albums, and there is no shortage of sublime, groove-laced hard rock passages to be found here. The standout tracks for me, aside from the two opening tracks would have to be "Gullah", "Pulaski Skyway", "Never Be Moved" and "10,000 Witnesses". I seem to be able to listen to these songs pretty much anytime, anywhere, and not get even remotely tired of them. But honestly there isn't one track on this album that I would want to skip over (the two delta blues homages at the end of the album took the longest to grow on me, but grow on me they did), and that to me is the mark of a truly great album.

Just about all of the songs included here are infectious to say the least. Even as someone who usually never feels inclined to sing along to anything, it is really hard to resist here. If you don't have a silly grin on your face, or at least a small smile after spinning this disc, you are beyond all hope. To put it simply, Robot Hive/Exodus is every bit Blast Tyrant's equal and, in my humble opinion, even better, as it will no doubt stay with you longer. If you like rock and roll in any way, shape or form, there simply is no excuse for not having it in your collection.

And yes, it has cowbell on it.

These guys are probably the most underrated band around. This album is a little heavier than the last few but at the same time also more technical. The keyboards are very prominent now, and I think they bring that extra element to the sound. I highly recommend this album.

One of the great things about Clutch is that they work harder than any other band I can thnk of. They seem to put out a new album every 18 months or so despite the fact that they are touring like 250 days a year. And they are all quality albums.

Yet another Clutch album. Yet another masterpiece. Talk about groove. Talk about blues. Talk about rock. Damn. Clutch seem to go unnoticed, even in today's music scene, and it's simply unfair judging by how much talent is in this great band. Fans of this band will know that a Clutch album is always a must-have, and this is no exception. How they keep making such quality material after so long and with very little or no mainstream success, is beyond me..though very popular as a cult-band, they're hardly heard on the radio or played/talked about on MTV. (And that's the way the band wants to keep it, it seems)

This album kind of snuck up on me, as i only just recently heard about it's release and so i went out to buy it about a week ago. I'm more than just impressed with everything about it, from the artwork and fold-out cover to the great guitar work on this album, not to mention the overall musicianship. Neil Fallon's vocals don't sound *as* harsh as on previous albums, at least to me, but they may have to do with the great production on this album. The trademark crazy rhymes/lyrics are still there though, delivered with the same style of old.

My favorite songs for the moment are; "The Incomparable Mr. Flannery", "Gullah", "Mice and Gods", "Never Be Moved", "10001110101", and the country-vibe of "Gravel Road". There are alot of highlights on this album though, so one just has to listen to it as a whole and take it all in. There are also two instrumentals which are great. They are; "Small Upsetters" and "Tripping The Alarm". The album closes with; "Who's Been Talking?", and it's pretty much the most quiet track on this album. This album i think will grow on alot of people. That is to say, that it'll take a little while to get into. For me, it did..it took a few days for it all to come together. But once it does, you'll be listening to it quite frequently.

So here you have it.. Clutch. New Album. 14 songs. 55 minutes long. If you're already a fan, it's a no-brainer. For new fans, i'd even start with this. Maybe try the samples first and see what you think. This is, yet again, another really enjoyable album by Clutch. It's definitely worth your time if you're even slightly into Rock or Hard Rock/Blues.

I'm already wondering how their next album will sound like..

The musical perfection continues with Robot Hive / Exodus! You can never go wrong with a Clutch record. They not only continue to mature, but evolve each time they hit the studio. They bring a new definition to the phrase "the more things change, the more they stay the same." That is what Clutch does. The theme and music may change with each new record, but the proverbial Clutch sound is always intact. From the angry, the futuristic, the Civil War past, the jamming, the instrumental side band, the fury of pure rock and roll, the live show, the rarities, and the stories of the Blast Tyrant and the Worm Drink, they now bring you the corruption of the robot church and its cleansing by the new robot messenger. RH/E brings pure rock and roll with the elements of groove, funk, blues, and jazz all mixed into one beautiful work of art. One minute heavy, another groovy, but all catchy and %100 Clutch.

This is an excellent follow-up to Blast Tyrant. The fab 4 of Neil Fallon, Tim Sult, Dan Maines, and Jean Paul Gaster is now 5 strong with new keyboardist Mick Schauer joining the fold. The keyboards mixed with the groove of the bass and drums really does enhance the already great tunes and even sounds well with the great guitar playing of Sult. The production here is great and the artwork is definitely amazing. For those of you who have not been keeping your CD's in their cases for the last ten years just might want to keep this CD in this case, because the artwork really adds to the charm of the music the disc spins for its listeners. Gravel Road and the cover of Howlin' Wolf's Who's Been Talking? are very pleasant surprises to the album, showing off the musical talents of the band.

To those long-dead Clutch fans who stopped listening to Clutch at the release of The Elephant Riders just because they are "no longer angry" are really missing out on a life-pleasing rock and roll experience of the mature and multi-talented Clutch of the present. To those skeptical due to the increased religious references in the lyrics should not take them at face value. Long time Clutch fans are well aware of the vagueness ever present in Fallon's words, knowing full well they could have hundreds of different meanings. Take what you will from them and do not let that ruin your listening enjoyment. These lyrics are pure Clutch all the way. Fallon has always been a great story teller and let these stories tuck you into bed and kiss you goodnight after they kick your a-- and make you bob your head and dance a jig.

Once you have picked up this CD you need to go hear these songs played live because I cannot stress enough the raw power of a Clutch live show. If you are skeptical in joining Clutch's fanatical fanbase, then seeing them live will definitely convince you. This is not an MTV band! This is not a TRL band! This is rock and roll in its purist form. The self-titled seems will always be my favorite, but Neil says it best, "Get your evolution on!"

Robot/ Hive Exodus will be the album of 2005 hands down. Clutch has built upon the brilliance that was Blast Tyrant and added a bluesy element for a true jam rock album beginning to end. I've been a long time Clutch fan and appreciate how the band and their sound has evolved. Critics who want the same sounding songs on each album should listen to bands like Disturbed instead. Me, I appreciate a new sound and RHE is very much appreciated. There isn't one bad song on this cd. This will stay in my player for months to come. Thank you Clutch for kicking out the jams.

This was my first Clutch album I bought after seeing and liking the video for "Burninig Beard" on Headbangers Ball. I also heard "10001110101" on one the music stations in the 400's on Time Warner Cable thing..... Anyway, I really like this album! Not only does this have the two afformentioned songs but it also has "The Incomprably Mr.Flannery","Mice and Gods", and "Gullah".

If your sick of metalcore bands (Killswitch Engage,As I Lay Dying), stupid a$$ emo (Avenged Sevenfold, Fall Out Boy)and just sucky music (cough*rap*cough) this is just what you've asked for.

Other albums I reconmend from Clutch is 'Clutch' and all of their albums. Also, if you like Clutch, check out other bands like Mastodon and Primus. Enjoy! Also, I'm 14.

Robot Hive: Exodus was simply another impulse buy for me after hearing "10001110101" on Sirius. Prior to this week, I knew only of Clutch as the guys that did that song from a while back (last year?) called "The Mob Goes Wild". Well, one thing is for sure: I'll be familiar with a lot more of their songs now, because I'll be keeping this CD in my car changer for while.

I must say that I listened to this disk with a smile on my face the whole way through. Not just because I was thoroughly enjoying the music, but because I was picturing this good ole ZZ Top lookin dude fronting a Lynard Skynard crew jamming the songs out. But I just caught their video "Burning Beard" over on Launch and what I got sure kept the smile on my face....It looked more like Joe Cocker meets Henry Rollins!

So my visual perception of the band is a bit out of whack now, but that doesn't take away from the fact that Robot Hive: Exodus is an extremely fun, rockin disk. A lot of the songs have this Rage Against The Machine backbeat, but rest assured, don't expect Zack Delaroche or Chris Cornell. What you get is a unique, Southern vocal sound that kinda sticks to you. But I think that I heard that these guys are from Maryland, so go figure.

Anyway, Robot Hive is mostly a rocker that keeps your head bobbin, your toes tappin and your mouth smilin'. It's also fun getting the chorus right to "10001110101" in order to sing along to.

Rockers should give it a try.

When I listened to this cd the day it was released. I was disappointed. This album seemed boring. I was digging the music, it was just all sounding the same.

So, I put it away for a while, and came back to it a week later and was in love with it. The organ in the songs is an excellent addition to the band, and makes you wonder why they didn't do it a long time ago. I personally believe the instrumentals are the best songs on the record, and create one of the most perfect three-song stretches I have ever heard (Small Upsetters to Circus Maximus to Tripping the Alarm)

Another great thing about this album is that, like all of their records, this is slightly a different view of Clutch. This is a bluesier Clutch than we're used to. And, there's nothing wrong with that at all.

This record is truly great, even if it take a couple listens to get into it. Pick it up.