Whenever a new Clutch record showed up in the BMG catalogs I used to get, you could bet your ass I was going to buy it. Over the years, they have fallen in and out of my rotation, but most importantly, they remain an option in my musical library. I've owned plenty of of records in the time between my first Clutch purchase (S/T release, 1995) and my last (Pitchfork & Lost Needles, 2005), and many of them have ended up in used record shops or better yet, tools to land me one step closer to my lifelong dream of being an ultimate frisbee champion.

I keep my Clutch records around because I have nothing but respect for this Germantown, MD band. Formed in 1991, Clutch marches on to this day, and have shared the stage with so many great metal/punk/rock acts over the years, and have outlived many of their peers as well. What started as a gritty/post-punk sound has evolved into a a group that still remembers their roots, but favors a more rock and roll style. They have a little bit of everything that you can latch onto, which isn't always the best formula for my tastes, but how can you argue with the longevity and the body of work that Clutch has managed to compile? Check 'em out for yourself tomorrow night at The Metro.