Clutch - "Passive Restraints" (What's old is new again.)

"Can You Dig It?!"

If you didn't already know, Clutch is my favorite band. I first heard them around 1994. I saw them live in a now defunct, nasty bar called The Reptile House in Grand Rapids, MI not too long after that. Shortly after, their second album, Self-Titled, was released and I was hooked. Since 1994, I have seen them live at least 20 times, including a trip to Glasgow, Scotland to see them at the O2 Academy in 2018.

Needless to say when the dudes from Maryland decided to help make self-isolation, that we should all be doing as much as possible, during a global pandemic a little less shitty by releasing "live" versions of songs to YouTube from their practice space, The Doom Saloon, I was happy. 

Their most recent video is a version of "Passive Restraints" from their 1992 EP titled the same(Also, included on the "Impetus EP"). To mix it up, they invited Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe to help out. Per Clutch's Instagram post, they have also performed this song together when the bands toured together a few years ago. 

The original version is very visceral. It reflects the raw vocals of Neil Fallon in his early 20s. Clutch was closer to being a hardcore band then than the fast blues/rock/metal band they are now. The new version is much more refined musically. (John Paul gets better on the drums every year.) And Neil doesn't "bark" quite like he once did but Blythe's addition to the vocals definitely keeps the spirit of the old version. I think both versions stand on their own for what they are. Neither rocks much less than the other. 

Here's the original version. Have a listen to both and let me know what you think.