Sunrise on Slaughter Beach

Sunrise on Slaughter Beach is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band Clutch. It was released on September 16, 2022, through the band's own label Weathermaker Music.^[4][5] It is Clutch's first studio album since Book of Bad Decisions in 2018. The album was originally intended as a positive counterpoint to the social volatility and divisiveness caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the lyrics eventually touched on a more diverse range of social topics.^[6][7]

Sunrise on Slaughter Beach
Studio album by Clutch
Released	September 16, 2022 (2022-09-16)
Recorded	2021
Studio	The Magpie Cage Recording Studio, Baltimore, Maryland
Genre	Stoner rock hard rock blues rock
Length	33:10
Label	Weathermaker
Producer	Tom Dalgety
Clutch chronology
Book of Bad Decisions (2018) Sunrise on Slaughter Beach (2022)
Singles from Sunrise on Slaughter Beach
"Red Alert (Boss Metal Zone)" Released: April 5, 2022[1] "We Strive for Excellence" Released: June 14, 2022[2] "Slaughter Beach" Released: August 16, 2022[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	81/100[8]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[9]
Blabbermouth.net	8/10[6]
Classic Rock	[10]
Distorted Sound	8/10[11]
Kerrang!	[12]
Metal Hammer	[13]
Metal Injection	9/10[14]
MetalSucks	[15]
Rock 'N' Load	8/10[16]
Sputnikmusic	3.8/5[17]

The album has an average score of 81 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 6 professional reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".^[8] According to Blabbermouth.net, the album fits within Clutch's long-term development, "never taking any drastic left turns, though progression and noticeable change has been evident over time."^[6] MetalSucks largely agreed, stating that "Sunrise on Slaughter Beach is your typical Clutch record," but "there’s always a little more going on under the hood of any Clutch offering."^[15] Kerrang! offered a positive review, stating that "13 albums in, Clutch are still uniquely brilliant, master craftsmen of a form at once ingeniously simple and amazingly clever."^[12] Metal Injection called the album "grand without pomposity, experimental without an inch of fat and underwritten with grooves so thick you could build a bridge out of them."^[14] According to Metal Planet Music, "Clutch have delivered a monster album here. It’s dirty, sludgy, heavy as hell and trippy when it needs to be."^[18] Rock 'N' Load wrote in their review, "Sunrise on Slaughter Beach is a grand entrance into newfound Clutch territory not seen before. Whilst still harnessing their iconic sound, the band have managed to widen their range and prove themselves once more pioneers; unafraid of throwing out a curveball."^[16]

Track listing

Sunrise on Slaughter Beach track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Red Alert (Boss Metal Zone)"	2:45
2.	"Slaughter Beach"	3:41
3.	"Mountain of Bone"	4:23
4.	"Nosferatu Madre"	3:27
5.	"Mercy Brown"	5:15
6.	"We Strive for Excellence"	2:55
7.	"Skeletons on Mars"	4:10
8.	"Three Golden Horns"	3:26
9.	"Jackhammer Our Names"	3:08
Total length:		33:10

All lyrics are written by Neil Fallon; all music is composed by Clutch

Limited Edition / "The Complete Edition" bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
10.	"Boogeyman Blues"	2:55
11.	"Arts and Crafts"	3:33
12.	"Railroad Daisies"	4:16
Total length:		43:54

Personnel

Clutch

• Neil Fallon – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Tim Sult – lead guitar
• Dan Maines – bass
• Jean-Paul Gaster – drums, vibraphone

Additional personnel

• J. Robbins – theremin
• Deborah Bond – backing vocals
• Frenchie Davis – backing vocals

Production

• Tom Dalgety – production, mixing

Charts

Chart performance for Sunrise on Slaughter Beach

Chart (2022)	Peak position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[19]	7
Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA)[19]	12
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[20]	54
Scottish Albums (OCC)[21]	99
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[22]	59
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[23]	23
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[24]	4
US Billboard 200[25]	89
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[26]	12
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[27]	3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[28]	16

References

1. Rob Laing (April 5, 2022). "Clutch's new song Red Alert (Boss Metal Zone) pokes fun at the most ridiculous pedal-related conspiracy theory ever". MusicRadar. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
2. "CLUTCH Releases Another New Single, 'We Strive For Excellence'". Blabbermouth.net. June 14, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
3. Revolver Staff (August 16, 2022). "Hear Clutch's Swaggering New Song "Slaughter Beach"". Revolver. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
4. "Clutch Announces 'Sunrise On Slaughter Beach' Album". Blabbermouth.net. July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
5. "Clutch confirm 13th album, Sunrise On Slaughter Beach". Kerrang!. July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
6. "Sunrise On Slaughter Beach". Blabbermouth.net. September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
7. Schwind, Gary (September 16, 2022). "Clutch Take Heavy and Expansive Approach on 'Sunrise on Slaughter Beach' (ALBUM REVIEW)". Glide Magazine. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
8. "Sunrise on Slaughter Beach by Clutch". Metacritic.
9. Neil Z. Yeung. "Sunrise on Slaughter Beach Review". AllMusic. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
10. Wilding, Philip (September 16, 2022). "Clutch: other bands might as well pack up their tents and think about heading home". Classic Rock. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
11. Heasley, Ellis (September 12, 2022). "ALBUM REVIEW: Sunrise On Slaughter Beach – Clutch". Distorted Sound. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
12. Ruskell, Nick (September 16, 2022). "Album review: Clutch – Sunrise On Slaughter Beach". Kerrang!. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
13. Lawson, Dom (September 14, 2022). "Clutch's Sunrise On Slaughter Beach: "a joyous conflagration of riffs, grooves and bittersweet wit"". Metal Hammer. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
14. McKenna, Shaun (September 14, 2022). "Album Review: CLUTCH Sunrise On Slaughter Beach". Metal Injection. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
15. Keenan, Hesher (September 16, 2022). "Review: Clutch's Sunrise on Slaughter Beach Further Proves Their Excellence". MetalSucks. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
16. Sewell, Monty (September 16, 2022). "Clutch // Sunrise On Slaughter Beach // Album Review". Rock 'N' Load. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
17. Sunnyvale (September 12, 2022). "Clutch – Sunrise On Slaughter Beach". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
18. Hawes, Andy (September 6, 2022). "Album Review : Clutch – Sunrise on Slaughter Beach". Metal Planet Music. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
19. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 26 September 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1699. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 26, 2022. pp. 10, 24.
20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Clutch – Sunrise on Slaughter Beach" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
21. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
22. "Swisscharts.com – Clutch – Sunrise on Slaughter Beach". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
23. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
24. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
25. "Clutch Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
26. "Clutch Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
27. "Clutch Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
28. "Clutch Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2022.