On one of the hottest days this summer in Germany, there was a truly scorching concert as part of their ‘New World Samurai Tour 2024’. Shortly before the start, a massive summer thunderstorm with a powerful storm raged outside the venue.

Both bands, CLUTCH and GREEN LUNG, carried this storm into a hall heated by the weather and the audience, transforming the venue into a kind of sauna where sweat and moisture dripped from the ceiling.

GREEN LUNG kicked off the show, presenting a musical blend of NWOBHM, classic heavy metal, and a few doom and death metal influences. They strongly evoke memories of Ozzy, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and other UK rock giants. Nevertheless, GREEN LUNG somehow maintain their uniqueness as a doom-stoner combo. Thematically rooted in paganism, the occult, and British history, they offer a wide spectrum and an intriguing stage setup. “Hail Satan!” chants lead singer Tom Templar, and the crowd responds. A successful start indeed.

Afterward, CLUTCH proves that it doesn’t need bling-bling, stage pyrotechnics, BBQ, or other gimmicks and special effects to deliver a fantastic rock concert. Amid their performances on European festival stages, they’ve incorporated a few club shows like this one, creating a summer tour. Bassist Dan Maines, drummer Jean-Paul Gaster, and guitarist Tim Sult position themselves in the back part of the stage, in front of the CLUTCH logo backdrop, leaving the stage space for singer Neil Fallon. Neil’s presence and movement fill the entire room, immediately connecting with the audience. From left to right, he maintains direct eye contact, and somehow, everyone feels like he’s looking right at them. He gives everything from the first note. Musically and vocally, it’s madness. With their blues-rock songs, almost all played at an up-tempo pace, they deliver immense energy. CLUTCH shows no weaknesses, leaving no room for criticism. The sound is fantastic. Despite the heat in the hall, there are no breaks, and the audience stays fully engaged until the end