Clutch β Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes and Undeniable Truths
- intothewellsabyss
- Aug 17, 2023
- 2 min read
π πππ πππ ππππππ - πππππππππππ ππππ πππππ ππππππππ π’π§ ππ‘π πππππππ π¨πΒ ππππ ππππ & πππππ πππππβ¦
August 17, 1993 β Clutch released their debut studio album, Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes and Undeniable Truths (often shortened to Transnational Speedway League) via EastWest Records. (Listen)
Recorded at Razor's Edge Studio in San Francisco, California, with producer Jonathan Burnside and at Spa Studio Inc. in New York City with producer Steven Haigler, the album was promoted by a music video for opening track A Shogun Named Marcus, directed by Dan Winters.
Background:
Initial recording sessions for Transnational Speedway League began in January 1993 at Razor's Edge Studio in San Francisco, California with producer Jonathan Burnside, during which the songs Binge and Purge, Bacchanal, Earthworm, Heirloom, Walking in the Great Shining Path of Monster Trucks and Effigy were recorded and mixed.
After a short break, Clutch returned to the studio in April to complete the album, working with producer Steven Haigler at Spa Studio Inc. in New York City on the remaining songs, A Shogun Named Marcus, El Jefe Speaks, 12 Ounce Epilogue, Milk of Human Kindness and Rats.
Transnational Speedway League has been described by commentators as one of the heaviest releases of Clutch's career. Metal Hammer writer MΓΆrat described the album as "π πππππ ππππππππ ππ ππππ πππ ππππ πππππ’ πππππ πππππ πππππ", noting its presence in a scene dominated by "πππ πΆπππππ ππ‘πππππππ" which was much less heavy.
According to MΓΆrat, opening song A Shogun Named Marcus had to be removed from the band's live set lists for several years "πππππππ ππ πππππππ ππππππ ππ ππππ πππ ππππ πππ ππ ππππ πππππ". The album received a Parental Advisory sticker for the repeated use of the word "πππππππππππ" in the song Binge and Purge.
The album was promoted by the release of a music video for the song A Shogun Named Marcus, which was directed by Dan Winters who also provided photography for the album. (Watch video)
Touring:
The band toured throughout 1994 in promotion of the album, including support dates for Brazilian Thrash/Groove Metal band Sepultura, American Industrial Metal band Fear Factory and British Sludge Metal band Fudge Tunnel.
Critical Reception:
Media response to βTransnational Speedway Leagueβ was generally positive. Jeremy Ulrey of AllMusic praised the album for its "ππππππ ππππ πππππππ πππ ππππππππππ πππππ ππππππ ππππ πππ", highlighting the first half of the album over the second half but overall dubbing it "πππ ππ πππ ππππππππ ππππππ ππ ππππππ ππ πππ βπΏπΆπ".
In a feature published in 2016, Metal Hammer columnist MΓΆrat ranked Binge and Purge on his list of The top 10 best Clutch songs, outlining that "ππ πππππβπ πππ ππππ πππππππ ππππ ππππ, πππ πππππ πππππ ππππ π²πππππβπ πππππ πππππ", and describing the song as "πππππ ππππππ’, πππππ ππ ππππ ππππππ ππ".
In an earlier feature, in which he hailed the album as being "ππ π πππππ ππ πππ ππ π", MΓΆrat also praised opening track A Shogun Named Marcus, which he credited as "πππ ππππππ π πππ ππππ’ π ππππ πππ ππππππ π π²πππππ πππππππ ... πππ βπ ππ β ππππππ".
Notice: Any reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. β E.N. Wells
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