Metal Underground.com

Clutch’s DVD "Full Fathom Five" is an excellent choice for the Clutch fan who’s never managed to make it to a live show. Unlike so many band DVD’s that are chalked full of interviews, behind the scenes footage, and generally drab use of film time, "Full Fathom Five" is all about the music.

Though there aren’t any new tracks on the release, since the DVD came out before Clutch’s newest album, there is a good sampling of the rest of the band’s discography, from the ’95 album "Clutch," all the way through their 2007 release "From Beale Street To Oblivion." But, the songs are not in chronological order, and the performances end up being a good variety of the hard rock, punk, and bluesy styles Clutch has played with over the years.

The series of live shows takes us from Pittsburgh to Sayreville, New Jersey, over a course of time from August 2007 to March 2008. There isn’t really one performance that’s any better than the rest, but each one is solid, and well-orchestrated. The instruments are on, Neil Fallon’s vocals are on, and the shows are just plain good. Sure, there aren’t any amazing laser lights or excessive glam, but Clutch isn’t exactly a glam band, either.

And unlike a lot of band DVD’s, there aren’t any amateurish web cam shots or shaky handheld camcorders. The recording is professional grade, with split screens, close-ups, and excellent sound quality. So while "Full Fathom Five" may not be an all-encompassing journey through time with the band members of Clutch, it is an excellent DVD for those who just want to see a band put on a really good show.