Maryland rockers CLUTCH have set "Earth Rocker" as the title of their new studio album, due in March 2013 via the band's own Weathermaker Music label. The CD was produced by Machine (LAMB OF GOD, FOUR YEAR STRONG, FALL OUT BOY) and is described by the band's guitarist Tim Sult as "the heaviest and fastest CLUTCH album to date."

In conjunction with the album's release, CLUTCH will embark on the "Earth Rocker" world tour beginning in the United Kingdom in January 2013. The North American trek will run from March 8 through April 20.

Fans can keep up on the progress of "Earth Rocker" studio sessions by visiting the newly launched www.earthrocker.com web site. Expect to see daily updates, including photos, videos from the studio, songtitle announcements and samples of new songs.

Commented CLUTCH frontman Neil Fallon: "Last-minute overdubs are fun. Harmonicas, tambourines (yes, we use those), claps, the odd backing vocal.

"Recording can be monotonous, so those unintended moments can be a lot of fun. It's kind of like kindergarten music class, but with beer. And sometimes the spontaneity of a last-ditch idea breathes a lot of life back into a song that we've been beating up for weeks on end. A looming deadline can be a great muse!"

He continued: "['Earth Rocker'] has a lot in common with 'Blast Tyrant' in that Machine's production techniques are really unique. [However] it differs from 'Blast Tyrant' and a lot of other CLUTCH records in that, overall, the songs are faster and concise."

CLUTCH will take to the road on Halloween for a quick run of dates, including two stops in Flint, Michigan and two shows in Detroit, Michigan. MONSTRO will open these dates, with LIONIZE providing direct support. .

In what has become an annual tradition, CLUTCH will play a string of holiday concerts this December. The dates kick off December 26 in Washington, D.C. and conclude with a special New Year's Eve performance in Worcester, Massachusetts at The Palladium. Support on these shows will come from MONDO GENERATOR, SAVIOURS and WINO.