An Interview with CLEEN

A massive album release from CLEEN manages to take some of the best elements of desert alternative rock and metal, grunge, garage rock, and a slew of heavy influences that you would find in the underground rock scene in the late 90s.

This is a record that has a particular way of reaching out and sort of slapping you in the face. I mean that in a good way, of course, because this is something that, at times, gives me bouts of nostalgia. After all, I grew up listening to certain kinds of bands that these guys completely remind me of.

They come through with chorus-affected clean guitars, feedback whittled and driving sonic guitar tones when they're heavy, and this intense drumming that pushes the songs through the roof in terms of having a certain kind of power behind them.

One of the things that hit me about this album as a whole is the simple fact that it feels like all the songs were recorded live on the floor, right there in the moment.

Of course, I wasn't there for the recording, so I'm not sure how they did it, but I can tell you that listening to the record makes you want to go see them perform the entire thing live, right in your face.

If they can capture this kind of energy and aesthetic on record so well and seeing them alive must be a face-melter, and that's exactly what I would want and expect from a band like this.

Now, these guys also introduce elements of doom and stoner rock; they have vast riffs and undertones a lot of the time, and the songs are just gigantic.

They're a little bit experimental and a little bit progressive as well, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The record wastes little time getting to the point with its first track, "Planet 332b", which is an absolute banger that starts with that clean, chorus-riddled effect and bursts into an explosive and desert rock-themed vibe.

It's amazing how they can capture so many different influences in one song and one record, the way that these guys do.

The vocals come through belting and follow the guitar riff, which is kind of a staple of their sound as a whole, but they give that grunge approach during a lot of the choruses throughout the record.

This is an album you want to listen to from start to finish. Listening to one or two tracks will give you a gist or idea of what you might expect, but will not give you the range or spectrum of what the full album has to offer.

There are plenty of surprises around the corners, outside-the-box riffs and approaches, and the sonically enthusiastic presence the band gives off, pretty much the entire time.

Now, they also know how to thrash out to an extent. Some songs hit really hard and feel heavier, and a little bit more experimental with spaciousness lurking underneath the surface.

Tracks like "Menticidal Betrayal" serve as a damn near perfect example of exactly what I'm talking about.

This is a track that speaks volumes for the record itself simply because it has such an explosive feel and also that vast and spacious, experimental side as well.

There are more than a handful of tracks on this record that stand on their own to feed very well as singles and represent the soundscape of the album, especially in terms of blending those vast and heavy-hitting elements.

That desert old rock and metal approach serves up a massive punch, and I got addicted to it throughout the record.

CLEEN delivers with this record, a Powerhouse of slightly loose but very well-built songs that take those elements and influences of desert, alternative, and metal, grunge, even a bit of shoegaze, progressive, raw, post-rock, and more. It puts all of that together and serves it up hot and fresh.

I absolutely loved pretty much everything about how they delivered these songs.

With such a well-woven record, we wanted to talk with CLEEN about where it came from and what might be coming up next for the band.

Check out our interview with them below and listen to this record nice and loud.

Don't forget where you heard it first.

Buzz Slayers: Let's talk about Excursion! This album was a vast desert alt-metal style release with all kinds of massive riffs and energy!!  Where did this record come from? 

This album was developed on a concept story written by Patrick and the emotion to the words were brought to life by the entire band in various ways. This is a multi-layered story both on a imaginative level and a personal level. 

Buzz Slayers: I'm hearing a few different approaches to this record! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

We are honestly all over the place from hip-hop, noise rock, indie rock, stoner and doom metal. Hard to pinpoint just any- one band

Buzz Slayers: Did you record this at a home setup, or at a big studio?

This was recorded at our home studio  but then sent to Craig from MixCave Mastering in Virginia (amazing guy) 

Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you as a band?

Covid truly started it off when all the venues began shutting down but it was a critical tool in forcing us to begin actually writing music

Buzz Slayers: Are you performing live right now? 

Absolutely 

Buzz Slayers: Now that this is out, what's next for you?

Second album is coming down the pipeline along with a bunch of other great things

Buzz Slayers: Who's in your headphones right now?

Sonic Youth incinerate 

Buzz Slayers: What would you tell people they can expect on this release?

A vast change yet familiar territory with where we began.

Buzz Slayers: Working on anything new recently? 

We are constantly working on new songs and currently recording them at Phoenix productions and they will also be mastered by mix cave mastering.

Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music? 

Thank you all so much for your support. We can't wait to show you the new music and we hope to see you at our shows!

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