Torche

Torche have been around a few years impressing people with their stoner doom punk-metal. Their latest album, the wonderfully titled, ‘Meanderthal’, should in a fair world see the band take the step up from cult favourites to mainstream superstars. Their first record was called their ‘Bleach’. Could ‘Meanderthal’ be their Nevermind? It is as big a melodic and creative step up from their debut as ‘Nevermind’ was from its predecessor. Sadly though it is unlikely to have the same immediate impact. Where Nirvana were signed to major label giant Geffen, Torche call loveable boutique tastemakers Hydra Head home.

When people write about Torche they often mention the grunge period for a number of reasons. One reason is the fact that prime Melvins, Helmet and hints of Dinosaur Jr. and My Bloody Valentine can be heard in their uplifting fist pumping hard rock. Another big reason is that the band’s roots can be traced back to the grunge era. Since the early 90s Steve Brooks (guitar/vocals) and Juan Montoya (guitar) have spent their time playing in highly acclaimed but obscure Miami sludge/doom metal bands. And now they have come together for another obscure who really don’t deserve to remain obscure. Both men played together in Floor while Montoya was also a member of Cavity. After the break up of Floor Montoya and Brooks joined forces with Jonathan Nunez (bass) and Rick Smith (drums).

From the very beginning Torche started life as more than just another Miami sludge/stoner/doom metal act and soon began to blossom into even more than that - ‘Meanderthal’ is the near flawless result. It combines droning guitar riffs, harmonic vocals, soaring melodies and wraps it all up in a dreamily gauzy production. It takes everything they were doing on ‘Torche’ and ‘In Return’ and adds a Technicolour stoner pop sheen. Their sound is heavy but light, an exuberantly anthemic wave of noise that eschews the toiling sturm und drang of their contemporaries and featuring the kind of stone cold hooks that even the poppiest of pop acts would kill for.

‘Meanderthal‘, produced by Converge’s Kurt Ballou, is quite possibly the album of the year. The songs are as riotously day-glo delicious as the weird but cutesy album artwork designed by guitarist Juan Montoya. With the upbeat Husker Dü-esque punk-pop of ‘Healer’ and ‘Across The Shields’ they might even have a couple of potential hits on their hands. Or there is the ‘Fat Waves’ which starts off like the Foo Fighters at their sugary sweet radio friendly best before lurching into a thick and groovy psychedelic jam.

Torche are the results of open minds and open ears willing to open themselves up to new limitless possibilities.