Torche have always been quite an anomaly in the rock scene, managing to throw fuzz-laden stoner grooves, off-tempo time changes and soaring melodies into the mix and come out with music that rides the perfect cusp between accessibility and mayhem. Their latest effort, the follow-up to 2008’s Meanderthal, sees this trend continue with bells on.
From the get-go they merge the bombastic with the anthemic, instantly immersing the listener in a wall of filth and a rhythm reminiscent of 1970s glam. The opener, Letting Go, feels like a call to arms. These guys demand your attention, and boy do they deserve it.
With the welcome return of the second guitar (Andrew Elstner stepping into the shoes previously occupied by Juan Montoya) comes the high-end yin to the yang of the riff. And speaking of riffage, this disc is chock full of it, although fans of the slower dirge of old will be found wanting. This newest material tends to be on the quick side, often slipping into almost punk territory with the likes of the miniscule Sky Trials speeding along.
The grove-heads shouldn’t worry though, as amidst the mid-tempo madness is the murky depths of the slow, herb-laden Torche of old. The album closer, Looking On sounds like it was forged by goblins in the fires at the centre of the earth and is sure to get the heads nodding in appreciation.
Showcasing a shift towards maturity with the anthemic power of Kicking while still proving they can hit solid, driving grooves (like the mid-album smooth-talker, Roaming) we are taken on a journey from the monstrously heavy to the cathartic and serene. And while the entire album is immensely cohesive, every track could easily stand its ground solo.
What this album shows most of all is confidence. This is a band at the top of their game and they’ve put together 13 golden tracks that feel like the most uplifting punch in the face you’ll ever receive. They’ve progressed hugely both in structure and depth and have never sounded so cohesive. From beginning to end, it seems like the Miami fuzz-legends are having the time of their lives.
Like all their previous releases, the real joy is in repetition and by the third listen you’ll be wondering where it’s been all your life.
Released April 23 2012 on Volcom
Posted by Eoin Boylan
