Torche - Meanderthal
Hydra Head - HH666152 - 8 April 2008
By Paddy Walsh
Although the fuzzed-up guitars may make Torche sound like another troupe of stoner rock pretenders, the frantic heaviosity is too upbeat, nay, too much fun, for it to languish in predictable Black Sabbath worship. And whilst they mightn't like to admit it themselves, the ghosts of early 90s luminaries such as Soundgarden and Melvins are invoked throughout Meanderthal. Hell, 'Grenades's soloing even recalls Smashing Pumpkins at their most space rock (think 'Starla' from Pisces Iscariot for a more distinct reference). This kind of ballsy, unabashed riffery may have been superceded in the mainstream by a slicker, more flaccid offspring in the last 10 years (see Audioslave versus Soundgarden, or Velvet Revolver as opposed to Stone Temple Pilots, yeuck!), but listening to Torche has the essence of the heady days of Seattle at its core. The time is right for a re-ignition of this kind of thing - like most musical fads a backlash emerged soon after the suicide of its reluctant flag-bearer - and Torche are far better equipped to herald this than the piss-taking likes of Chris Cornell + RATM.
So we have Melvins, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Mudhoney - if you miss the days when these flannel-clad fuckers ruled the roost, then Meanderthal has lots to offer. Queens of the Stone Age, Mastodon - these guys can be found under the bonnet of this work too, and as such Meanderthal is no mere piece of revivalism. The most important thing about Meanderthal is that massive riffs are delivered in spades, the solos are ear-bleedingly intense, the drums roll like thunder, and Steve Brooks's vocals are howled with that perfect mixture of slacker nonchalance and righteous anger. Sure, it could do with a little more variation at times, but this is nullified by its all too brief running time and the fact that some of the songs barely push 2 minutes. You never even get a chance to to take a breath anyway, and thus Torche are nothing short of a riotous revelation. Ignore them at your peril you assholes.
Official Torche Website
Official Torche MySpace
Official Hydra Head Records Website
Hydra Head - HH666152 - 8 April 2008
By Paddy Walsh
Although the fuzzed-up guitars may make Torche sound like another troupe of stoner rock pretenders, the frantic heaviosity is too upbeat, nay, too much fun, for it to languish in predictable Black Sabbath worship. And whilst they mightn't like to admit it themselves, the ghosts of early 90s luminaries such as Soundgarden and Melvins are invoked throughout Meanderthal. Hell, 'Grenades's soloing even recalls Smashing Pumpkins at their most space rock (think 'Starla' from Pisces Iscariot for a more distinct reference). This kind of ballsy, unabashed riffery may have been superceded in the mainstream by a slicker, more flaccid offspring in the last 10 years (see Audioslave versus Soundgarden, or Velvet Revolver as opposed to Stone Temple Pilots, yeuck!), but listening to Torche has the essence of the heady days of Seattle at its core. The time is right for a re-ignition of this kind of thing - like most musical fads a backlash emerged soon after the suicide of its reluctant flag-bearer - and Torche are far better equipped to herald this than the piss-taking likes of Chris Cornell + RATM.
So we have Melvins, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Mudhoney - if you miss the days when these flannel-clad fuckers ruled the roost, then Meanderthal has lots to offer. Queens of the Stone Age, Mastodon - these guys can be found under the bonnet of this work too, and as such Meanderthal is no mere piece of revivalism. The most important thing about Meanderthal is that massive riffs are delivered in spades, the solos are ear-bleedingly intense, the drums roll like thunder, and Steve Brooks's vocals are howled with that perfect mixture of slacker nonchalance and righteous anger. Sure, it could do with a little more variation at times, but this is nullified by its all too brief running time and the fact that some of the songs barely push 2 minutes. You never even get a chance to to take a breath anyway, and thus Torche are nothing short of a riotous revelation. Ignore them at your peril you assholes.
Official Torche Website
Official Torche MySpace
Official Hydra Head Records Website
