The fourth album from Miami, Florida sludge-merchants Torche is entitled, “Restarter” (Relapse Records).
The opening track is called, ‘Annihilation Affair’ and the video is Terminator meets that faded Hustler you and your stoner friends found down by the railroad tracks when you were 12… plus video masterminds Phil Mucci and Ian MaKay (Opeth / High on Fire / Monster Magnet) to give it a professional warp.
The band has been working steady, dropping a new album on a new label about every 3 years or so, then touring with the likes of High on Fire, The Sword and Coheed and Cambria.
The sound is mean, overblown, bombastic with deep cutting rhythms that don’t heal well. Howling vocals soar well when the band grows wings and glides over the destruction before dive bombing back into a battle of distortion and dominance. It feeds on feedback, dines on distortion, and swims through the sludge with a grace rarely seen within these dredges. The band wisely employs varied speeds throughout the album, so the ride is a journey that should bring a few unexpected collisions even for those who know the format.
A crash helmet and some cheap alcohol are suggested listening aides.
