Torche - Meanderthal

Torche is a band from Miami, Florida, United States, they play a distinctive style of stoner/ sludge metal. The band categorizes their music as ‘’stoner pop’‘.

The group was formed in 2004 by Steve Brooks (ex-Floor), Juan Montoya (ex-Floor, ex-Cavity, ex-Ed Matus’ Struggle), Jonathan Nuñez and Rick Smith (who also played in the grindcore bands Shitstorm and Tyranny of Shaw, and the screamo band Tunes for Bears to Dance To). According to MTracks.com: “Their music has a unique, hard-hitting sound that provokes a wide range of emotions, and they have a large fan base throughout the world. ” They have toured with Mogwai, Isis, Pelican, Black Cobra, Baroness, Jesu, The Sword, Stinking Lizaveta, Harvey Milk and Boris. Steve Brooks, however, has said that they don’t consider themselves a metal band. In describing the band’s sound, Smith said in an interview: “To me it’s mostly a combination of everything we listen to collectively as a band. We take what we like from what we grew up on and use it as creatively as we can. I think the meshing of different sounds comes naturally just because we all have different musical backgrounds yet have a ton of common interests.” In terms of touring, Brooks said Torche is getting more of a young crowd.

On April 8, 2008, the band released their second full-length, entitled Meanderthal. It was produced by Kurt Ballou (Converge, Genghis Tron). It was met with critical acclaim, including that from Decibel Magazine who ranked Meanderthal #1 on their list of the Top 40 Extreme Albums of 2008 as well as an 8.2/10 by Pitchfork Media. In an interview, Brooks said the band themselves came up with the album’s concept in terms of artwork and packaging.

(more on Last.fm)

The so-called "Foo Fighters" of Sludge! Check them out if you don't know them.

Torche - Meanderthal

(Hydrahead Records / 2008 / Sludge/Stoner Pop / 192 kbp/s)

Tracklist

01. Triumph of Venus 1.44
02. Grenades 2.53
03. Piranha 1.32
04. Sandstorm 2.19
05. Speed of the Nail 1.41
06. Healer 2.07
07. Across the Shields 3.03
08. Sundown 3.17
09. Little Champion .34
10. Without A Sound 2.06
11. Fat Waves 4.32
12. Amnesian 6.25
13. Meanderthal 4.00

Mediafire

Torche - Meanderthal Demos

Presently based out of Atlanta, Georgia, USA and Miami, Florida, USA, Torche have been playing together since 2004 following the disbanding of long-time sludge veterans Floor. The band has since gone on to release two full length records and has toured with Mogwai, Kylesa, Isis, Jesu, Boris, Pelican, Harvey Milk .

In early 2007, Torche’s “S/T” CD/LP was remastered and re-issued with a bonus track in the states by Robotic Empire and in Europe by Rock Action (Mogwai’s respective label). In 2007 they also released “In Return” CDEP/10” on Robotic Empire.

(Read more at Last.fm)

Myspace

Tracklist

1. Triumph of Venus

2. Grenades

3. Pirhana

4. Speed of the Nail

5. Sandstorm

6. Healer

7. Across the Shields

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