Torche are back with their followup to the excellent “Harmonicraft” called “Restarter.” Torche get labeled “sludge metal” but that fits them as much as it fits the Melvins. Sure, they have fuzzed out guitars and some songs are slower but there’s always a lot more to Torche than that. The band tends to tour with progressive acts like dredg and Coheed and Cambria which underscores the fact that their music is quite multidimensional.
“Restarter” might not be quite as good as “Harmonicraft” but all the elements are there. From the slower grind of songs like “Minions” to the up tempo ass kicking of tracks like “Loose Men,” Torche have their own approach to metal. It’s never dull and each song has its own identity. The feedback during the start of “No Servants” would not work for many bands! Songs like “Undone” are short and to the point while the title track is an 8 plus minute epic.
Torche are never the same all the way through an album, there are some twists and turns but you are never lost. And the sound is always unmistakably them!
Torche fans will be quite pleased with “Restarter.” While it doesn’t really break any new ground, it is very much a solid album and one that merits many listens.
