Miami’s Torche play some very happy-go-lucky stoner metal heavily infused with pop hooks. I met these guys once at a vegan BBQ/grindcore show in Baltimore (the rhythm section is also in Shitstorm), and they described their sound as “just summery rock ‘n’ roll riffs but like, tuned way the fuck down.” That’s sort of accurate. The most metallic aspect of this is the sludgey, muscular guitar tone; otherwise, you might think it’s a strange mix between stoner rock, rockabilly and ‘90s nostalgia. Brings to mind equal parts Floor (thanks in large part to guitarist Steve Brooks), Motorhead, Baroness, and the catchiest stuff from the Melvins’ catalog. It gets a bit too catchy for me sometimes, but those songs would probably appeal to indie pop/rock fans looking for an adrenaline rush. After all, they’ve released an EP of Guided By Voices covers. IMHO the formula worked best on their first album; now it feels a bit like they’re resting on their laurels.
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1. (2:03) Awkward chugging bro-metal power chord onslaught
2. (2:35) Meh… jaunty upbeat rock with late 90s harmonies
3. (1:26) speedy punkish tune, furious yet somehow carefree
4. (3:51) 70s cockrock riffs in a weird stoner-rock blend; it kind of works, but drags on.
5. (3:09)** headbanging doom rock, builds a lot of tension—one of the rare focused songs on the album
6. (3:15) kind of annoyingly poppy post-Maiden harmonies, boring Randy Rhodes-ish stoner glam
7. (1:18)* sharp, fast twin-guitar attack! catchy, anthemic, did I mention it was fast?
8. (3:21) kind of boring “modern rock” vibe mostly, awkward harmonies and mid-paced chugging that lacks momentum
9. (3:19) chugging, muscular—THIS IS MY WORKOUT JAM, BRO! but actually, it’s just okay
10. (1:49) jolly major-key punk-rocker, catchy and brief with the right amount of snark
11. (2:49) hazy, doomy dirge; directionless, but not in a bad way.
12. (3:15)** INSTRUMENTAL. Damn catchy, cleverly syncopated stoner jam. Melvins, anyone? Abruptly cuts off, awkward transition into next track.
13. (6:41) Fairly slow doom, loud and crushing for the most part, ends in a jaunty, upbeat stoner-pop jam that sounds like a metalhead parody of that one Green Day album we all loved in middle school (no shame, dammit).