Feb. 20--'Restarter'
Torche
3.5 stars (out of 4)
If it's possible to do anything quietly in Torche's loud and heavy niche of the sound spectrum, the Miami quartet has taken an unassuming path to becoming one of the last decade's most consistent and consistently powerful rock bands. With "Restarter" (Relapse), its fourth studio album since 2005 in addition to numerous EPs and collaborative projects, Torche perfects its volatile mix, a work that at least matches the potent "Meanderthal" (2008) as a career peak.
Though Torche has looked askance at any attempts to characterize it as a metal band, "Restarter" is easily the band's weightiest. The pace is slower, more ominous, with a subterranean quake that turns drummer Rick Smith and bassist Jonathan Nunez into the album's stars. "Annihilation Affair" closes with a rumble that sounds like Hannibal leading his belligerent elephants into battle, an earth-moving rumble of heavy drums underpinning the squeal of overtaxed guitars. The menacing undertow of "Undone" suggests a threshing machine relentlessly cutting down everything in its path. "Barrier Hammer" lurches to life and then charges as voices drone and guitars spiral.
The band's songwriting places a premium on concision, with a minimum of fuss -- few solos, and vocals intent on delivering melody rather than making monster noises. "Loose Men" sounds almost celebratory at full gallop, "Blasted" forges iron-clad hooks amid the kick-drum barrage, and "Restarter" earns every one of its eight minutes and 40 seconds. It's a great drive-all-night, trance-out anthem on the mighty continuum that connects Neu's "Hallogallo" to Queens of the Stone Age's "Regular John." In the same way, Torche's music connects muscle, songcraft and drive in a way that few bands of recent vintage can match.
greg@gregkot.com
