Torche | |
|---|---|
 Torche performing in 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2004–2022 |
| Labels | |
| Past members | Steve Brooks Rick Smith Jonathan Nuñez Eric Hernandez Juan Montoya Andrew Elstner |
| Website | torchemusic |
Torche was an American rock band from Miami, Florida. The group formed in 2004 and has released five full-length studio albums, four EPs, two split albums, and three singles. They released their fifth and final full-length studio album, Admission , in 2019.
The group was formed in 2004 [3] 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, Tyranny of Shaw, Adore Miridia, the screamo band Tunes for Bears to Dance To, and punk band Post-Teens). [4] 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." [5] They have toured with Mogwai, Isis, Pelican, Clutch, Black Cobra, Baroness, Jesu, The Sword, Coheed and Cambria, Stinking Lizaveta, Harvey Milk, Boris, and High on Fire. [6] Steve Brooks, however, has said that they do not consider themselves a metal band. [7] 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." [8] In terms of touring, Brooks said Torche is getting more of a young crowd. [9]
On April 8, 2008, the band released their second full-length, entitled Meanderthal . It was produced by Kurt Ballou (Converge, Genghis Tron). [10] It was met with critical acclaim from publications including Decibel magazine, who ranked Meanderthal No. 1 on their list of the Top 40 Extreme Albums of 2008, [11] and Pitchfork , who gave the album an 8.2/10 score in their review. [12] In an interview, Brooks said the band themselves came up with the album's concept in terms of artwork and packaging, along with Aaron Turner. [13] Brooks has also said that in terms of writing material, the band focuses on what they like, rather than worrying about a "backlash" from their fans. [14]
Singer/guitarist Stephen Brooks is one of the few openly gay musicians in the metal scene. [15] He did an interview round table in 2008 on thestranger.com with other openly gay musicians such as Brian Cook (Russian Circles, Sumac, These Arms Are Snakes, Botch), and Juan Velazquez of Abe Vigoda. [16]
In late 2008, Juan Montoya left the band, a move credited to musical differences. Steve Brooks said, "He is an amazing guitarist, but we are just not on the same page... but Torche will still carry on as a 3 piece band". As of 2010, Juan Montoya joined up with ex-Bloodsimple members Bevan Davies and Kyle Sanders, and Charlie Suarez of Sunday Driver to create the band "MonstrO" In an interview with Malia James, Brooks revealed that Montoya's departure was acrimonious, and involved physical violence between the two of them. [15]
Torche embarked on tours with bands such as dredg in April 2009, [17] and another with a reunited Harvey Milk. The band opened for Coheed and Cambria on their headlining tour alongside Circa Survive in spring 2010. One of Torche's earliest festival performances was at Incubate in 2006. After that, the band played at SXSW in 2008.
In January 2011, it was announced on the Riverfront Times blog that Andrew Elstner (Riddle of Steel, Tilts) would be joining Torche. [18] The band released their fourth full-length, Restarter, in February 2015 on Relapse Records.
Torche announced their fifth full-length record, Admission , on May 19, 2019, with the release of the song "Slide". The album was released on Relapse Records July 12, 2019. [19] [20]
In May 2022, founding frontman Steve Brooks announced the upcoming tour supporting Meshuggah would be his last with the band, stating "We're a few months away from the last tour I'm doing with Torche," he writes. "We've been so very lucky and went far beyond what I imagined. I just don't have it in me to keep this going living on opposite sides of the country. Much love to my band members and everyone that supported us these 18 years! See y'all this Sept/Oct." [21]
On September, 17, 2022, it was later confirmed in previous comments from a post on Brooks's personal Instagram that the band will not continue without him after their current tour ends. [22] Torche played their final concert on October 16, 2022, opening for Meshuggah and In Flames at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia. [23]
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Torche | Robotic Empire/ Rock Action Records |
| 2008 | Meanderthal | Hydra Head Records/ Robotic Empire |
| 2012 | Harmonicraft | Volcom Entertainment |
| 2015 | Restarter | Relapse Records |
| 2019 | Admission | Relapse Records |
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | In Return | Robotic Empire/ Rock Action Records |
| 2009 | Healer / Across the Shields | Hydra Head Records |
| 2009 | Meanderthal Demos | Rotting Chapel |
| 2010 | Songs for Singles | Hydra Head Records |
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Chapter Ahead Being Fake (split with Boris) | Daymare Records |
| 2011 | Torche / Part Chimp | Chunklet [30] |
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "King Beef" | Chapter Ahead Being Fake |
| 2011 | "U.F.O." | Songs for Singles |
| 2012 | "Pow Wow" / "80s Prom Song" | Decibel Flexi-Disc Series |
| 2012 | "Kicking" | Harmonicraft |
| 2012 | "Harmonslaught" [31] | (Songs later appeared on deluxe version of Restarter) |
| 2013 | "Keep Up/Leather Feather" [32] | n/a |
| 2022 | "It Never Began" [33] | n/a |
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Kurt Ballou is an American musician and record producer based in Massachusetts, best known as the guitarist for metalcore band Converge and for his prolific recording and production work at his own GodCity Studio.
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In Return is the second release by American stoner metal band Torche. It was released on September 18, 2007, through Robotic Empire in the United States and Rock Action Records in Europe on October 15. Artwork and design were created by Baroness singer John Dyer Baizley.
Cavity is an American sludge metal band from Miami, Florida. They first formed in 1992, releasing a multitude of albums and singles before breaking up in 2003. Steve Brooks and Juan Montoya would go on to play in Torche and Floor. Anthony Vialon, Henry Wilson and Beatriz Monteavaro also played in Floor. Jason Landrian went on to form Black Cobra.
Black Tide was an American heavy metal band from Kendall, Florida. Formed in 2004, the band last consisted of Gabriel Garcia, Austin Diaz and Cody Paige (drums). They released their debut album, Light from Above, in 2008 through Interscope Records when Garcia was 15 years old. Their second album, Post Mortem, was released in 2011. Black Tide's EP Bite the Bullet was released in 2013 by InnerCat Music Group, a Miami-based boutique label. In 2015, the band released their last album Chasing Shadows. In July 2016, Garcia announced that the band is over and he is concentrating on his solo project.
Floor is an American stoner metal/sludge metal band from Miami, Florida, that was formed in 1992 by Steve Brooks, Anthony Vialon and Betty Monteavaro with Brooks and Vialon being the only constant members. The band has released three full-length studio albums to date: Floor, Dove and Oblation and one EP: Madonna.
Meanderthal is the second full-length studio album by American heavy metal band Torche. It was released on April 8, 2008.
Torche is the debut album by American metal band Torche. It was released through Robotic Empire on March 8, 2005. It was also reissued on June 18, 2007, through Rock Action Records with a bonus track and alternate artwork. The opening track, "Charge of the Brown Recluse", is a new version of the song that was released before by the band Floor, which Steve Brooks and Juan Montoya were members, and appears in the box-set Below & Beyond.
Healer / Across the Shields is an EP by Miami-based band Torche. It was released as a 12″ vinyl with a DVD containing music videos for "Healer" and "Across the Shields". The vinyl was colored either black, orange, or purple. Side A consists of two tracks from Torche's previous release, Meanderthal, while side B contains two tracks that are exclusive to this EP.
Chapter Ahead Being Fake is a split album featuring songs from Japanese band Boris and American band Torche. The album was released on August 19, 2009 in Japan through Daymare Records on CD, the same day Boris's split album with 9dw, Golden Dance Classics, was released. This is the first release from Torche as a three-piece band after parting ways with second guitarist Juan Montoya in 2008. A video for Torche's "King Beef" was released on January 5, 2010.
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MonstrO was an American rock band composed of drummer Bevan Davies, lead guitarist Juan Montoya, singer/rhythm guitarist Charlie Suarez, and bassist Kyle Sanders.
Songs for Singles is an EP by the American rock band Torche. The album was released on September 21, 2010, through Hydra Head Records. It is the first Torche album, and second release after the split single Chapter Ahead Being Fake, to not feature guitarist Juan Montoya.
Harmonicraft is the third studio album by American rock band Torche. It was released in 2012 on Volcom Entertainment. Harmonicraft was self-produced by Torche and mixed by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou.
Restarter is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Torche. The album was released on February 24, 2015, through Relapse Records. Restarter was produced by Jonathan Nunez of Torche and mixed by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou.
Oblation is the third studio album by Florida sludge metal band Floor released on April 25, 2014 on the Season of Mist label. The first original material since their previous self-titled album 12 years before, Oblation followed the band's reunion in 2013 after disbanding in 2003. Some critics noted similarities between the album and songs recorded by guitarist Steve Brooks' other band Torche.
Admission is the fifth and final studio album by American metal band Torche, released on July 12, 2019, through Relapse Records. This is the band's first material since their previous album Restarter, released in 2015. The album was produced, engineered and mixed by longtime bassist Jonathan Nuñez and is the first to feature Eric Hernandez on bass guitar after former guitarist Andrew Elstner's departure in November 2016. Admission was well received by music critics and scored 80/100 on Metacritic.
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