Torche In Return

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Reviewed by: Cory   //   Published: 8/14/2007

The nineteen minutes of music on Torche's latest EP will potentially frustrate as much as it pleases fans who have been eagerly awaiting new material from the group. This so-called "stoner pop" group (which features former members of Floor and Tyranny of Shaw) debuted with their eponymous full-length in 2005 and, aside from an arguably unnecessary remix of that excellent album, haven't released anything since. In Return compiles material that the band has been intending to release for some time now and as such doesn't particularly showcase any clear progression from the band's earliest material. These seven songs manage to be stylistically different enough so as to sound awkward in sequence yet similar enough to the band's previous material that they don't inspire much excitement either.

Much like the most successful tracks from their debut, the best songs soar on the backs of guitarists Steve Brooks and Juan Montoya. On "Rule The Beast," they walk the line between Eyehategod's sludgy Sabbath worship and Wolfmother's cheesy Sabbath worship and pull it off beautifully. "Hellion," on the other hand, sounds pretty much like a less convoluted clone of Leviathan-era Mastodon, complete with excessive drum fills and a subpar vocal melody. For every bit of truly great material on this EP there is at least one corresponding mediocre segment. Instrumental opener "Warship" manages to start strong yet wear out its welcome in around two minutes. Title track "In Return" rocks pretty hard but sounds like a Foo Fighters demo with a doomy breakdown in the middle. "Bring Me Home" reaches for Jesu's transcendent depth and majesty but falls sadly short.

The release is a combination 10"/CD with beautiful art by rising star John Baizley. The flower and insect motif let Baizley's identity show past the Pushead influence that dominates much of his work. The strong lines create a stunning look reminiscent of a stained-glass window. Kudos to Robotic Empire for including the tracks on compact disc as well, recognizing that vinyl isn't always the most practical format for fans to listen to.

Bottom Line: Torche's latest EP plays out like the collection of unreleased material that it is rather than a cohesive record. The band applies its patented veneer of grime to a handful of different song structures with varying results. Sometimes it works, as in the case of disc highlight "Rule The Beast," often it doesn't. In Return sadly ends up a bit of a fans-only affair, offering little in the way of quality or consistency that comes close to their debut. Torche are definitely a unique, interesting and worthwhile band but this EP doesn't do a whole lot to plead their case. If you've been foaming at the mouth in anticipation of new Torche material this should satiate you until the band sees fit to release a proper album.

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