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Album reviews Music

Torche

It’s tempting to reduce the development of Torche’s sound to a gradual moving away from knuckle-dragging metal to leavened, anthemic guitar pop. But listen to their 2009 split with Boris or their 2010 EP, Songs For Singles, and suddenly that trajectory has more than a few wrinkles in it. Restarter, Torche’s latest and first for Relapse, reflects that evolution while also being their first record to incorporate all of the band’s disparate sounds. 

In fact, its greatest moments unveil that landscape of influence in a single song. Loose Men and Believe It have poppy purpose but connect through earth-shattering heaviness. The band hasn’t gotten softer – they’ve just learned a bit of restraint. Torche can, and still do, conjure their ruinous rumble on a whim. So while it doesn’t mine new territory, Restarter is the sound of Torche getting comfortable and digging in their heels.

Top track: Loose Men

Torche play Lee’s Palace on March 21.

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