Advertisement

Concert reviews Music

Torche at Lee’s Palace

TORCHE at Lee’s Palace, Saturday, March 21. Rating: NNN

Torche do a lot of things: bass-rattling stoner rock on one end of the heavy spectrum, harmonized pop punk blasts on the other, plus all the sonic steps in between. Their thunderous sounds broadness could be why the Miami four-piece, while respected, havent surged up from the underground during their 10 years together despite affiliations and tours with Converge, Metallica and Coheed and Cambria. But the fans who nearly filled Lees Palace left satisfied.

The four-piece were precise and cheerful throughout a set that didnt just stick to songs from their well-received fourth album Restarter, released at the end of February on Relapse. Singer/guitarist Steve Brooks engaged with front-row fans and attempted Paul Stanleyesque over-the-top banter between songs, acknowledging that he couldnt pull it off. (Nobody but Stanley can.) Rick Smith did double-bass-drum damage behind the kit, occasionally flattening songs with excess heaviosity.

Though spirited and with plenty of dynamic range, the set never really dipped nor soared. But slow riff-charged sludge moments got heads banging, and few-and-far-between vocal harmonies between Brooks and guitarist Andrew Elstner invigorated.

carlag@nowtoronto.com | @carlagillis

Advertisement

Exclusive content and events straight to your inbox

Subscribe to our Newsletter

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By signing up, I agree to receive emails from Now Toronto and to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.