I’ve seen some pretty interesting reactions to Torche‘s Relapse debut, from people digging the return of their sheer sonic heft and melodic range, to being caught up wondering at the slower average pace of the material compared to some of what Torche have done before. Wherever you land on the subject, Torche‘s Restarter (review here) is out today and the response to its arrival seems generally positive. Fortunate since they’re about to spend probably the next 18 months on tour supporting it, and it’s already been hyped with, among other things, a video game, which I’m sorry to say I sucked at viciously. Like, horribly. Embarrassingly bad at it.

Today’s actually a pretty big release day, with stuff out from Torche, Ruby the Hatchet, Crypt Sermon and others, so if you’ve got money to burn, there’s plenty of kindling around. The announcement of Restarter‘s materialization came down the PR wire thusly and brought with it a trailer for Torche‘s upcoming “Annihilation Affair” video, which you can find below:

TORCHE’S NEW ALBUM, RESTARTER, RELEASED TODAY

Torche release Restarter, the hard rock outfit’s fourth album and Relapse Record’s debut, today. The critically acclaimed collection is streaming in its entirety via Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/relapserecords/sets/torche-restarter).

The band will unveil an animated video for “Annihilation Affair” during the week of March 9. A teaser for the clip, which was directed by Phil Mucci (High on Fire, Monster Magnet, Stone Sour), can be seen here.

Restarter was recorded at the band’s Miami studio, Pinecrust, with bass player Jonathan Nuñez overseeing production and Converge’s Kurt Ballou once again returning to handle mixing.

Upcoming headlining shows from Torche:

March 4 Miami, FL Churchill’s Pub #
March 6 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
March 7 Birmingham, AL The Bottletree
March 8 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon
March 9 Houston, TX Fitzgerald’s Downstairs
March 10 Austin, TX Red 7
March 11 Dallas, TX Club Dada #
March 12 Memphis, TN The Hi-Tone
March 13 St. Louis, MO The Firebird
March 14 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
March 15 Milwaukee, WI The Cactus Club
March 16 Columbus, OH Skully’s Music Diner
March 17 Cleveland, OH The Grog Shop
March 18 Grand Rapids, MI The Pyramid Scheme
March 20 Detroit, MI The Pike Room
March 21 Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace
March 22 Montreal, QC Bar Le Ritz
March 23 Buffalo, NY Mohawk Place
March 25 Boston, MA Great Scott
March 26 Brooklyn, NY St. Vitus
March 27 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts
March 28 Richmond, VA Strange Matters #
March 29 Washington, DC DC 9 #

May 2 Leipzig, DE Taubchental
May 3 Wroclaw, PL Asymmetry Festival
May 4 Prague, CZ 007
May 5 Munich, DE Ampere
May 6 Milan, IT Lo Fi Club
May 8 Barcelona, SP Rocksound
May 9 Madrid, SP Boute Live!
May 10 Lisbon, PT Musicbox
May 11 Bilbao, SP Kafe Antzokia
May 13 Zurich, SZ Dynamo
May 14 Wiesbaden, DE Schlachthoff
May 15 Cologne, DE Underground
May 16 Berlin, DE Hafenklang
May 18 Nijmegen, NL Merelyn
May 19 Haarlem, NL Patronaat
May 20 Paris, FR Glazart
May 21 Antwerp, BE Kavka
May 22 London, UK Underworld *
May 23 Leeds, UK Belgrave Social Club *
May 24 Galway, IR Roisin Dubh
May 25 Cork, IR Craine Lane
May 26 Dublin, IR Grand Social
May 27 Belfast, IR The Limelight
May 28 Glasgow, UK CCA **
May 29 Manchester, UK Sound Control **
May 30 Bristol, UK Temples Festival
May 31 Nimes, FR This is Not a Love Song
June 1 Nantes, FR Le Ferrailleur

All U.S. dates w/Wrong; Nothing appears on all dates except when noted with a #

Fans of the band can try their skills at Torche vs. Robots: Annihilation Affair (www.torchevsrobots.com), a single-player game featuring each of the Torche band members as characters trying to save the city of Miami from destruction bent robots.

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Torche, “Annihilation Affair” video teaser

While the title immediately evokes connotations for the band itself, the fact remains that Torche‘s Restarter could just as easily refer to an interpersonal relationship or someone who decides to go back and beat Super Mario 3 again. The lyrics for the song itself, which closes out Torche‘s 10-track/39-minute Relapse Records debut, are minimal and vague, just a couple lines amid nine minutes of steady riffing that carry the record to its finish. Like most of everything, it’s more likely not relegated to a single idea, but if the title provokes intrigue, so too does the album itself. Torche‘s fourth overall, Restarter follows 2012’s Harmonicraft (review here), which, while engaging as ever in Torche‘s blend of heavy tonality and melodic or harmonized vocals and irresistible hooks, was shortly and perhaps too easily upstaged by the subsequent single, Harmonslaught, which promised heavier things to come. It’s only been three years since Harmonicraft, but it feels like a long three years, with guitarist/vocalist Steve Brooks having released the Oblation full-length (review here) in 2014 with the reactivated trio Floor and toured to support it and Torche guitarist/vocalist Andrew Elstner, bassist Jonathan Nuñez and drummer Rick Smith having also pursued other projects in the interim (Shitstorm, Tilts). I wouldn’t say Torche were ever really inactive or too far from public consciousness, but between the members coming back together to make this record and the signing to Relapse — a fitting home for a group so respected and prone to extended touring — it’s an easy enough argument to make that they’re trying to make a fresh start.

If that’s the case, they’re in a tough position. Like many acts with such a distinctly individual, almost singular style — think Slayer, Napalm Death, SunnO))), or even to a certain extend Torche‘s recent tourmates, Clutch — Torche can’t veer too far from their signature blend of pop and heft without coming across as a completely different band. Restarter has a few bolder steps in songs like the slower groove of the ultra-catchy call to arms “Minions” and the near-brooding “No Servants,” Smith using half-time drums to make the material sound even more spacious than the tones he’s punctuating, but the sound is still unmistakable for anyone who’s heard Torche since 2008’s Meanderthal sophomore outing, their process having been refined and tightened after a transitional (in bridging Brooks from Floor to Torche) but clarion 2005 self-titled debut, and while opener “Annihilation Affair” absolutely crushes and caps with about a minute and a half of vicious feedback and noise backed by plodding toms, once “Bishop in Arms” kicks in with Brooks and Elstner in harmony, Torche are very much Torche. Nonetheless, the variety and energy they bring to the progression here gives Restarter a particularly mature feel while still remembering to have a good time in the post-“Minions” midsection trio of “Loose Men,” “Undone” and “Blasted.” Three shorter tracks — Torche are no strangers to songs under three minutes — they’re a familiar but welcome rush of hooks, melody and dense riffing, “Loose Men” a hook-fueled blast, “Undone” a tonal push that presages “Barrier Hammer” still to come and “Blasted” a righteous showing of form that ends the side A on a high note both in mood and tempo.

Side B is a different animal altogether. Where four out of the six tracks on Restarter‘s first half are under three minutes long, the second half breathes a little more, with “No Servants,” “Believe It” and the aforementioned “Barrier Hammer” hovering around four minutes each before the nine-minute closing title cut. A feedback-laden start brings about a grandiose stomp for “No Servants” that feels somewhat in conversation with “Minions” in its riff, but gives way to the even-bigger-sounding “Believe It,” which meshes understated vocals with one of the album’s more furious instrumental progressions, the contrast effective in conveying both a sonic and emotional lumbering, lead guitar getting the last word in a long-ish fadeout perhaps meant to lull the listener away from consciousness so that “Barrier Hammer” can thunder in with that much more impact. Frankly, it doesn’t hurt, but the song doesn’t need the help. In addition to being the best use of Brooks‘ bomb-tone guitar since “Tarpit Carnivore” from the 2007 In Return EP, the track brims with purpose and stews in its righteousness. Two verses, a quick, gruff recitation of the title line and they get out of the way and let the riff have its space. One imagines it would be a beast coming through a P.A. of decent size, but on Restarter, it also serves to pick up from “Believe It” and transition into the vitality uptick of “Restarter” itself, which is comprised only of one or two riffs and the already-noted minimal lyrics, but proves hypnotic in its extended repetitions and smoothly river-currents the record to its end without losing focus on the way to its own deconstruction, the last minute-plus given to feedback, sustained guitar echo and swirl.

It’s a gorgeous and somewhat surprising finish. Torche have had extended closers since Meanderthal, but again, there’s an edge to “Restarter” and its method that underscores the band’s success in giving fresh edge to their established modus. I don’t know if Restarter is meant in reference to the band starting over or not, but they’ve made a record that, if that were the case, would make for a solid (new) beginning. This year marks a decade since their first album was released, and they’ve accomplished no small amount in that time, but if Restarter signifies anything at all, it’s that Torche‘s creative progression is ongoing and that while there are elements that will always reoccur, we haven’t yet encountered the full dynamic breadth of what they have to offer.

Torche, Restarter (2015)

Torche on Thee Facebooks

Restarter at Relapse Records

If Torche are hitting “restart” as the title of their impending fourth album and Relapse label debut suggests, they’re hitting it pretty hard. The four-piece will be on tour for what seems like a warm-up run with Municipal Waste for a few dates starting this weekend, and then in March, they pick up for headlining dates in the Midwest and on the East Coast with Nothing and Wrong, and then in May, it’s a full month in Europe including stops at the Asymmetry and Temples festivals. Meanwhile, the record’s out in Feb. and guitarist/vocalist Steve Brooks is Euro-touring with Floor in April, so yeah, it’s a busy time. One can only assume they’ve got more to come as well.

For now, this looks like plenty:

TORCHE PLOT NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINING TOUR

RESTARTER OUT FEB. 24; PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE NOW

Torche have announced a headlining tour in support of their forthcoming album, Restarter (Feb. 24, Relapse), which brings label mates Nothing out as support and kicks off on March 6 at The Masquerade in Atlanta.

Tour dates are:

March 6 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
March 7 Birmingham, AL The Bottletree
March 8 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon
March 9 Houston, TX Fitzgerald’s Downstairs
March 10 Austin, TX Red 7
March 11 Dallas, TX Club Dada #
March 12 Memphis, TN The Hi-Tone
March 13 St. Louis, MO The Firebird
March 14 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
March 15 Milwaukee, WI The Cactus Club
March 17 Cleveland, OH The Grog Shop
March 18 Grand Rapids, MI The Pyramid Scheme
March 20 Detroit, MI The Pike Room
March 21 Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace
March 22 Montreal, QC Bar Le Ritz
March 23 Buffalo, NY Mohawk Place
March 25 Boston, MA Great Scott
March 26 Brooklyn, NY St. Vitus
March 27 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts
March 28 Richmond, VA Strange Matters #
March 29 Washington, DC DC 9#

Nothing opens except where noted by a #

Previously announced shows:

Dates from Jan. 16 to 21 with Municipal Waste

January 16 Winston-Salem, NC Ziggy’s
January 17 Wilmington, NC Ziggy’s by the Sea
January 18 Tallahassee, FL Pug’s Live
January 19 Gainesville, FL The Atlantic
January 20 Ybor City, FL Crowbar
January 21 Miami, FL Grand Central

May 2 Leipzig, DE Taubchental
May 3 Wroclaw, PL Asymmetry Festival
May 4 Prague, CZ 007
May 5 Munich, DE Ampere
May 6 Milan, IT Lo Fi Club
May 8 Barcelona, SP Rocksound
May 9 Madrid, SP Boute Live!
May 10 Lisbon, PT Musicbox
May 11 Bilbao, SP Kafe Antzokia
May 13 Zurich, SZ Dynamo
May 14 Wiesbaden, DE Schlachthoff
May 15 Cologne, DE Underground
May 16 Berlin, DE Hafenklang
May 18 Nijmegen, NL Merelyn
May 19 Haarlem, NL Patronaat
May 20 Paris, FR Glazart
May 21 Antwerp, BE Kavka
May 22 London, UK Underworld *
May 23 Leeds, UK Belgrave Social Club *
May 24 Galway, IR Roisin Dubh
May 25 Cork, IR Craine Lane
May 26 Dublin, IR Grand Social
May 27 Belfast, IR The Limelight
May 28 Glasgow, UK CCA **
May 29 Manchester, UK Sound Control **
May 30 Bristol, UK Temples Festival
May 31 Nimes, FR This is Not a Love Song
June 1 Nantes, FR Le Ferrailleur

* – w/Part Chimp and Henry Blacker
** – w/Kings and Henry Blacker

Restarter will be released on CD/LP/Deluxe 2xLP/Cassette/Digital, with pre-orders available now with songs “Harmonslaught” and “Rock ‘N’ Roll Mantasy,” will be included on deluxe editions. Digital pre-orders offer an instant download of “Annihilation Affair” and “Minions” (http://geni.us/RestarterDLX), Bandcamp (www.torche.bandcamp.com) and physically via Relapse (http://www.relapse.com/torche-restarter).

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A Torche album is always easy to get excited about, but you’ll pardon me if I’m particularly stoked to hear what their impending full-length, Restarter, has to offer. Not only is it their debut release for Relapse Records, which seems like a label home they could settle into for a while, but it’s also their first outing since guitarist/vocalist Steve Brooks‘ reunion stint with Floor, and since word has been kicked around of it being Torche‘s heaviest work yet since I think probably before it was even done being written, I’m eager to hear how the vibe plays out. Their third album, 2012’s Harmonicraft (review here), was a solid showing, but I think particularly with the title they’ve given it, Restarter could be shooting for a fresher approach. We’ll know when we get there, I guess.

The PR wire has details and tour dates:

TORCHE REVEAL RESTARTER DETAILS; UNVEIL TEASER TRAILER WITH NEW MUSIC

ADD ADDITIONAL TOUR DATES IN EUROPE AND UNITED STATES

Torche, whose eagerly awaited Relapse Records’ debut, Restarter, is slated for a Feb. 24 release, have shared more details about the 10-track album including full track list and information on various editions.

The Florida/Georgia based quartet are also giving fans the first taste of music from the highly-anticipated album with a thirty-second teaser trailer featuring a portion of album opener “Annihilation Affair,” which is available now.

Restarter will be released on CD/LP/Deluxe 2xLP/Cassette/Digital, with pre-orders beginning Dec. 8. Two bonus tracks, “Harmonslaught” and “Rock ‘N’ Roll Mantasy,” are included on deluxe editions.

Restarter track list:

Annihilation Affair
Bishop in Arms
Minions
Loose Men
Undone
Blasted
No Servants
Believe It
Barrier Hammer
Restarter

The album was recorded at the band’s Miami studio, Pinecrust, with bass player Jonathan Nuñez overseeing production and Converge’s Kurt Ballou once again returning to handle mixing. Speaking with Loudwire, Nuñez discussed the band’s approach to writing and recording Restarter: “I feel that with time you kind of expand and hopefully progress. Hopefully this record is a good reflection of that. I feel it’s strong sonically and harder hitting than the previous record [Harmonicraft]. I’m happy with the last record, but I feel on this record, it’s just more solid song to song. You’ve got to move forward. You can’t release the same record over and over.”

Torche launch a round of U.S. dates later this month as they join Clutch and Lionize for a brief outing; a week of dates with Municipal Waste come mid-January. The band has also added three weeks to their previously announced European and UK dates:

December 27 Cincinnati, OH Bogart’s
December 28 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
December 29 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
December 30 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
December 31 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
January 3 Atlanta, GA Center Stage
January 4 Lake Buena Vista, FL House of Blues
January 6 New Orleans, LA House of Blues
January 7 Houston, TX House of Blues
January 8 Dallas, TX House of Blues
January 9 Tulsa, OK Cain’s Ballroom
January 10 Austin, TX Emo’s
January 16 Winston-Salem, NC Ziggy’s
January 17 Wilmington, NC Ziggy’s by the Sea
January 18 Tallahassee, FL Pug’s Live
January 19 Gainesville, FL The Atlantic
January 20 Ybor City, FL Crowbar
January 21 Miami, FL Grand Central

May 2 Leipzig, DE Taubchental
May 3 Wroclaw, PL Asymmetry Festival
May 4 Prague, CZ 007
May 5 Munich, DE Ampere
May 6 Milan, IT Lo Fi Club
May 8 Barcelona, SP Rocksound
May 9 Madrid, SP Boute Live!
May 10 Lisbon, PT Musicbox
May 11 Bilbao, SP Kafe Antzokia
May 13 Zurich, SZ Dynamo
May 14 Wiesbaden, DE Schlachthoff
May 15 Cologne, DE Underground
May 16 Berlin, DE Hafenklang
May 18 Nijmegen, NL Merelyn
May 19 Haarlem, NL Patronaat
May 20 Paris, FR Glazart
May 21 Antwerp, BE Kavka
May 22 London, UK Underworld
May 23 Leeds, UK Belgrave Social Club
May 24 Galway, IR Roisin Dubh
May 25 Cork, IR Craine Lane
May 26 Dublin, IR Grand Social
May 27 Belfast, IR The Limelight
May 28 Glasgow, UK CCA
May 29 Manchester, UK Sound Control
May 30 Bristol, UK Temples Festival
May 31 Nimes, FR This is Not a Love Song
June 1 Nantes, FR Le Ferrailleur

Part Chimp, Kings and Henry Blacker open on all headlining European dates.

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Torche, Restarter teaser