Album of the day: Torche – Meanderthal (Hydra Head Records 2008)

(From our archives): Clocking in at just over 36 minutes, Torche’s Meanderthal is an album that is both massive and jubilant. Labeled “thunder-pop” by the few publications who have reviewed it, it’s a perfect example of just how exciting, original and all out fucking fist pumpingly enjoyable heavy music can be.

Opening instrumental track ‘Triumph of Venus’, which features meaty feedback heavy riffing and punk speed chords, crashing drums and a perfectly suitable abrupt finish, is just a tantalizing appetizer of what’s to come. The joyous ‘Grenades’ proceeds, with clean vocals, splashy cymbals and simple guitars (minus one sweet solo).

‘Healer’, ‘Across the Shields’, ‘Sun down’ and ‘Fat Waves’ are among the albums most infectious. In particular, ‘Fat Waves’ truly emulates the massively thunderous sound that the Melvins and Big Business have perfected, with increasingly layered instrumentals that climatically revel in their own meatiness. Booming, crashing and thundering made Torche as enjoyable as they are. Emulating pure joy simultaneously is what makes them unique.
Sarah Kitteringham

Tags: album of the day, hydra head records, torche

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 24th, 2009 at 5:17 am and is filed under 2009, Roadburn Recommended . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.