Torche

Torche is an American rock band from Miami, Florida, formed in 2004 and active from 2004 to the present. Its sound sits across alternative metal, alternative rock, doom metal, post-hardcore, sludge metal and stoner metal, although Steve Brooks says the group does not regard itself as a metal band.

Formation and line-up

The band forms in Miami in 2004 with Steve Brooks, Juan Montoya, Jonathan Nuñez and Rick Smith. Brooks previously plays in Floor. Montoya also has experience in Floor, Cavity and Ed Matus Struggle. Smith also plays in the grindcore groups Shitstorm, Tyranny of Shaw and Adore Miridia, the screamo band Tunes for Bears to Dance To, and the punk band Post-Teens.

Juan Montoya leaves in late 2008 because of musical differences, and Torche continues as a trio. Andrew Elstner joins in 2011. The final recorded line-up includes Steve Brooks on guitar and vocals, Jonathan Nuñez on guitar and bass, Rick Smith on drums, and Eric Hernandez on bass and backing vocals, with Elstner and Montoya listed as former members.

Releases

Torche releases five full-length studio albums, four EPs, two split albums and three singles. Its second full-length album, Meanderthal, appears in 2008 and is produced by Kurt Ballou. The album receives strong reviews, including an 8.2/10 from Pitchfork, a Metacritic score of 83/100 and a 5/5 rating from AllMusic. Decibel ranks it No. 1 in its list of the Top 40 Extreme Albums of 2008.

The third album, Harmonicraft, appears in 2012 on Volcom Entertainment. The band self-produces it and Kurt Ballou mixes it. The record is also critically well received and appears at No. 30 on Stereogum’s list of the top 50 albums of 2012.

Restarter follows in 2015 on Relapse Records. Admission, the fifth full-length album, appears in 2019 on Relapse Records. The song “Slide” is released ahead of the album.

Tours and appearances

Torche tours with Mogwai, Isis, Pelican, Clutch, Black Cobra, Baroness, Jesu, The Sword, Coheed and Cambria, Stinking Lizaveta, Harvey Milk, Boris and High on Fire. It also tours with dredg in 2009 and with a reunited Harvey Milk, and opens for Coheed and Cambria alongside Circa Survive in 2010. Early festival appearances include Incubate in 2006 and SXSW in 2008.

Other notes

Brooks is one of the few openly gay musicians in the metal scene and takes part in a 2008 round table with other openly gay musicians. In 2008 he says the band shapes its artwork and packaging with Aaron Turner, and that it writes by choosing what it likes rather than thinking about fan backlash. Smith describes the band’s music as a blend of the different sounds and influences the members bring together.

Brooks announces in 2022 that his touring with the band is ending, and Torche later plays what is presented as its final concert in Atlanta in October 2022. A joint show with Cave In is announced for 2025, marking Torche’s first concert since that break-up, though the 2022 ending is also noted in the group’s later history.