Torche et Spotlights

Formed in Miami, Florida, US, Torche rose out of the ashes of Floor, a previous doom outfit, revitalising their sound in 2005 under the moniker of Torche. Fronted by vocalist/guitarist Steve Brooks, the rest of Torche was made up of Juan Montoya (guitars), Rick Smith (drums) and Jonathan Nuñez. The band brought new life into the sound of their past efforts, brewing an expansive, gargantuan sound that was uplifted through lush melodies and an upbeat tone.

In 2005, they released their self-titled debut on Robotic Empire, immediately offering a refreshing sound to a scene that was all too often stuck in a bleak dirge. The low-end riffs and drones still remained but melodic pop sensibilities were thrown in for good measure, creating an entirely different triumphant beast. Extensive touring followed the record’s release, which saw them share stages with The Sword, Isis, Jesu and Mogwai.

In 2007, Torche returned with new music in the shape of the EP, “In Return,’ with the band members announcing shortly after that they had finished working on their second effort, “Neanderthal,” which appeared the following year. Juan Montoya decided to part ways with Torche after the album’s release, with Torche continuing as a trio, still gaining high profile support slots with Harvey Milk and Cohered and Cambria.

Another EP arrived in 2010, this time released on Hydrahead Records. Ramping up the number of grooves and catchy hooks, “Harmonicraft” pushed their sound to more anthemic levels in 2010, placing high in a number of ‘end-of-year’ lists. 2015’s “Restarter” continued this progression, whilst offering a more refined sound to their growing number of fans.